Foundation awards $228K in grants

SANDUSKY — During a recent meeting, the Erie County Community Foundation's board of directors awarded about $229,000 in charitable grants to numerous Erie County nonprofits, schools, and municipalities. In total, the foundation distributed funds to 29 separate projects in this grant cycle. "Notable among these grants are a number of exciting projects intended to further Erie County's social and economic impact," according to a foundation statement. These grants, benefiting diverse projects, "intend to build community and address Erie County's most pressing needs," the statement read. Focus areas include: • Addressing workforce gaps and creating employment opportunities • Removing barriers to transportation • Tackling hunger and homelessness • Providing high-quality food for all • Ensuring a healthy and vibrant Lake Erie along with improving public accessibility to it and its waterways • Broadening access to mental health and addiction services • Supporting seniors and their caregivers • Creating neighborhoods that thrive • Uplifting Erie County's children from improving access to childcare to providing creative and experiential education opportunities The foundation offers two community grant rounds each year with deadlines typically in February and August. "For organizations and individuals wishing to create a lasting impact in Erie County through charitable giving, the Erie County Community Foundation will offer another round of grants this fall with an application deadline of Aug. 1," the statement read. People can visit eriefoundation.org/community-grants or call 419-621-9690 for a complete application process. Grant recipients Here are the local organizations that received funds through the foundation's first cycle of 2024. Note some figures are rounded. • Animal House Sober Club for the Sober Hang Out Spot — $3,000 • Back to the Wild for the Wildlife Orphan Fund — $2,300 • Bellevue Society for the Arts to purchase the rights, scripts and music for the play "Beauty and the Beast" — $3,700 • BGSU Firelands McBride Arboretum for the McBride Arboretum Accessibility Project — $10,000 • Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio to provide nutritious meals for youth — $15,000 • CityStrong for Stand in the Gap Care — $10,000 • Erie County CASA Program for website design and management — $5,200 • Erie County Economic Development Corp.'s Firelands Forward for the Employer Resource Network — $15,000 • Erie County Economic Development Corp. for the Downtown Sandusky Banner Project — $13,000 • Erie Metro Live Steamers for a track rebuild using non-wood ties and non-rusting screws to ensure safety — $7,500 • Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority for a Meals on Wheels warmer — $2,600 • Erie Soil and Water Conservation District for reducing barriers to conservation on farms — $15,000 • Father's Heart Ministry for new shelving for walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer — $10,000 • Firelands Symphony Orchestra for Tunes for Tuesday & Around Town Tours — $9,000 • First Christian Church Obediah's Hope: An Equine Ministry for the Obediah's Hope Equine Riding Arena — $2,000 • Huron Public Library for entertainment and education on the go — $4,500 • Kelleys Island Schools for a field station/Project Wet Workshop for educators — $3,200 • Leadership Ohio for Lake Erie Love — $5,000 • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana for wish-granting in Erie County — $2,000 • Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky for the Kids Empowerment Initiative — $9,800 • North Point Educational Service Center for its Erie County Crisis Team — $2,200 • OHgo for its Traveling Summer Kid Pantry and school pantries — $20,000 • OhioGuidestone for bringing expressive arts to therapy groups in Erie County — $10,000 • Perkins Schools for Perkins Pirates robotics competitions — $5,000 • Perkins Township for Baseball for All — $1,500 • Sandusky Area Maritime Association for restoring maritime history with the testoration of Oscar Lay's 1939 Lyman Custom — $4,000 • Sandusky Schools for its Grandparent Initiative, which supports grandparents, 60 and older, who are raising grandchildren — $10,500 • Vermilion Schools Athletic Boosters for Field the Future, a Sailors Anchor Project — $20,000 • Western Reserve Land Conservancy for the Quinn Preserve Extension at Kelleys Island — $8,100