Marion Communtiy Basis awards $567K to spice up youth and neighborhood wants

Marion Neighborhood Basis has authorised $567,000 in neighborhood grants to 45 native organizations, with an emphasis — for the second yr in a row — on packages for youth and teenagers in Marion County, in accordance with a neighborhood announcement.

The inspiration’s grants committee, led by chair Jody Demo-Hodgins, mirrored a deal with addressing the neighborhood’s wants, significantly in areas displaying an elevated demand.

“This yr, two key areas emerged: tackling the crucial, quick wants for meals and help, and strengthening the pipeline of younger leaders in Marion County,” Demo-Hodgins stated within the announcement. “And, for the second consecutive yr, Marion’s Youngsters obtained the most important share of funding, demonstrating the Basis’s unwavering dedication to youth growth, security, and profession preparedness.”

Applications for Marion’s children obtained the most important share of funding, totaling one-fifth of the general awards granted — $123,545. This funding helps initiatives that construct confidence, guarantee secure areas and join schooling to native profession pathways.

The Boys and Ladies Membership of Marion County obtained funding for its Future Prepared Youth program, which presents mentorship and hands-on profession exploration. The YMCA’s Rec, which offers free entry for teenagers in downtown Marion, additionally obtained help.

The Salvation Military’s Stage Up! Life Abilities Academy, which teaches sensible abilities like budgeting and cooking, was one other beneficiary. Tri-Rivers Profession Heart’s “Anticipate To Be Wonderful” Summer time Camp, which introduces center college college students to varied profession technical packages, additionally obtained funding.

Along with youth packages, the inspiration prioritized organizations addressing stability, meals safety and restoration.

Grants had been awarded to a number of organizations to fight meals insecurity, together with the Salvation Military’s FreshStart Meals & Care program, LifeCare Alliance’s Meals-on-Wheels and the Marion County Council on Growing old’s Senior Recent Produce Deliveries and Neighborhood Meals program.

The Coronary heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter obtained funding to offer emergency shelter providers, whereas Marion Issues, Inc. obtained help for its packages aimed toward creating self-sufficiency.

Rejoice Restoration at Marion First Church of the Nazarene was funded for its faith-based restoration program, which offers meals, help teams and a therapeutic setting for people and households battling dependancy and psychological well being challenges.

The grants had been beneficial by a volunteer committee of neighborhood members who reviewed every software intimately, in accordance with Kate McCleese, Marion Neighborhood Basis’s program supervisor. The committee goals to advance a neighborhood that’s beneficiant, educated, wholesome, collaborative and vibrant.

“The Neighborhood Grants Committee needs to thank all candidates for his or her dedication to Marion County,” McCleese stated within the announcement. “Marion Neighborhood Basis stays dedicated to working collaboratively with all organizations to handle neighborhood wants.”

The inspiration’s neighborhood grants are made potential by a number of charitable endowments and unrestricted funds. This yr’s grant cycle obtained 77 functions totaling $1.9 million in requests.

Here’s a record of the grant recipients:

Arts

• Marion Arts Legacy Alliance, Marion Open Drum & Bugle Corps occasion 2025

• Marion Live performance Band, Summer time within the Park live performance sequence

• Palace Cultural Arts Affiliation, theatrical lighting updates for the Palace Theatre

• Presidents Band Membership, residency program with Bobby Floyd within the Marion Metropolis Colleges

Fundamental Wants

• American Pink Cross East Central Ohio, Marion County Pink Cross Resilient Communities Venture

• Coronary heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter

• Luke 3:11 Ministries, Lumpy A great deal of Laundry

• Marion Adolescent Being pregnant Program, emergency help funds for households in disaster

• Salvation Military, Strengthening Marion’s Resilience: Salvation Military Emergency Catastrophe Companies

• Y-Males’s Service Membership, wheelchair ramps

Neighborhood

• Associates of Caledonia, Caledonia Pageant of the Sq.

• Huber Equipment Museum, promoting and publications

• Marion County Historic Society, Safeguarding Historical past: Digitizing the Previous

• Marion Household YMCA, new beginning blocks for the natatorium

• Peace and Freedom Committee, 2026 MLK Day Breakfast and Youth Oratory and Artwork Contests, Hats Off to You Girls Luncheon, and Juneteenth actions

• Prospect Park Fee, set up of a brand new Curva spinner and new disc golf basket signage

• St. Mary Church-Avanzar Juntos, Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Disabilities

• Down Syndrome Affiliation of Central Ohio, Summer time Studying Academy – Marion

• Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Household & Sibling Help Teams

• Recreation Limitless Basis, camper scholarship funding for Marion County

• Wings of an Angel, Particular Gear for Particular Youngsters

Schooling

• Marion Public Library Let’s Learn 20, Historical past involves life by way of books through the America 250 celebration yr

• Marion Technical School, Investing in Marion’s Future: Eliminating Tuition Limitations for Pandemic-Impacted Graduates

Households

• Marion Household YMCA, Security Round Water pilot

• Marion Sufferer Help Program

• Salvation Military, Stage Up! Life Abilities Academy

Meals Safety

• Lifecare Alliance, Meals-on-Wheels and senior eating facilities in Marion County

• Marion Metropolis Colleges, College students Catch 3 Breaks 2025-26 Faculty 12 months

• Marion County Council on Growing old, recent produce deliveries and neighborhood meals for seniors

• Cellular Meals of Marion County, meal help program

• Salvation Military, FreshStart Meals & Care

• St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall), Bread for All Individuals

• St. Vincent de Paul Heart of Marion, Feeding Marion

Well being & Wellness

• Grace Clinics of Ohio-Marion, Security Internet Free Healthcare facility enlargement

• Ohio Heartland Neighborhood Motion Fee (OHCAC), United Neighborhood Rx Program

• Shining a Mild on Pediatric Most cancers

• Marion First Church of the Nazarene, Rejoice Restoration program

Marion’s Youngsters

• Boys and Ladies Membership of Marion County, Pathways to Full Potential – Future Prepared Youth

• Metropolis of Marion, Growing Rec Heart entry

• Logos Christian Ministries, Constructing Gaps, Breaking Limitations

• Marion Household YMCA, Rec and Useful resource Heart packages and operations

• Mid-Ohio Superb Artwork Society, Youth Outreach Program

• Marion Metropolis Police, MPACT Program

• Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace, Venture SERVE: Help, Empower, Respect, Volunteer, Interact

• Tri-Rivers Profession Heart, Anticipate to Be Wonderful Summer time Camp 2026

• Warren G. Harding Presidential Websites, Laddie Boy Thriller Membership

This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@usatodayco.com, with the help of Synthetic Intelligence (AI). Journalists had been concerned in each step of the data gathering, overview, enhancing and publishing course of. Study extra at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

This text initially appeared on Marion Star: Marion Neighborhood Basis awards $567K in grants