VW County Foundation gives $1.7 million

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Foundation (VWCF) has long been a valuable community resource, providing grants for non-profit organizations that need financial help, while also giving scholarships and grants to needy students in Van Wert and Paulding counties.

This past year, the foundation awarded nearly $1.7 million in grants and scholarships. Included in that total were grants totaling $229,300 approved during the VWCF Board of Trustees’ semi-annual meeting this past December.

The largest grant awarded was one of $75,000 to the Van Wert Business Development Corporation as an investment in that quasi-governmental organization’s Opportunity Fund, a capital project whose aim is to purchase land adjacent to Vision Industrial Park in Van Wert that can be used for economic development purposes.

Another $34,800 was awarded to Brumback Library for software upgrades, while the YMCA and YWCA each received $25,000. The YMCA is using its grant for building repairs and other projects at Camp Play, while the YWCA grant will go to that organization’s Transitional Housing Program.

Other grants awarded in December are as follows:

• Van Wert Historical Society — $5,000 to restore a rare 1917 Overland Opera Touring Coupe automobile formerly owned by Charles Wassenberg.

• Community Improvement Corporation — $500 to help fund the CIC’s Business Plan Challenge.
• Crisis Care Line — $5,000 to the Crisis Care Line/House of Transitions domestic violence shelter.
• Van Wert County Agricultural Society (fair board) — $6,000 to renovate the Swine Barn on the fairgrounds.
• Challenged Higher — $2,500 for transportation expenses.
• Ohio State University Extension — $9,500 to help fund the continuation of an educational and research-based program, and $5,000 for an agricultural summer internship program.
• Junior Achievement — $2,000 to help fund area JA programming.
• Peony Festival — $5,000 to pay for bands to play in the 2015 Peony Festival Grand Parade.
• Paulding County Foundation — $5,000 to help fund repairs to a livestock barn at the Paulding County Fairgrounds.
• 4-H — $2,500 for 4-H camp counselor training and 4-H scholarships; $8,600 for a 4-H program assistant; and $12,900 for the Black Inc. fair awards.