(330) 262-3877

Employment Resource Fund

What is the Employment Resource Fund?

The Employment Resource Fund is a local, self-sustaining work and education fund. It’s mission is to build a skilled workforce in Wayne County by providing grants to local nonprofits with employment programs that increase the success of their students, clients or employees. In turn, the non-profit spends small amounts of money on hard-working adults to help them get jobs or better jobs.

The Steering Committee accepts grant applications for new initiatives at any time. See the Employment Resource Fund Initiative Grant Application for more details and to apply.

Community volunteers, serving on the Steering Committee, provide leadership and are liaisons to local organizations sponsoring employment-related initiatives. See the Employment Resource Fund Steering Committee Guidelines and Member Application for more details and to apply.

How Students, Clients and Employees can apply:

Adult students, clients or employees with financial need, participating in employment-related programs and working with one of the following schools or agencies may apply for assistance with needed Employment Resources* by submitting this fillable ERF application to their counselor, instructor or employment supervisor--or by contacting United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties at 330-264–5576 for more information.

ASPIRE*
Adult Education, Wayne County Schools Career Center*
Anazao Re-entry Program*
Community Action of Wayne County*
The Counseling Center*
United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties—Community Partners*
Wayne College—Emergency Book Loans and Education & Nursing Student Expenses
Wayne County Public Library—Resume Resources

*Employment Resources, for work or training, include, but are not limited to: work boots, clothing, tuition, required fees or supplies, certifications, licenses, job search supplies, emergency transportation and car repairs.

Adult Education and GED Graduate, Dr. Jonnie Jill Phipps, established the HOPE Fund at the Career Center in 1987, when, as a student, seeing the financial need of adult students for gas, clothing, tools, and haircuts, she made the first donation. In 2000, the Fund was adopted by the Wayne County Common Good and moved to the Foundation. The Common Good, a collaboration of local schools and agencies that helped adults get jobs or better jobs, operated the Fund and worked to grow it’s value.

Donna Neff Testimonial—2024

The Wayne County Public Library, Wooster Branch, unexpectedly helped me when I was searching for work several years ago. After 20 years in communications and graphics design, I was looking for a job with more people interaction. Having recently moved to Wayne County, I was nervous about starting a job search in a new community while exploring a new industry. My job search went smoother because I stopped at the library.

When I approached the Help Desk with my questions, I got the needed answers. James Yergin was resourceful, and encouraging. He gave me resume support materials—quality paper, envelopes and a memory stick for saving my documents along with information for formatting and wording resumes and cover letters—helpful items paid for by a grant from the Employment Resource Fund of the Wayne County Community Foundation. James also quickly suggested on-line resources to explore salary ranges. Within a few weeks, I’d had two offers.

My experience with the Wooster Branch was helpful, practical, and quickly gave me what I needed for my job search at no cost to me. I continue to use the libraries and tap their Help Desk when needed. Their willingness to go the extra mile, point me to resources and share what they know, broadens my world. Thank you, Wayne County Public Libraries! -- Donna Neff, Human Resources, Orrvilla Retirement Community

Ashlie Pathtel

Ashlie Pethtel changed her earning power! In 2014, with help from Aspire and a GED Test Scholarship from the ER Fund, she received her GED, completed the Women’s Empowerment Program and enrolled full-time at Wayne College—all while working part-time to support her young family. In 2020 she graduated with her bachelor degree in social work from The University of Akron and began working in her field of study—right when the Covid epidemic hit. After taking a year-long break to homeschool her two boys, she completed her Master’s Degree to advance her career. She now works as a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor for A New Day in Wooster, Ohio.

Because of donations and the investment wisdom of the Wayne County Community Foundation, the Fund has grown significantly. It now supports 9 employment-related initiatives sponsored by 8 different local organizations.

Why Donate?

Think of the Employment Resource Fund as a community savings account. As it grows, there is more to invest in new initiatives—more scholarships, grants and loans. This will allow the Fund to continue to support the good work of local organizations that help hard-working adults become gainfully employed. Join with us today to build a thriving workforce in Wayne County and to reduce dependency on costly social services by donating to this Fund.

Adopt an Initiative

If you or your organization, would like to support the Fund by adopting an initiative, please contact, through the Foundation, the Steering Committee Chair on how to do this. Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the help of Aspire students, each winter makes and sells Hearty Italian Soup. This simple fundraiser provides $1,000 yearly to help adults complete their GED’s, learn English or get jobs. It’s a community blessing!

Employment Resource Fund columns in The Bargain Hunter and Wooster Weekly:

Wayne County
Community Foundation
517 North Market Street
Wooster, Ohio 44691

Phone: (330) 262-3877
Fax: (330) 262-8057
Email: [email protected]

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