WCCF Announces 2021 Grant Awards from Wayne County Children's Resource Fund

The Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund was established in 2018 by Cheryl and Steve Shapiro to help remove barriers which may impede children's ability to lead meaningful and productive lives. These barriers may include poverty, drug use, bullying, discrimination, learning disabilities, low self-confidence, or a challenging home life.

The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) is pleased to announce the Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund’s grant awards totaling $17,500. Based on the evaluations and recommendations from the Fund’s Advisory Committee, the WCCF Board of Trustees approved the following grant awards:

Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio received a $5,000 grant for adaptive sports for youth with physical disabilities to continue to provide year-round sport opportunities in Wayne County.

United Way of Wayne & Holmes Counties, Inc. received a $5,000 grant for Reading Under the Lights, an event they facilitate in partnership with five school districts in Wayne County.

Wayne Center for the Arts received a $5,000 grant for the Wayne Center for the Arts Enrichment Academy to address a prosocial programming void in the community. The academy will be a space where youth can go during out-of-school times and engage in a wide range of art-related activities.

Wayne County Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. received a $2,500 grant to develop a prevention program to educate adults on various theories about the etiology of pedophilia, including human trafficking.

The Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund grant guidelines and online application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org. Competitive grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations that help to remove barriers for Wayne County children should be submitted by September 1 each year.

The WCCF is a not-for-profit charitable community organization established in 1978 to accept contributions, create and administer funds, and make grants for the benefit of the people of the greater Wayne County area. The Foundation has awarded more than $95.6 million in the form of grants and scholarships from its 505 separate funds. Donations to provide greater future grant opportunities can be made to the Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund, a component fund of WCCF, by individuals, families, businesses and service organizations. Contact Sara Patton, WCCF Executive Director, for more information.