WCCF Announces Fall 2021 Community Grants

The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) Board of Trustees met in November and approved grant awards for the Fall competitive grant cycle. Eleven organizations were awarded grants totaling $356,361 from some of the Foundation’s named community and field of interest funds:

Christian Children’s Home of Ohio received a $4,111 grant from the Lillian Steiner Community Fund to replace the carpet in Cottage #3.

Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County received a matching challenge grant up to $100,000 from anonymous community funds and the Robert L. and Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund for their A Home of Our Own capital campaign to purchase and improve their current location in Wooster. This grant will match up to $100,000 in new funds raised for this project within one year.

The Kidron Volunteer Fire Department Inc. received a $5,000 grant from the John G. Taggert Community Fund to purchase health and physical fitness equipment for their exercise room in their new fire station.

The Matthew 25 Outreach Center received a $20,000 grant from the WCCF General Fund, the Tug and Alma Maibach Family Fund, and the Florence L. Rice Community Fund to purchase a box truck or cargo van to assist with their Wayne County food program.

National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. received a $10,000 grant from the Nolan and Elsie Hite Community Fund for the Camp Invention: Summer Enrichment Program for underserved Wayne County youth for summer 2022.

Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club received a $30,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to purchase a passenger van to help meet the transportation needs of their members.

Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab Inc. received a $75,000 challenge grant from an anonymous community fund, the Robert L. and Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund, the Raymond and Pauline Croskey Memorial Fund, and the Florence L. Rice Community Fund for the exhibit design and buildout with special needs equipment as part of their capital campaign to complete the interior of their facility. The Playlab will have one year to raise an additional $75,000 in new gifts to meet the challenge.

The Wayne County Fire & Rescue Association received a $65,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund, the David and Carol Briggs Community Fund, the John Kaylor Memorial Fund, the Edward, Arlene and Kaye Maibach Community Fund, the Florence L. Rice Community Fund, the John G. Taggert Community Fund, and the Charles R. and Henrietta Yenne Fund for concrete to complete the driveway to their new Education Center.

The Wayne County Humane Society received a $6,000 grant from the Jeanne Heise Adams Community Fund and the Earle and Ann Klosterman Family Community Fund to purchase an outdoor storage shed for their cat TNR (trap/neuter/release) program.

The Wayne Growth Partnership received a three-year $6,250 grant from the WCCF General Fund for their Driving Prosperity and Accelerating Growth Initiative for economic development in Wayne County.

The Wooster Community Hospital Health System/Beaverson EMS Institute received a $35,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to support the Beaverson EMS Institute and all 16 fire and EMS agencies in Wayne County.

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. Since 1978, the Foundation has awarded more than $95.6 million in the form of grants and scholarships from its 505 separate funds.

Its Community and Field-of-Interest funds permit the WCCF Board of Trustees to be responsive to the changing needs of the community. Donations to these funds by individuals, families, businesses and service organizations help to increase the amount available for grants each year. Contact Sara Patton, WCCF Executive Director, for more information.

Competitive grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations should be submitted by March 1 and September 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available on their website, www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.