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Mansfield Rising Plan approved by Foundation

The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved a plan to invest in downtown Mansfield called Mansfield Rising during its December meeting.

The Foundation is spearheading the plan, previously known as SXSW419, based on its willingness to think about a civic investment strategy in a new and different way. The plan now will be presented to other organizations for adoption including Mansfield City Council, Richland County Commissioners, Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, Richland Community Development Group, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Destination Mansfield and Richland County Regional Planning.  It will be available to the public in February.

In 2017, the Foundation leadership took an unusual track to develop this investment strategy for Downtown Mansfield. Instead of a hiring a professional consulting firm, it had a citizen-led group create the plan.

With the assistance of Richland Area Chamber of Commerce President Jodie Perry and Idea Works President Jay Allred, Foundation leadership hand-selected a diverse and qualified group of 15 individuals to attend the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, TX. SXSW is a world-renowned thought and ideas festival that brings the sharpest minds in government, technology, business, and entertainment together in one place.

Immersed in a world of innovation and excellence, the SXSW419 team publicly documented their experience with blogs in partnership with local media. The core team experienced hundreds of in-person and digital conversations, presentations, and meetings. This information was crucial to develop the plan along with input and oversight from 28 advisors.

The Foundation engaged the Greater Ohio Policy Center to provide guidance for the plan. GOPC  develops and advances policies and practices that value urban cores and metropolitan regions as economic drivers and preserve Ohio’s open space and farmland.  Through advocacy, research, outreach, and education, GOPC strives to create a policy and political climate to allow communities to stabilize and thrive for statewide economic growth. 

The Board of Trustees also approved $396,759 in grants from donor-advised funds to meet emerging needs to the following organizations: 

Foundation Approves Grants for Community Projects

MANSFIELD – The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $568,627 in grants to area nonprofit agencies during its October meeting.

The Mansfield Art Center received a grant for its Art Rising campaign. The campaign includes funding to build a new arts education building, an events pavilion, renovations to the current building, an outreach program with Mansfield City Schools and support of a new marketing/development employee.

Other nonprofits that received grants for projects and programs from the community and field of interest funds that are impacting area residents include:

-Catholic Charities to provide individual assistance.

-Flying Horse Farms to send Richland County children with serious illnesses to camp.

-North Central State College Foundation to renovate classrooms to include smart technology.

The Board of Trustees approved additional grants from donor-advised funds to meet emerging needs to the following organizations:

Richland County Foundation awards over $1.2M in grants

The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $1,245,388.50 in grants to area nonprofit organizations during its August meeting.

The board approved a grant to Richland Community Development Group (RCDG) to continue its economic development efforts through 2021.

In 2015 the Foundation initiated a $1.1 million, five-year Economic Development Investment Plan. RCF funded RCDG to fulfill the Business Retention and Expansion, Workforce Development and Business Attraction aspects of the plan. The original plan was to scale-back funding in 2019.

However, in 2016 RCDG merged with the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. The new partnership is expected to improve the metrics to attract new businesses, strengthen workforce, retain existing businesses and help other communities like Shelby, Ontario, and Bellville with economic development.

Richland County Job and Family Services provided $50,000 each year of the plan to help fund Workforce Development.

In addition to RCDG, the Foundation’s plan has provided funding for a scale-up program to help existing businesses grow, entrepreneurship-related services and a community website, Richland Vital Signs, which tracks local economic indicators.

The board reviewed the $57,493 in educational program grants for the upcoming school year to local teachers for their creative or supplemental programs not covered by school funding. The grants were given to K-12 teachers in public and private Richland County schools to encourage them to develop new programs, projects, or events for their classrooms.

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds to meet emerging needs at the following organizations:

 August, 23, 2018

Foundation awards grants to local teachers

MANSFIELD – The Richland County Foundation awarded $57,493 in educational program grants for the upcoming school year to local teachers for their creative or supplemental programs not covered by school funding.

The grants are given to K-12 teachers in public or private Richland County schools to encourage them to develop new programs, projects, or events for their classrooms.  The following grants were selected by a committee comprised of Richland County Foundation board members, teachers, and community volunteers.

