VWCF gives grants to local organizations

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A number of community organizations that were beneficiaries of grants from the Van Wert County Foundation (VWCF) this year were on hand Thursday for check presentation photos at the foundation offices on East Main Street (click here for more photos). The money disbursed represents interest income realized from bequests made to the foundation.

The VWCF also provides scholarships and grants to a large number of area high school graduates and college students to help further their education.

The organizations were among those approved for a total of $455,000 in funding by the VWCF Board of Trustees in June. Grants were from restricted and non-restricted funds within the foundation.

Major donations include a $100,000 donation to the Van Wert County Council on Aging from the John Alspach Fund to help pay off the Senior Center’s long-term liability, $37,500 to Vantage Career Center from the Rose R. and Ellis C. Lampke Fund for use in Vantage’s Electronics program, $32,600 for First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert from the Jim Johnson, Gaylord Leslie Trust and Leslie Endowment funds, $25,000 from the Oscar J. Scaer Fund to the YMCA of Van Wert County for building maintenance and repair, $25,000 from the Mary Irene Eisenhauer Fund for the Transitional Housing Program and pool maintenance, $10,000 to Wee Care Learning Center for playground equipment, $10,000 to The Salvation Army for emergency assistance, $9,500 to the Ohio State University Extension program for agricultural testing, and another $8,600 to the OSU Extension to hire a 4-H summer intern. The testing grant was made from the John D. Ault Fund, while the intern grant was made from the Black Inc. Fund.

VWCF Executive Secretary Larry Wendel noted that grant recipients this year included the following:

AARL Foundation, American Association of University Women, Wassenberg Art Center awards, Boy Scouts of America, Brumback Library, Buckeye Y, Challenged Higher Peer Support, Convoy Preschool, Convoy Village Ministry Center, Van Wert County Council on Aging.

Also, Crestview Local Schools, Culver Military Academy, Fall Fright Festival, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Gardeners of Van Wert County, American Heart Association, Holiday at Home, Lincolnview Local Schools, Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House.

Also, Ohio Northern University, Old Fashioned Farmers Days, Ohio State University Extension-Van Wert County, Paulding County 4-H, Payne Fire Department, Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, Pleasant Township Cemetery, area school districts (needy children), Sigma Chi Foundation.

Also, St. Paul’s Church, Van Wert City Schools, Vantage Career Center, Village of Venedocia, Village of Wren, Visiting Nurses Association, Van Wert Area Boychoir, Van Wert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Van Wert Civic Theatre, Van Wert Cooperative Ministry.

Also, Van Wert County Agricultural Society (fair board), Van Wert County Crime Victims Inc., Van Wert County Fruit Growers Association, Van Wert County Historical Society, Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert County’s Sheriff’s Office, Junior Achievement of Van Wert County, Main Street Van Wert, Van Wert Peony Festival Committee, The Salvation Army of Van Wert, Van Wert Special Olympics, Van Wert Tennis Complex, Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation District, Wee Care Learning Center, YMCA, Youth of Christ, and the YWCA.