Over $368,000 Given to Area Organizations

Tue, 09/07/2010 - 3:32pm | Staff Report
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The Marion Community Foundation announced the recipients of its 2010 grants, totaling more than $368,000 awarded to Marion area organizations, during the Foundation’s fourth annual Grants Announcement Breakfast, held Tuesday in Marion.

The 2010 major grants include:

– Heart of Ohio Mentoring, $9,500, supporting operations and their charitable programs;
-- Boys and Girls Club of America, $25,000, supporting the Triple Play program, which promotes health and wellness for Boys & Girls Club members by teaching new ways to handle stress, maintain a healthy body and form positive relationships;
-- Center Street Community Health Center, $120,000, for ongoing operations of providing primary health care and dental care for low income families; and $50,000 to build out a new dental clinic;
-- James H. Johnson- Charles Rudd Community Complex, $20,000, to help reduce the organization’s financial burden and support their current and future program activities;
-- MAPP (Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Inc.), $30,455, continued funding for the Changes & Choices education program in Marion area middle and high schools;
-- Marion Area Counseling Center, Inc, $8,200, to fund the Prime for Life Intervention Program, a 16-hour intervention program for first-time underaged alcohol consumption offenders in Marion Municipal Court;
-- Marion Area Counseling Center, Inc., $18,600, to support SOS (Signs of Suicide), an education program and depression screening for grades 7 and 9, called “Friends for Life,” to help prevent teen suicide;
-- Marion Harding C-Tag Program, $5,000, to support “Closing the Achievement Gap,” a program for mentoring and monitoring at-risk freshmen at Marion Harding High School in order to improve the graduation rate;
-- Marion Public Health, $9,500, to support the 2011 countywide needs assessment to determine the health and social needs of the Marion County community;
-- Ohio Heartland Community Action, $32,400, providing continued operating support for the United Community Rx Program for 2011;
-- Prairie Parks Foundation, Inc., $3,978.33, providing assistance to expand the paved trail area on the Marion Tallgrass Trail; and,
-- The Salvation Army, $10,000, for ongoing crisis intervention and rapid re-housing programs.

The 2010 mini grants ($2,500 and under) include:

– Eye-to-Eye Low Vision Support Group, $2,298.33, funding a collaboration with the Marion Evening Lions Club to assist persons in obtaining eye exams and/or eyeglasses;
-- Love In the Name of Christ (LOVE, Inc.), $2,500, for the purchase of two desktop computers, two software applications, a laptop computer, external hard drive and a network switch;
-- Marion Area Humane Society, $2,500, for the purchase of an isolation kennel with a seamless individualized drain unit in order to prevent the spread of parva;
-- Marion Public Library, $1,000, to add wireless internet access to the Caledonia and Prospect libraries and purchase a new computer projector for public computer classes; and,
-- Marion Technical College (new manager of the Harding Home) $2,500, to cover transportation costs for elementary students to visit multiple historical sites throughout Marion County as part of the Hometown History on Wheels program.

“We are pleased to, once again, be the vehicle for so much good in the Marion community,” said MCF president Brad Bebout. “The grant awards are truly the Marion community helping its own.”

The grant recipients were recognized by MCF’s grants committee members, who include: Anne Davy (chair), Dr. Scott Yancey, Ron Cramer, Susie Brown, Dr. James Barney, Nicolle Brooks, and non-board member Dr. Henry Heinzmann.

MCF’s Grants Committee reviewed 43 applications and more than $800,000 in requests in this year’s grant cycle. The number of applications represents a $70 percent increase over last year.

“The committee reviewed applications, conducted applicant interviews, and, after careful deliberation, made recommendations to the full board of trustees, which made the final decisions,” explains Bebout.

The grants will be paid over the course of 2011 from 11 separate funds within MCF, including the C Fund, Founders’ Fund, Chester C. and Mildred Roberts Fund, Conway Family Charitable Fund, Kenny Martin Charitable Fund, Health Care Fund, Francis & Thelma Wise Fund, Helen Cunningham Handicapped Fund, Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Community Fund, Marion Historical Site Visit Fund, and Mary H. Hollaway Non-Endowed Fund.

Bebout pointed out that these funds represent a mere 10 percent of Marion Community Foundation’s overall funds and the discretionary grants which they generate are awarded in MCF’s competitive application process.

“They are ‘discretionary’ because these funds' donors gave discretion to MCF's Board of Trustees to decide which organizations are most deserving,” explained Bebout.

MCF also awards grants in a non-competitive process at other times in the year from multiple other funds created by donors who have designated the recipient organization(s). MCF also awards numerous scholarships.

In the past 12 years, MCF’s portfolio of funds has grown from one to 130, currently valued at $20 million.  To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $4 million in local grants and scholarships.  Its funds address local needs in healthcare, the arts, environment, education and economic development.

One of the long-term commitments made to healthcare by the MCF is the Center Street Community Health Clinic. Bebout noted during Tuesday’s breakfast that the clinic has received MCF grant funding every year of its existence. The total donated to the clinic stands at around $1.5 million. This commitment continued with the current grant that will help the clinic move to larger facilities and provide healthcare services to more individuals and families in need.

The full-time staff includes president Brad Bebout, office manager Diana Rinesmith and administrative assistant Jackie Albert.  Members of the Board include: Dr. Scott Yancey (chair), Rex Parrott, Larry Geissler, Sue Jacob, Anne J. Davy, Dr. James Barney, Nicolle Brooks, Susie Brown, Ronald D. Cramer, Pastor Doug Ford, Dr. Charles Garvin, Ted Graham, Judge Thomas K. Jenkins and Tom Johnston.

Additional information on Marion Community Foundation and its grants program is available by calling 387-9704 during standard business hours or by visiting the offices at 504 S. State St., inside the Stengel-True Museum, or on the web at www.marioncommunityfoundation.org.

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