Marietta Community Foundation awards $97,290 in grants

The Marietta Community Foundation announced its spring grant cycle awards Monday.

MCF awarded $97,290 in Community Impact Grant and Simple Solution Grant funds to local organizations that address critical needs and enhance community resilience in Washington County, according to an MCF media release.

"It's been fantastic to see the energy behind these grants," MCF Donor and Program Serviced Director Britani Merritt said in the release. "Our local nonprofits are really stepping up, tackling crucial needs and coming up with some innovative ideas to address community issues. What's even more exciting is how the community is rallying around these projects. We're seeing lots of new partnerships forming, which is just adding to the buzz."

According to the release, MCF gave out $20,308 in Simple Solution Grant funds, which are designed to swiftly address basic needs and small changes hindering organizations' broader goals. Recipients of the Simple Solution Grant money include The Castle, Civil War Roundtable of the MOV, Cutler Heritage and Legacy Society, The Disc Golf Collective, Ely Chapman Education Foundation, Fort Frye Local Schools, Friends of Sternwheel, GoPacks, Harmar Rowing Club Inc., iBELIEVE Foundation, LifeCare Alliance, Lowell Baseball and Softball League, Marietta Area Recycling Center, Marietta City Schools, Marietta College, Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Ohio University Foundation and the Ohio Valley YMCA – Marietta Branch.

MCF awarded $76,982 in Community Impact Grant funds, which focus on addressing fundamental changes in Washington County, the release said.

MCF did not provide the names of any of the organizations that were awarded these funds.

MCF did share in the release information about some of the projects the grant funds will support

The Amputee Center, located in Parkersburg, received $5,000 to support contract fees for class instruction, program management and specialized physical therapy services, all of which are aimed at improving physical and emotional outcomes for amputees.

Artsbridge, which is located in Parkersburg, was awarded $5,700 for various artists, the coordinator and supplies for its Arts Connection Program in Washington County. Arts Connection is designed to assist children affected by the opioid epidemic through using art disciplines to teach emotional coping skills.

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, located in Marietta, was given $10,000 to replace its current deteriorating roof with a new copper standing seam system roof and to add to the roof built-in copper gutters and lightning protection.

The Broughton Foundation, which is located in Marietta, received $5,000 for a utility vehicle that will enable easier maintenance access that will minimize environmental impact on trails.

Washington-Morgan Community Action, located in Marietta and Malta, was awarded $6,200 to get touch tablets and ServTracker software to streamline meal tracking, reduce paperwork and errors and enhance efficiency for staff of WMCAP's Senior Nutrition Congregate sites.

The Hippodrome Colony Historical Theatre Association, which is located in Marietta, received $5,000 to support family and children's program at People's Bank Theatre that will enhance access to affordable entertainment options for the community.

The Organization of Clean Energy and Climate Inc., located in Marietta, was given $7,582 to support the Computing Heat Recycle Center Education Program which aims to engage students from local educational institutions in innovative learning opportunities, to give students practical knowledge in data center artificial intelligence and computing heat recycling for greenhouse operations and to address food insecurity through produce grown in a computing heat recycling greenhouse.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, which is located in Columbus, was awarded $5,000 to provide shelter for Washington County families with seriously ill children in nearby hospitals through the Helping Hands program.

The Washington County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, located in Marietta, received $27,500 to revitalize Civitan Park and upgrade the park's playground equipment and surface.

Visit www.mcfohio.org to learn more about MCF and its grant programs.