WCCF's GIVE 365 Program Awards First Grants

Philanthropy works on just a $1 a day.

GIVE 365, a newly launched giving opportunity at Wayne County Community Foundation, proved this point when the committee awarded its first grants to area nonprofits.

Members of GIVE 365 pay only a $1 a day – or $365 a year. Their gifts, pooled with those of other donors, can make a greater impact in Wayne County.

One of the hallmarks of the program is that GIVE 365 membership is inclusive and flexible. Members can participate in a way that fits their schedules and lifestyles. Some members simply contribute financially. Others serve on the grant review teams that research nonprofits and narrow the field of grant applicants to finalists. But every member, no matter their level of involvement, gets the opportunity to vote on grant recipients.

The grant process is the heart of the GIVE 365 calendar. Members submit ideas for an annual grant making theme, which are posted online and decided by a majority vote of the membership. The focus for 2017 grants was Drug Prevention in Wayne County. The grant submission process, with applications due by March 1st, was open to any nonprofit in Wayne County with a program or project to address this issue.

Upon reviewing the grant proposals, members of GIVE 365 voted for their favorites online and submitted their recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees at their May meeting.

This year, the membership made awards to two local nonprofits: OneEighty, Inc. and Wayne County Schools Career Center.

OneEighty, Inc. was awarded $7,000 for a countywide Prescription Drug Education Campaign. Using a variety of media, the organization will inform residents of Wayne County – young and old – about the harms of abusing, misusing, buying, selling and ingesting prescription drugs.

The Drug Free Clubs of America at Wayne County Schools Career Center received $3,000 to be used to further expand their existing program. The program at WCSCC began two years ago and currently has nearly 500 members. The program has shown great success in preventing drug use, with 99% being found drug free in random drug testing. The program reinforces good choices and promotes positive peer pressure.

A new cycle of GIVE 365 membership begins on July 1^st. Membership is open to anyone who has a desire to make Wayne County a better place by combining their charitable contributions with others to support nonprofit organizations. To learn how you can become a member, call the Foundation at 330.262.3877 or visit www.WayneCountyCommunityFoundation.org.

Since 1978, the Wayne County Community Foundation has been working to strengthen the community we all share. It is a nonprofit charitable community organization. Since inception, WCCF has awarded over $63.5 million in grants and scholarships back into the community.