NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARIETTA, OH, July 20, 2001 --- Marietta Community Foundation is proud to announce second cycle grants in the amount of $27,000.

Easter Seals Society of the River Cities was awarded a grant in the amount of $3,500 to establish and conduct "Camp Challeng", their first overnight camping opportunity to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.  The camp is designed to challenge and stimulate youths with disabilities or other special needs.  The camp will accommodate ages 9 and up at Camp Hervida on August 6, 7 and 8, 2001.  Qualified counselors, an RN and therapists will be on hand for a safe and fun filled learning experience.

The Castle was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,000 to help make a 5-minute orientation video for elementary children to view when they visit the Castle.  Every year, children from all over Ohio tour the Castle during classroom field trips.  This video will present a child's eye view of the lifestyle of children who previously inhabited the Castle.

Barlow-Vincent PTO was awarded $5,000 to help with the purchase of new playground equipment.  Playground equipment will meet the American Disabilities Act requirements.  Barlow-Vincent PTO has raised more than half of the funds needed to complete the project.

The Ohio Showboat Drama, Inc. was awarded $10,000 to purchase heating and cooling units needed throughout the Boat.  Due to years of use and innumerable repairs the existing units are unreliable at best.  They are at least 17 years old and are survivors of the 1984 sinking of the Showboat.  The completion of this project will provide a comfortable atmosphere for patrons of the Showboat and help preserve the boat.

Sand Hill Child Care Center was awarded $500 to help with the purchase of a swing set for the Center.  The Sand Hill Child Care Center provides a safe and loving environment to children when they are away from their parent(s).

Selby General Hospital was awarded a grant of $2,000 to help fund a team building intervention for 20 volunteers and 10 staff supervisors.  Selby just recently celebrated one year of their volunteer services and is interested in increasing job efficiency and job satisfaction of both volunteers and supervisors by offering in-house team-building. 

EVE, Inc. was awarded a grant of $4,000 to help fund the Washington County Supervised Visitation and Child Exchange Center.  This Center provides two basic services.  The first is a supervised child exchange. The Center allows parents to exchange children for unsupervised visitation in a neutral and safe environment under the supervision of the staff and college interns. The exchanges are scheduled so that the parents do not come into contact with each other.  The second basic service is supervised visitation. If a parent can not provide a safe environment, the center offers hours for on-site supervised visits.

Members of the Allocations Committee are Teri Ann 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. Broughton 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 October 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.