2017 Community Grants for Healthcare
A healthy community is a strong community. Building on its legacy in healthcare, Marion Community Foundation awarded $110,800 in during its 2017 Community Grants Program for healthcare needs and access in the Marion area. Grant recipients include: Center Street Community Health Center, Eye-to-Eye Low Vision Support Group, the Marion Family YMCA, Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Marion Area Counseling Center, Marion County Children Services, Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission, and the Resource Foundation.
“Marion Community Foundation has been, since even before its inception, focused on caring for the community of Marion, Ohio,” said Dean Jacob, Foundation President and CEO. “Marion Community Foundation began as a healthcare provider – the Mary Elizabeth Smith Foundation, became the Ohio MedCenter Foundation, and eventually, upon the sale of the hospital’s assets to Marion General Hospital in 1998, became the Foundation as we know it today. In May, we will be celebrating our 20th birthday.”
As part of its on-going commitment to facilitating health care access in Marion, the Foundation awarded a $3,257 grant to enable the Center Street Community Health Center to offer financial assistance to those seeking care at the Center.
A grant of $2,800 will enable the Eye-to-Eye Low Vision Support Group to update and reprint its resource guide for its low vision and blind members. This resource guide is provided to members and physicians’ offices to facilitate locating programs, vision aid products, and transportation for the sight impaired.
According to Dixie Lyon, “Every member and physician have a Resource Guide that explains about the different eye diseases and lists phone numbers of organizations and businesses that may be able to help them – including reading materials, religious organizations and Bibles, sharing solutions, social, recreation, and entertainment support groups, technology, and transportation resources — all helping make their lives easier.”
The Marion Family YMCA is the recipient of three grants – $43,750 as the final installment of a $131,250-multi-year award to the “We’re Here For You” capital campaign, $2,400 for the Parkinson’s Delay the Disease program, and $1,200 for arthritis exercise programming.
YMCA Director Theresa Lubke said, “We offer aquatic exercise classes and Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi program, land based arthritis and a balance class intended to help improve balance and stability.” She noted that arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America with over 50 million adults affected by some type of this disease.
The Y offers seven Parkinson’s classes a week, including for absolute beginners, intermediate, and advanced, as well as for caregivers of those suffering from the disease.
Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program received an $11,588 grant in support of its Changes and Choices educational program in Marion County middle and high schools. Executive Director Jennifer Valentine describes the program as “the foundation upon which all of our efforts at preventing teen pregnancies rests” and that the classes “provide hope and positive life options for all young people.” Changes and Choices is a five day course in health classes for grades 7, 8, and 9.
Another multi-award recipient, Marion Area Counseling Center received three grants totaling $37,300. The individual grants include $8,000 in support of their Signs of Suicide educational program for area middle and high schools, $7,300 for client transportation assistance, and $22,000 for capital improvements.
Lack of transportation can be a significant barrier for individuals struggling with addiction issues seeking treatment. With this grant, Marion Community Foundation seeks to address this pressing community need.
“Over the past five plus years MACC has been involved in the expansion of services and housing options for those with mental health or substance use disorders,” said Caryn Knapp. “With the drug epidemic, a significant effort was put into increasing services because of the great need for services and in filling some essential gaps in services for this population. This focus took precedence over other capital needs of the current facilities.”
MACC’s capital needs are for improvements to its MACC West facility. Remodeling is in progress, but there are exterior issues causing serious safety concerns. The two stairwells to the second floor need to be replaced as rusting, with several holes developing, is weakening the structure.
Marion County Children Services is also a multi-grant recipient. The $2,000 award is actually two $1,000 grants, one for their Ridin’ Safely child car seat program and one for improvements of their indoor/outdoor play area heavily utilized during family visitations.
Ridin’ Safely provides free child safety seats and education to families of children in need. The grant will purchase 100 car seats for the program.
According to Angie Johnson, the visitation area improvements are vital. She explained, “It is difficult when a child is removed from his or her parents. It is difficult for all parties when coming to our agency to see parents and children for as little as one hour per week. The grant will allow us to replace outdated, overused toys and build an outdoor play area in our courtyard that will open up the possibility of outdoor enjoyment for many, while enabling the appropriate supervision required.”
Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission has been awarded $2,500 toward one of the Foundation’s longest standing programs of support. Ohio Heartland coordinates the United Community Rx Program which was started in 2000 as collaboration among the agency, United Way of Marion County, and Marion Community Foundation. It provides assistance for individuals without insurance to obtain doctor prescribed medications.
The United Community Rx Program provides medication assistance to individuals who have resided in Marion County for 90 days or longer, are income eligible (200% of the federal poverty guidelines), and have no prescription insurance. Walgreen Pharmacy is also a partner in this program.
“Individuals all too often have to make the decision of cutting pills in half to make them last longer, skip doses, or not get them at all if it means eating,” said Tracey Rector. “Through this program we allow for peace of mind and a healthier community.”
While a grant to the Resource Foundation may not appear local, it is in keeping with a local donor’s wishes. The Resource Foundation is an organization which facilitates international charitable giving. It will provide the $4,061 grant to MUDE (Mujeres en Desarrollo Dominicana) in support its work to improve the quality of life in the Dominican Republic, particularly for those suffering from HIV. This award comes from the Jerry Grubach Memorial Fund at the Foundation and supports a specific healthcare cause important to the fund’s creator.
Marion Community Foundation’s 2017 grants committee, which includes Judge Deb Alspach (chair), Jeremy Dunn, Kelly Garrett, Dr. Henry Heinzmann, Rev. Dan Kiger, Dr. Kim Stark, and Nicolle Wampler, reviewed the applications received this fall, giving each application multiple and thorough review.
“While 36 grants and $538,000 seems like a lot, it does not allow us to fund all of the worthy projects and organizations who applied to us during this year’s grants cycle,” said Jacob. “Creating a new fund at Marion Community Foundation to support a cause you are passionate about is amazingly easy. I welcome interested individuals to call and learn more about the charitable giving options we offer.”
Marion Community Foundation is located at 504 S. State St. in Marion and information is available by visiting or calling, 740-387-9704, or online at www.marioncommunityfoundation.org.
