NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARIETTA, OH,  --- Marietta Community Foundation is pleased to announce first cycle grants.

ARTSBRIDGE, Inc. was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,975.  This grant will be used purchase computer equipment that will allow ARTSBRIDGE to provide and maintain an Artist Catalog on the Internet.  ARTSBRIDGE currently produces a printed Arts Education Catalog of Artists annually.  From this catalog, elementary schools in Wood and Washington Counties choose artists who will perform and present in their schools.  Printing costs to produce the 30-page catalog prohibited this catalog to be available for all teachers in the schools to review.  Creating a website that will present the entire catalog, will allow students and teachers to be able to directly search through the catalog and connect with other links that will make the educational experience more meaningful.  The ability to put this catalog on the Internet will eliminate the annual cost of printing the catalog.

The Ely Chapman Education Foundation was awarded a grant in the amount of $16,500. These funds will help to renovate the kitchen and install equipment needed for Health Department certification at their school site on Scammel Street.  The Ely Chapman Education Foundation provides a variety of educational enrichment programs for the community, especially for school age youth.  The Foundation is offering these services through the Ely Chapman Center for the Arts and Sciences.  The Center is developing enrichment programs in art and music, computer literacy, history and culture related to our Appalachian heritage, and environmental education.  The Center's primary goal at this time is to complete the development of the S.U.N.S.H.I.N.E. Learning Station.  The Learning Station serves at-risk students through an after-school program of individualized and small group educational services. Meeting requirements needed for certification from the Health Department will allow the center to meet the requirements of the Department of Jobs and Family Services for licensing and student tuition funding.  This will help allow the Center to expand their services in the future.  
 
Marietta City Schools received a grant for $1,350 to allow the Putnam Elementary School physical education class to purchase items that will benefit the health of students.  Because of the lack of funding, physical education classes have become minimal with very little budget to purchase items that would enhance the learning process for students.  Physical activity is essential for young student's health, and boosting their desire to become active is a must of the teachers.  The items purchased will help monitor the fitness of children and help them become involved in the process by being an active participant.

The Actors Guild of Parkersburg was awarded $2,500 for their Guild Builders Youth Theater Program.  This free six-month, Saturday program provides weekly instruction and participation in all phases of theatre arts: acting- singing- movement and dance- set, props, and costume design and construction- lighting and sound- marketing design- makeup- directing- stage management- and much more.  The program culminates with a main stage musical production with the entire cast and crew comprised of Guild Builders students.  The 2001-2002 production on the Actors Guild main stage will be four performances of The Great Ghost Chase.  Students from all over Washington County are encouraged to participate.  Because of grants received, this program is free of charge.

Wesley Township Volunteer Fire Department, Inc was awarded a grant in the amount of $5,000 to help establish an Emergency Medical Service under sponsorship of the Wesley Township Volunteer Fire Department.  Situated in the far northwest corner of Washington County, Wesley Township has been receiving Emergency Medical Services from Chesterhill Volunteer Fire Department until early 2000.  Chesterhill is no longer able to cross county lines and be the primary responder to emergencies in Wesley Township.  Barlow EMS has been responding to emergencies in Wesley, but because of the distance and time it takes to respond, Barlow is unable to service Wesley permanently.  Therefore, Wesley Township is left to begin its own EMS.  They have been able to purchase a used squad vehicle from the Reno Volunteer Fire Department and will need medical and communications equipment to provide basic service in emergency situations.  An initial stock of consumable supplies will also be needed.

Members of the Allocations Committee are Teri Zide Pfeffer, 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, 2001 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.