Foundation supports community needs & scholarships

(Photo: Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center Volunteer Terri Hamilton shows the antiquated elevator equipment room at the organization.)

MANSFIELD – The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants and scholarships totaling $1,352,374 during its June meeting.

Competitive and field of interest grants approved by the board included grants to the Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center and Braintree Partners.

Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center (BNOC) received a grant to modernize its elevator and equipment room. The improved elevator will allow BNOC to improve accessibility, enable second floor programming, and meet current safety codes. On average, the organization serves over 450 individuals monthly. Bellville was designated an “Age-Friendly” community by Governor DeWine, further highlighting the center’s importance to the local community and the need to update its community space.

Braintree Partners received funding for a Motion Picture Program to support filmmakers by providing small grants to complete production and promote filming in Richland County. The program seeks to boost local economic activity by encouraging film production, with both short-term benefits like local expenditures and long-term goals of enhancing the county’s reputation as a filming destination. Utilizing their existing relationships and expertise, Braintree will vet and disburse the grants to eligible filmmakers.

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor advised funds which allow individuals, families, and corporations the opportunity to make grant suggestions to their favorite charities. Donor advised funds are a flexible and convenient alternative to a private foundation. It is also a way to keep charitable contributions anonymous, at the preference of the donor.

The following organizations received grants from donor advised funds:

Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center

Buckeye Imagination Museum

Catalyst Life Services

City of Mansfield

Denison University

Discovery School

Downtown Mansfield, Inc.

First Congregational Church

First United Methodist Church

Friendly House

GroundTruth Project, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of Richland & Crawford Counties

Hope Hollow

Hospice of North Central Ohio Bereavement Camp

Independent Living Center

Kingwood Center Gardens

Love On A Mission

Love Our Heros

Lucas Community Center

Mansfield Art Center

Mansfield City Schools

NAMI of Richland County

North End Community Improvement Collaborative

Ohio Bird Sanctuary

Ohio Genealogical Society

Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Renaissance Performing Arts

Richland Community Development Group

Richland County Park District

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio

Rubies Womens Group Inc.

Shakespeare Company of Mansfield

Taking Root Farms

The Downtown Arts Theater, Inc.

The Domestic Violence Shelter

Third Street Family Health Services

Tri-County Educational Service Center

Visual Bucket List Foundation

Wayne Center for the Arts

YMCA of North Central Ohio

276 college students were awarded scholarships totaling over $787,267. The board also approved eight scholarships to students attending a career technical education school. So far this year, CTE scholarships total almost $85,000. The Scholarship Committee implemented a rolling deadline for CTE scholarships to meet various enrollment deadlines.