Marietta Community Foundation Grants More than $37,000 to Area Non-Profits

--- Nine area non-profit organizations are recipients of Marietta Community Foundation?s first cycle grants allocations. 
 ARTSBRIDGE Inc.- Awarded a grant to help support professional touring productions in Washington County Schools as part of its education program.  This program has been offered many years and with great success.  Funding was cut short this year and MCF?s ability to help will ensure that ARTSBRIDGE can continue these wonderful programs in the schools. 
? Bartlett Elementary School PTO - Awarded a grant in order to help upgrade old playground equipment.  Bartlett Elementary, located in the northwest portion of the county, serves students grades 4-8 who have different needs than primary grades, the age group the playground was originally developed for more than 35 years ago.  Through this funding and the help of other community members, Bartlett Elementary PTO will be able to begin upgrading and updating the school?s playground.
? Historic Harmar Bridge Co. - Awarded a grant from the Foundation to help challenge other community organizations and individuals to give resources in order to purchase custom built flower boxes for the beautification of the bridge.  Along with restoring the bridge and ensuring its safety, the Bridge Company wants to make flower gardens along the bridge modeled after a small community?s pedestrian ?Bridge of Flowers? that brings more than 24,000 tourists annually to Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.  Their hope is not only will it bring in tourists but also serve to connect the Marietta downtown and Harmar shopping districts.
? Mid-Ohio Valley Players ? Awarded a grant to help fund construction that was needed to repair the roof truss and add additional support of one column and footer.  Upon inspection of the roof of the theatre, it was deemed unsafe.  Because of the up-coming productions and their desire to respond quickly in order to continue activities at the theatre, action was taken and the roof and footer repaired.  To help defray costs to the theatre group, the Foundation is proud to have this chance to help them.
? Marietta Cooperative Child Care, Inc.- Awarded a grant to help provide an Environmental Learning Center for its pre-school population.  The Learning Center is to provide year-around environmental awareness and appreciation of the seasons in a contained classroom.  Outdoor learning will take place, providing the children an area to discover, imagine, and investigate and supplement their current indoor programming. 
? North Hills Elementary School PTO ? Awarded a grant to improve the use of playground space available to the students.  The school?s playground is located on a hillside that has had increasing problems with drainage causing the playground to become very muddy, leading to injuries.  With the Foundation?s help and the continued help from community members, North Hills PTO will be able to make the necessary changes to the playground to help with drainage and safety.
? Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department ? Awarded a grant to challenge the community and their supporters to help raise enough funds to purchase a Jaws of Life.  Currently, this organization does not have the proper equipment to efficiently extract accident victims who are trapped in their vehicles.  Valuable time is lost waiting for the equipment to be brought to the scene by a back up squad from out of the area.  Since the first hour after a trauma is the most critical, the victim?s chances of recovery are reduced due to delayed medical attention.  This piece of equipment will be used in any collaboration with other area fire and rescue departments.
? The Cultural Center of Fine Arts - Awarded a grant to help assist with the creation of interaction galleries and renovated classrooms to expand programming to children and families.  As the only art center in the area, Washington County residents benefit through visiting the Center that also displays works done by Washington County residents.  The Center is wanting to increase its? outreach program and service to the area through development of an interactive gallery for children. 
? Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Washington County (formally the Youth Cultural Center) ? Awarded a grant to help provide for a match needed to receive a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  Recently the Youth Cultural Center became part of the national organization known as the Boys & Girls Club.  They joined forces with the Salvation Army and are now the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Washington County.  Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  The Center will provide a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and hope and opportunity.  Boys & Girls Club programs are carefully designed to support the achievement of the youth development.  The funding from MCF will provide the opportunity for this organization to receive a grant of $35,000 from the Bureau of Justice to help fund its first year of operations.  Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a nationally recognized organization that is ranked number one among youth organizations and number eight among all non-profit organizations according to the 1999 Philanthropy 400?.
Members of the Allocations Committee are Teri Ann Zide, Chairman, Jack Moberg, Ron Bishop, Joan Hushion and Karen Osborne. Their recommendations were approved by the Board of Governors at the past board meeting. 
 The Foundation?s grants are made from income earned by its? unrestricted funds. MCF holds six unrestricted funds. They are the John H. and Josephine B. Broughton Memorial Fund, the Florence Buchanan and John Hall McCoy, Harriet Switzer and Edward Jennings Mildren Fund, the J. Francis and Lillian Strecker Smith Fund, the Leola Booth Fund, the Karl D. and Anna Schultheis Marsch Fund and the Betty Markell Hallock Memorial Fund.
The next deadline for grant applications is June 7, 2002 at 5 o?clock. Applicants can obtain the application and guidelines by calling 740-376-4380. Carol Wharff, Executive Director, invites anyone with questions or in need of help, to contact the Foundation office. The office is located at Marietta College in the McDonough Center, Room 209.