Rich Hoover                        Clear Fork Valley Schools                            Prison History Unit

Kelly Harris                          Clear Fork Valley Schools                           Tower Garden

Christy Walter                   Crestview Local Schools                                Flagway Mathematical Competition

Dwight Souder                  Crestview Local Schools                               Aeronautics STEAM Program

Robin Dawson                   Crestview Local Schools                               Forensic Science & Biology

Angela Smith                     Foundation Academy                                    Current Events Magazine

Cara Pelphrey                    Lexington Local Schools                               Write Stuff STEAM Kits

Lisa Hughes                        Mansfield Christian School                          Science Kits 

Michelle Lehman             Mansfield City Schools                                   Literacy Program

Keli Henry                           Mansfield City Schools                                 Robotics Program

Thomas Blike                     Mansfield City Schools                                 Entrepreneurship through Culinary Arts

Kathy Kranch                     Mansfield City Schools                                 Battle of the Books

Nancy Niedermier           Mansfield City Schools                                  3D Creation

Sarah Schonauer              Mansfield City Schools                                 Sight Word Station

Heidi Payne                        Mansfield City Schools                                STEM Kits

Patty Lilley                          Mansfield City Schools                                Leader in Me Initiative

Susan Rice                           Mansfield City Schools                               Leader in Me Initiative

Jennifer Jarvis                   Mansfield City Schools                                  Project Based Instruction for First Graders

Jill Danison                          Mansfield City Schools                               Non Fiction Literacy

Kathy Edwards                  Mansfield City Schools                                 Brain Pop Jr.

Kevin Stone                        Mansfield City Schools                                Science Tools

Bernadette Redman       Mansfield City Schools                                  Indoor Recess Equipment

Lisa Foley                             Mansfield City Schools                               Outdoor Educational Program

Stephanie Chandler        Mansfield City Schools                                  Positive Behavior Program

Robin Porter                      Mansfield City Schools                                 Puppetry Arts

Linda White                        Mansfield City Schools                                Leader in Me Initiative

Jeanette Fike                     Mansfield City Schools                                 Indoor Recess Equipment

Cindy Colvin                       Mansfield City Schools                                Visual Art and Journaling

Melissa Vogt                      Mansfield City Schools                                Reading Center

Cassandra Bowen            Mid Ohio Abraxas School                            Photography Integration

Julie Pfeifer                        Mid Ohio Abraxas School                            eBooks

Kalyn Stichler                     Pioneer Career & Technology Center      National Tech Honor Society

Colby Dunn                         Richland School of Academic Arts           Physics Experiments

Angela Vega                       Richland School of Academic Arts            Robotics Program

Kate Mould                        Richland School of Academic Arts            STEM Kits

Daniel Jones                       Richland School of Academic Arts           Classroom Gamification

Chesley Talisse                  Richland School of Academic Arts           Orff Instruments

Laura Stine                          Sacred Heart Catholic School                  Mindful Mats

Tracy Mathys                     Shelby City Schools                                    Indoor Recess Equipment

Anne Finn                           Shelby City Schools                                    Fine Motor Activities

Susan James                      St. Peter’s Schools                                       STEM Kits

Sarah Rizzo                         St. Peter’s Schools                                      Literacy Center

Erica Russell                        Temple Christian School                          Art Supplies

Wendy Groff                     Temple Christian School                            Art Integration

Promise Robinson           Temple Christian School                            Science Kits

Kim Running                       Temple Christian School                          Keyboarding & Speech

Funded through the Betty Martin Elementary Education Fund

Bernadette Redman       Mansfield City Schools                                Indoor Recess Equipment

Jeanette Fike                     Mansfield City Schools                               Indoor Recess Equipment

Funded through the Harry and Lois McCullough Fund

Angela Vega                       Richland School of Academic Arts           Ohio History Reenactment

Funded through the Ethel Mayer Southeast Community Fund

Angela Hartz                      Mansfield City Schools                              Science Kits

Funded through the Margaret Ann Lindley Fund

Joshua Cunningham       Mansfield City Schools                                Books

Jami Gilger                          Shelby City Schools                                    Reading Resources

Lauren Reichenbach       Ontario Middle School                                Reading and Literacy Activities

Jan Weithman                   Mansfield City Schools                               Non-Fiction Literacy

July 31, 2018

Foundation awards over $1.2 M in grants in June

The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $1,230,106 in grants to nonprofit organizations during its June meeting.

