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Twenty non-profit organizations will receive funding to support their programs and services designed to impact the holistic wellness of residents in the Mid Ohio Valley.
Expanded daycare services; improvements to community walking paths and recreation facilities; summer programs for children and teens; better access to healthcare services; and promoting life-time fitness are just a few examples of the projects and programs to be funded by the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund.
"And, more significantly," states Sister Jane Harrington, Executive Director, "they represent another phase in the journey the Charitable Fund began more than a decade ago. The partnerships we've developed over the years have become key assets that strengthen the Fund's and community's commitment to addressing the health and wellness needs of the under-served and vulnerable."
The spring meeting of the SSJCF Board of Directors marked its twenty-second round of grant making. At its conclusion, the board approved funding for the following agencies:
Adventure Pursuit -- Parkersburg, WV; $7,000.00. Community Fitness Pilot Program: promoting increased physical activity and developing methods of connecting interested residents with appropriate fitness activities.
Betsey Mills Club -- Marietta, OH; $15,000.00. Nursery Facility Renovations: facility improvements to expand the Club's infant and toddler daycare program.
Camp Barbe Association -- Elizabeth, WV; $8,000.00. ADA Walkway: facility improvements to make the Camp more handicapped-accessible.
Children's Home Society -- Parkersburg, WV; $6,683.00. Early Dental Care - Planning Grant: for an in-home education program to increase services for pregnant women and young children to improve oral health.
Christian Youth in Action -- Vienna, WV; $3,000.00. MOV Youth Work Camp: materials and supplies for this summer youth program that makes repairs to and refurbishes homes for the elderly and under-served.
Community Action Program -- Marietta, OH; $25,000.00. Washington County Community Health Council -- Free Clinic Feasibility Study: a feasibility study for a free clinic in Washington County.
Franklin Elementary Center -- Parkersburg, WV; $10,000.00. Playground Improvements: playground improvements to the Center's recreation area.
Foster Grandparent Program -- Parkersburg, WV; $12,000.00. Senior Volunteer Recruitment: a local match required for the national grant supporting this program that provides special-needs or disadvantaged children inter-generational relationships with seniors in the MOV.
Town of Grantsville -- Grantsville, WV; $5,000.00. Tennis Court Improvements: toward repairs of the tennis courts in the town's municipal park.
Gilman United Methodist Church -- Marietta, OH; $1,650.00. AED Equipment: toward the purchase of an AED and implementation of a Basic Life Support course.
Kids on Campus -- Athens, OH; $14,000.00. CircusFit Project: to incorporate this physical fitness curriculum into the Summer Kids on Campus program; and to support the Summer Program's nurse's station and other staff.
Marietta College -- Marietta, OH; $38,739.00. Non-Profit Needs / Capacity Assessment: research project to determine the needs and capacity of area nonprofit agencies, which will be used to guide efforts to assist and strengthen these organizations.
MOV Health Department -- Parkersburg, WV; $5,000.00. MOV Substance Abuse Consortium: planning grant to assist the work of this coalition.
City of Parkersburg -- Parkersburg, WV; $20,000.00. Johnson T. Janes Nature Preserve: support for a pedestrian bridge to provide access to this wetlands preserve.
P.S. Project -- Parkersburg, WV; $15,000.00. Staff and Program Support: for this program addressing chronic mental health issues.
ReUse Industries -- Albany, OH; $4,000.00. Athens Thrift Store Expansion: expanding staff and operations of this organization that provides job-training and work experience for low-income residents seeking to become self-sufficient.
Ritchie County Parks & Recreation -- Harrisville, WV; $25,000.00. Park Development: toward the construction of the first county-wide recreational facility, providing a central location for youth sports and recreational programs.
City of Spencer -- Spencer, WV; $7,316.00. Summer Recreation Program: repairs to the municipal swimming pool; part of an ongoing maintenance project for the facility.
Wheeling Health Right, Inc. -- Wheeling, WV; $25,000.00. Access to Services - Tyler County: to expand its healthcare services to under-served residents of Tyler County.
City of Williamstown -- Williamstown, WV; $25,000.00. Swimming Pool: toward the construction of the City's municipal swimming pool and recreation area.
"The role of the SSJCF is more than just disbursing grant funds," states Sister Jane Harrington, Executive Director of the Fund. "Collaboration is a core value of the SSJCF and we strive to support projects and agencies that exemplify this guiding principle.
Throughout the 10 years we've been in operation," Sr. Harrington continues, "we have learned that sharing resources, expertise, and innovative ideas is an efficient, effective, and meaningful approach to creating and supporting the changes necessary to enhance the quality of life in the Mid Ohio Valley."
Next Grant Cycle Opens, June 1, 2008.
The Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund will begin accepting Letters of Inquiry for the Fall 2008 cycle on June 1, 2008; the deadline for these letters is 3 p.m. on July 9. To be eligible for consideration the organization must be a non-profit or public agency with tax-exempt status (or community-based group sponsored by such an agency), whose project or proposal is consistent with the Fund's guiding principles. The project or proposal must directly and clearly relate to health and wellness, address one of three funding programs (Community Support Initiative;
Health Ministry Initiative, or More Active People Initiative); and, take place in and benefit the residents of one or more of the following counties: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wood, Wirt, and Roane in West Virginia, and Athens, Meigs, and Washington of Ohio.
All letters must be in the Charitable Fund office no later than 3 p.m. on July 9. There are specific instructions for completing a Letter of Inquiry and applicants are encouraged to call the Charitable Fund office (304-424-6080) for guidelines about the procedures to complete this first step in the application process.
Applicants may also obtain this information from the SSJCF website and are encouraged to visit www.ssjcharitablefund.org for more details.
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