WQIO Ohio's Super Station
The Richland County Foundation is putting more than $367,000 toward education, workforce development and community programs following action by its Board of Trustees.
The foundation approved $367,505 in grants during its August meeting, with a significant portion of the funding directed toward education.
Among the largest categories was $83,000 in education grants for K-12 teachers in Richland County public and private schools.
The education grants are intended to help teachers develop new and creative classroom programs that aren’t covered through traditional school funding.
The awards are selected through a committee made up of foundation board members and community representatives. The committee reviews proposals for supplemental educational programs designed to provide students with additional learning opportunities.
The foundation also approved 15 career technical education scholarships.
So far this year, the foundation has awarded $105,100 through 62 CTE scholarships.
The scholarship program uses a rolling application deadline, allowing students to meet different enrollment deadlines for career and technical education programs.
Beyond education, foundation grants approved this month will support a wide range of organizations throughout Richland County.
Recipients include the Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Dog Warden, Domestic Violence Shelter, Mt. Sinai Baptist Food Pantry, United Way of Richland County, YMCA of North Central Ohio, Richland County Habitat for Humanity, Mansfield Art Center and Richland Academy of the Arts.
Other recipients include Blessings in a Backpack, Catalyst Life Services, the Humane Society of Richland County, Mansfield’s North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Renaissance Performing Arts and the Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, among others.
The grants are being distributed through donor-advised funds established with the foundation to address community needs.
The foundation says donor-advised funds allow individuals and families to direct charitable dollars toward causes and organizations that are important to them.
The Richland County Foundation was established in 1945 as a way for local residents to pool charitable resources and invest those funds for the long-term benefit of the community.
The organization says its goal is to address immediate needs while also helping build a stronger future for Richland County.
The latest round of grants puts money behind that mission in several areas — from classroom innovation and career training to public safety, food insecurity, animal welfare, the arts and social services.
