Board Approves $740K in Grants & Scholarships
Marion Community Foundation is big on community support – awarding $740,000 in scholarships and grant programs — announced Board of Directors chair Dr. Chuck Speelman, following the April 2024 meeting.
“Supporting the communities of Marion County and its students is our top priority,” said Speelman. “We are incredibly appreciative of our donors and the impact their generosity has on the quality of life in Marion.”
Since its inception in 1998, Marion Community Foundation has been governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, who recently approved awards for the Foundation’s annual Scholarship Program as well as several categories of grants — including the TEACH Grants for educators Marion and Morrow counties, the Racial Equity & Justice Grants, and awards from Field of Interest funds, among others.
The Board approved $536,000 in scholarship awards for 193 area high school seniors and graduates for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year. These awards come from 156 scholarship funds created by local donors, including nine new scholarship funds awarding for the first time. These include: Rebecca S. Craig Scholarship, Coach Ed Henning Scholarship, McBride Family Scholarship, Coach Mac Prexy Pride Scholarship, Jeffery Rainey Memorial Scholarship, Linda & Mike Rizzo Scholarship, Calvin H. & Elizabeth L. Topliff Scholarship, and Nancy O. Whitaker Memorial Scholarship. Students can visit the Foundation’s Scholarship Page online to see the official list of scholarship recipients and awards.
Three grant programs were also acted upon by the Board, providing funding for local nonprofits and charities. Awards approved in April include $50,000 in Racial Equity & Justice grants to seven organizations seeking to advance issues of equity and justice in Marion County; more than $22,000 in TEACH (Teaching Educating And Classroom Help) grants to support classroom teachers in Marion and Morrow counties for innovative programs in their schools; and, $63,000 to19 local organizations from 15 of the Foundation’s Field of Interest funds.
Field of Interest funds are created by individual donors wishing to support community groups and programs in their specific areas of interest and passion. Details are available under the Grants tab of the Foundation’s website, www.MarionCommunityFoundation.org.
Since its inception in 1998, Marion Community Foundation has grown from one charitable endowment to more than 500 funds and $67 million in assets.
“We are fortunate to live in a very generous community,” said Speelman. “The people of Marion support each other and, through Marion Community Foundation, are supporting our hard-working, local nonprofits and charities for generations to come, making the Foundation’s motto ‘For You. For Marion. Forever.’ ring true.”
Marion Community Foundation is located inside the historic Stengel-True Mansion at 504 S. State St. in Marion. Office hours are weekdays 9am-5pm. The staff may be reached by calling 740-387-9704.
