The MCF and United Way have been jointly funding the Ready Schools initiative for several years. The focus of the program is early childhood education, an initiative that MCF has emphasized through its READY! Campaign. For that reason, the initiative was funded through the dollars raised for READY! for early childhood programming.
“We’ve heard area teachers talk first-hand about how this funding is instrumental in promoting quality childcare and kindergarten preparedness,” said Traci Barnett, MCF executive director. “As we identify programs that have an impact through our READY! processes, we believe this one absolutely makes sense to continue funding.”
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The MCF board also approved $15,000 in funding to support the Ohio Balloon Challenge, an annual event hosted by the Middletown Area Chamber Foundation. This funding secures the foundation as a major sponsor of the event, which the board believes is an important one for the community.
“This event is a good thing for Middletown,” said Carole Schul, MCF board president. “There is no denying its draw, not just from our community but from all over Ohio and we support programs that benefit our businesses and the community as a whole.”
The next grant application deadline is Dec. 1 for Quality Education, Human Needs; Capital improvements pertaining to these subject areas. Nonprofit organizations, churches (for non-religious purposes), governmental bodies and schools in Middletown, Monroe, Madison, Franklin and Trenton may apply.
Complete guidelines and application materials are available at mcfoundation.org.
Grants from the Dec. 1 cycle will be made in January 2019.
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GRANT AWARDS
Here is a breakdown on the $93,930 grants awarded by the Middletown Community Foundation:
$20,000: Middletown Area United Way, Ready Schools program
$15,000: Ohio Balloon Challenge
$12,500: Butler County Educational Services Center for weekly food bag program
$10,000: Sorg Opera Revitalization Group for continued renovations
$7,910: Middletown Arts Center for security cameras for the facility
$6,000: Muscular Dystrophy Association to send local youth with neuromuscular diseases to camp
$5,150: First United Methodist Church for Noontime Concert & Artist series
$5,000: Middletown Performing Arts Academy for royalties, set designs, costumes and other costs associated with the 2018-2019 season
$5,000: Fernside for grief support programming for children
$2,500: Art Central Foundation to assist with renovations to first floor of facility
$2,000: Holiday Santa Parade for costs associated with the Santa parade
$1,500: Warren County Theatre Project to assist with costs of presenting an interactive Nutcracker Ballet at the Windamere
$1,369: Diamond Jubilee Chorus for portable sound system
SOURCE: Middletown Community Foundation
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