Erie County Community Foundation hands out $121K

By RANDY WAGNER

Erie County Community Foundation

The Erie County Community Foundation has completed its Round 2, 2019 community grants cycle. Funding for these grants was made possible as the result of a major grant to the Community Foundation from the Randolph J. and Estelle M. Dorn Foundation and the generous support of many donors in the community. The Round 2 grants have resulted in $120,484 being awarded to 27 local, non-profit organizations. An additional $727 was awarded to a local non-profit organization from its Field of Interest Funds. Grants were awarded to organizations in Huron, Margaretta, Perkins, Sandusky and Vermilion. Many of the grants were awarded to organizations that serve all of Erie County.

In the category of Youth Services, grants were awarded to:

• Cinderella’s Closet of Northeast Ohio – $2,500 for Plus Size Formals
• Perkins Township – $5,000 for Abernathy Park Playground Equipment
• Sandusky Library – $5,000 for Surveillance System Upgrade
• Teen Leadership Corps – $4,500 for Leadership Program

In the category of Social Services, grants were awarded to:

• American Red Cross – $5,000 for Home Fire Campaign
• Cancer Services of Erie County – $5,000 for Patient Services Program
• Care and Share of Erie County – $5,000 for Food Pantry
• Community Youth Mentoring – $2,811 for School Buddies (Children’s Health Fund)
• Erie County Family and Children First Council – $6,000 for Training in Trauma Informed Care
• Firelands Habitat for Humanity – $8,000 for Energy Saving Appliances and Fixtures for House No. 104
• Kinship, Inc. – $5,000 for Kinship House Renovation Project
• Lighthouse Assembly of God/Huron Helping Hands – $3,000 for Laundry, Cleaning and Personal Hygiene Supplies
• OHgo – $5,000 for Children’s Christmas Gifts
• Project Share of Margaretta Township – $2,500 for Gift Certificates for Groceries or Coats for Kids
• Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter – $5,000 for Shelter Exterior Painting
• Salvation Army – $7,000 for Walk-In Cooler and Freezer
• Second Harvest Food Bank – $8,500 for Food Distribution
• Zion Lutheran Church – $2,000 for Groceries for Community Thanksgiving Dinner

In the category of Environment, grants were awarded to

• Back to the Wild – $6,700 for Clinic Sink and Counter Replacement
• Boots to Grasses Therapy Horsemanship Program – $1,700 for Rotary Cutter Tractor
• Erie Shores Network – $2,000 for Health and Wellness Program
• Lake Erie Foundation – $2,500 for Production of YouTube Educational Videos

In the category of Community Development/Municipalities, grants were awarded to:

• Main Street Vermilion – $5,000 for Vermilion Lighthouse Painting

In the category of Arts and Humanities, grants were awarded to:

• Harlequins, Inc. – $5,000 to Replace Current Lighting
• Sandusky Concert Association – $2,000 for River Raisin Ragtime Revue Concert

In the category of Education/Schools, grants were awarded to:

• Margaretta Local School District – $5,000 for Creation of STEM Lab in Elementary School
• Sandusky Central Catholic Athletic Boosters – $4,500 for Wrestling Mats

The Erie County Community Foundation continues a tradition of mindful, effective grant making, addressing a variety of needs throughout Erie County. Each year, the Foundation holds two grant cycles, in which the deadline for its first grant cycle is Feb. 1. In the 24 years since its inception, The Erie County Community Foundation has awarded more than $7.5 million to organizations in Erie County.

The Erie County Community Foundation is a publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to develop a permanent endowment, to identify and respond to community needs, and to facilitate charitable giving. For additional information or to make a donation, contact The Erie County Community Foundation at 419-621-9690 or info@eriefoundation.org.

Randy Wagner is assistant program director for Erie County Community Foundation, 135 E. Washington Row, Suite A, Sandusky, Ohio 44780, 419-621-9690, randyw@eriefoundation.org.