Projects at area nonprofit organizations that received grants from a combination of unrestricted, donor advised and field of interest funds include:

CACY for Project CODE Richland, a safe disposal program for liquid and gel medications

Humane Society of Richland County to provide low-cost spay and neuter services for cats and dogs

Mid Ohio Educational Service Center to provide certifications for students at Abraxas

North Central Ohio Land Conservancy for expansion of the Clear Fork Valley Scenic Trail

Ohio State University at Mansfield Foundation for a mathematics literacy initiative at Mansfield City Schools

Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board for construction of buildings to house a withdrawal management program and drug rehabilitation program at New Beginnings

Salvation Army for its Homeless Prevention Program

Starfish Project of Richland County for its Family Fun Day

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds to meet emerging needs at the following organizations:

June 13, 2018

Richland County Foundation funds summer interns and more

The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $262,503 in grants during its April board meeting.  Over $100,000 in grants went to fund 24 paid summer interns at Richland County nonprofit organizations from the Fran and Warren Rupp Donor Advised Fund. 

The Summertime Kids Committee chaired by Foundation Board of Trustee member Julie McCready and members from the community awarded 35 Summertime Kid grants totaling $63,225.05. The grants of up to $2,500 were given to support creative, educational and fun-filled activities for hundreds of Richland County children. 

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds which allows individuals and families the opportunity to make grant suggestions to 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:

 April 11, 2018

Foundation grants over $63,000 for kids' summertime activities 

The Richland County Foundation is supporting summertime programs focused on children.  The Summertime Kids Committee chaired by Foundation Board of Trustee member Julie McCready and members from the community awarded 35 Summertime Kid grants totaling $63,225.05. The grants of up to $2,500 were given to support creative, educational and fun-filled activities for hundreds of Richland County children. 

The following grants were approved:

Blue Rose Mission                                          Home Repairs and Training

Camp Nuhop                                                   Summer Camp

Crestview Local Schools                                 Arts Enrichment

Crossroads City Center                                  City Center – Summer Rocks!

Culliver Reading Center                                 Camp Culliver

CHAP Hubb                                                      Girl Talk                                             

Domestic Violence Shelter                            Outside the Box

Friendly House                                                Summer Fun Program

Harmony House                                              Kids Vacation

Heartland Academy                                        Splash-tastic Fun Time

Hospice of North Central Ohio                     Camp Hope

K-City Childcare                                               Summer of Science

Kingwood Center Gardens                            Bug Day

Little Buckeye Children’s Museum               Little Helper Program

Malabar Intermediate School                       Summer Bridge Camp

Mankind Murals                                              Summer Mural Project

Mansfield Area Y                                             Y on Wheels

Mansfield City Parks                                       Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs

Mansfield Playhouse                                      Mulan Jr.

Mid Ohio Youth Mentoring                           Summer Picnic

NECIC                                                                Summer Manufacturing Institute

Ohio Bird Sanctuary                                       Friendly House Nature Camp

Ontario City                                                     Summer Recreation Program

Ohio State University – Mansfield               Summer STEM Camp

Parent Aide Program                                     Kids Cook International

Renaissance Performing Arts                       Camp Broadway

Salvation Army                                                Summer Zone

Shelby City Schools                                         Camp Invention

St. Mary Schools                                               Garden of Eatin

UMADAOP                                                         Summer Performing Arts

STK grants funded via Field of Interest Funds:

Catalyst Life Services                                        Do It Deaf

Children’s Cupboard                                         Summer Program

Independent Living of North Central Ohio   Try It Tuesdays

Richland Newhope                                            Campership Program

Zoe’s Learning Center                                       Field Trips

March 5, 2018

Richland County Foundation approves over $1.8M in grants 

The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $ 1,824,304.10 during its February meeting.  

Grants were awarded from the Community Fund to the following nonprofit organizations:

Richland Community Development Group received a grant to purchase flowers and hanging baskets for its Mansfield and Bellville Beautification Sectors and to the Bellville Arts Sector to paint crosswalks.   

Plymouth Historical Society received a grant to assist in its application to designate Plymouth as a Historic District.

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor advised funds which allows individuals and families the opportunity to make grant suggestions to 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: 

The board approved grants from donor designated and agency funds. Agency Funds are established by charitable organizations and can be endowed or non-endowed. The agency benefits from the Foundation’s professional asset management, which allows the agency’s staff and board to focus on providing services to their constituents.

Designated Funds provide annual support to the charities selected by the donor. They offer the added benefit that if the organization ceases to exist; the Foundation has the responsibility to ensure that the donor's original intent is met in seeking new suitable organizations.  

The following organizations received grants form donor designated and agency funds:

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