United Way Awards Grants to Local Agencies
Awards Grant to YMCA to Operate City of Findlay’s Summer Day Camp Program

Findlay, OH –The United Way of Hancock County board of trustees approved grants during the monthly board meeting today. Grants were awarded to 29 programs offered by 15 partner agencies throughout the county. Forty community leaders volunteered to serve on the three impact teams; education, income and health. Each impact team reviewed grant applications and recommended the distribution of United Way grant funds. The process includes an extensive review of program results, while also looking at the most pressing needs of the community.

An additional supplemental grant was submitted by the Findlay YMCA for $11,400 to underwrite the upcoming City of Findlay’s summer day camp program. Running the day camp program is part of a partnership between the Findlay YMCA and the City of Findlay, put in place to keep the city pool open and sustain the summer youth program.Keith DuVernay, President & CEO of United Way said, “the day camp program certainly supports the population that we want to reach and this program is consistent with our mission.”

Funding for the YMCA Summer Day Camp program will come from United Way reserves, which the board requires to be set aside each year. Other grants provided out of funds raised by the 2009 United Way campaign are as follows:

American Red Cross-Hancock County Chapter was awarded $55,500 for three programs: Disaster Services, providing immediate emergency needs such as shelter, food, clothing and more, to those affected by disasters in our community; Blood Services which coordinates life-saving blood donations; and Service to Armed Forces which provides support during emergencies for families of those in the military and support for local service members, their families and veterans.

Boy Scouts of America, Black Swamp Council was awarded $40,000 for two programs: Learning for Life which provides experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults; and the Boy Scouting program which prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes.

Camp Fire USA of Northwest Ohio was awarded $102,000 for two programs: the Camp Fire Contributes program which includes teaching young people how to how to handle themselves in unsafe situations and how to be of service to their community; and the Camp Fire Connects program which builds caring, confident youth and future leaders. 

Cancer Patient Services was awarded $90,000 for their Patient Support program providing medical supplies, nutritional supplements, emotional support and education to cancer patients.

Children’s Mentoring Connection was awarded $95,000 for their Mentoring Youth at Risk program which recruits and screens adult volunteers to serve as mentors to children.

Family Resource Centers was awarded $130,500 for three programs: Bright Beginnings which focuses on early childhood programming; Community Prevention which focuses on tobacco and alcohol abuse prevention; Hancock Addiction Prevention Program for Youth (HAPPY), a peer-to-peer prevention program.

Findlay Hope House for the Homeless was awarded $159,000 for three programs: the Housing Office, providing assistance and referrals about housing to low-income people; Independence Project which assists those who currently have a home but are at risk of becoming homeless; and Hope House Shelter, providing safe, decent, affordable housing to bridge the gap between emergency shelter and permanent housing for women and single men with children.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio was awarded $47,500 for the Personal and Leadership Development program which promotes girls’ personal growth and leadership development through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences that help them become socially, morally, emotionally, physically and cognitively competent.

Hancock County Voices for Children/CASA was awarded $85,000 for their advocacy program which recruits, trains and supports volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates as they represent abused, neglected or dependent children in the courts.

HHWP Community Action Commission was awarded $238,000 for three programs: Individual Development Account which helps people save for home ownership, education or a business start up or expansion; Hancock Area Transportation Services (HATS), a public transportation program taking people to work, health appointments and more; and the Ohio Benefit Bank, a program that provides low to moderate income families with various federal benefit programs including tax preparation and foreclosure mitigation counseling.

Northwest Ohio Kidney Foundation was awarded $10,850 for their Providing Resources and Opportunities to Maximize Independence through Service Endeavors (PROMISE) program which helps people with kidney disease by providing education, support, advocating patients’ rights, and promoting organ and tissue donation.

Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services was awarded $249,000 for three programs: Adult Services, providing immediate shelter for persons fleeing from violence; Child Services which includes screening for abuse, conducting support groups for children, and providing supervised visits; and Violence Recovery, a program for offenders focused on taking responsibility and changing behavior.

Salvation Army was awarded $148,000 for two programs: Character Development-Youth at Risk, which provides social interaction, recreation, education and nutrition for youth at risk; and Comprehensive Emergency Assistance which includes short term financial assistance and life skills training for families and individuals experiencing short term emergencies.

West Ohio Food Bank was awarded $31,000 for their food distribution program, providing food through mobile food pantries and to local food banks.

Findlay Family YMCA was awarded $75,000 for two programs: the Access Program which makes services accessible to low income families while still requiring a financial contribution, allowing the family to take ownership and regard themselves as a contributing member to the YMCA and community; and their Child Care program which provides educational, social and physical development while also assisting low income families with child care expenses.

Both the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio and Century Health did not submit grant requests for funding from United Way for this grant cycle, but did receive investor’s choice funds and additional support such as assistance with marketing and volunteer training.

The amount granted to programs and services in the community totaled $1,556,426.  An additional $90,650 was provided to agencies through funds that were designated through the “investor’s choice” option. The remainder of the $2.5 million pledged by community members in the 2009 fundraising campaign is earmarked for operating expenses, designations to other United Ways, uncollectible pledges, and board required reserves.
 
The board recently approved a requirement that enough reserve funds be set aside for United Way and its partner programs to be able to operate up to three month period in case of unexpected cash flow disruption.

“The recent board decision to increase reserve funds from 1.2 months available in operating costs to having three months of operating costs available is a prudent business decision. Although it made the grant process more challenging, it protects United Way and its partner agencies in case of cash flow interruptions such as unexpected uncollectible pledges, the loss of a major corporation, or natural disaster. Reserves are also used to address emerging needs,” said DuVernay. As exampled by the YMCA/City partnership, these funds can additionally be used for alternative plans during tough economic times.
 
“The community solutions committee feels that the programs being funded will address the most critical of needs in the community,” said Brooks Gray, chair of the community solutions committee. He commended the 40 volunteers who provided “the most scrutiny I have ever witnessed. They asked many questions and looked at the highest priority needs of the agencies and therefore the community. The volunteer impact team members have such a strong desire to be cautious with the dollars entrusted to us by the community. Their efforts are to be highly praised.”

Individuals interested in serving on an Impact Team can contact Bev Phillips, community services director, at 419-423-1432 or bphillips@uwhancock.org. The mission of United Way of Hancock County is to improve lives. This is accomplished by advancing the common good through focusing on the building blocks of a good life; education, health and income. For more information about the work of United Way contact the office at 419-423-1432 or visit http://LiveUnitedHancockCounty.org .