Hardin County Community Foundation Awards $426,000 in Grants and Scholarships

The Hardin County Community Foundation on Tuesday approved the awarding of $426,000 in grants and scholarships through its annual program.

The Grant Committee reported there were 151 grant requests with 114 fully funded and 37 partially funded.

The foundation plans to have grant checks in the mail to recipients by June 1.

The funds are generated through earnings on the foundation’s assets.

The organizations, projects and amounts awarded are as follows:

Abundant Life Assembly Of God: Night to Shine event – $2,000

Ada Citizens Scouting Committee: BSSA Summer Camp at Camp Berry – $1,000

Ada Exempted Village Schools: October fall literacy night – $800

Ada Exempted Village Schools: Whole Phonics books – $1,000

Ada Food Pantry: Bulldog Backpack Blessings – $1,500

Ada Public Library: Summer reading program – $1,500

Alger First United Methodist Church: Free monthly meals – $3,000

Alger Public Library: Summer reading program – $1,500

Backpack Blessings: for Backpack Blessings at Upper Scioto Valley – $2,000

Beatitudes Community Center: Summer lunch program – $3,000

Belle Center Free Public Library: Summer reading program – $500

Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Ohio, Inc. dba Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hardin County: After school group mentoring program – $5,000

BKP Ambulance District: Equipment – $1,400

BMRT Ambulance District: Equipment – $4,000

Camp Common Ground: Camp Wednesdays – $700

City of Kenton: Light pole flag holders and flags – $9,763

Designated by donor for the benefit of Ada High School: For academic honoraries, academic competitions and support of music, Freed funds – $7,003.60

Designated by donor for the benefit of First Baptist Church: Bondi funds – $771.00

Designated by donor for the benefit of Hardin Memorial Hospital: Lichty funds – $342

Designated by donor for the benefit of Kenton-Hardin Health Department: Youngpeters funds – $741

Designated by donor for the benefit of ONU College for Student-Faculty Special Study Projects: Freed funds – $24,512.60

Designated by donor for the benefit of ONU Department of Music: Freed funds – $10,505.40

Designated by donor for the benefit of ONU Theatre: Freed funds – $10,505.40

Designated by donor for trees in Ada: Keiser funds – $5,458.00

Designated by donor for the benefit of Village of Ada for lamp post flowers and beautification: Freed funds – $7,003.60

Dunkirk Community Improvement Corporation: Ball diamond improvements and Christmas decorations – $1,200

Dunkirk Masonic Lodge: Winterfest 2026 – $600

Forest Fire Department: Equipment – $1,500

Forest Firefighter’s Association: Educational materials – $350

Forest Police Department: National Night Out event – $1,000

Forest Tree Commission: New trees, clean up and removal of bad trees – $2,000

Forest-Jackson Public Library: Summer reading program – $1,500

Freedom Celebration Hardin Cty Fireworks Display: Fireworks, licensing, permits and equipment – $4,000

Greenwood Grange: Display boards – $500

Greenwood Grange: Building and grounds improvements – $2,000

Grove Cemetery Chapel: Stained glass windows project – $5,000

Harco Industries Inc.: Parking lot paving – $5,000

Hardin County 4-H: 4-H Camp nurse’s station project– $5,000

Hardin County Agricultural Society: Folding chairs for the Community Building – $2,000

Hardin County Amateur Radio Club: Radio room updates at EOC – $1,500

Hardin County Bark Buddies 4-H Club: Agility and rally equipment – $2,500

Hardin County Board of DD: Toys for blended school room – $2,000

Hardin County Board of DD: Specialized equipment, instructional materials and technology for preschool program – $4,000

Hardin County Board of DD: Bowling uniforms for the Special Olympics team – $2,000

Hardin County Council On Aging Inc.: Signage – $1,250

Hardin County Domestic Relations: Incentives – $3,000

Hardin County Domestic Relations: Family centered incentives – $3,000

Hardin County Family YMCA: Landscaping – $1,100

Hardin County Family YMCA: Summer Camp – $3,000

Hardin County Historical Museums, Inc.: Redesigned Scoto Marsh exhibit – $2,500

Hardin County Historical Museums, Inc.: Reenactment Back in Time at the Barn project – $4,000

Hardin County Humane Society: Pet food pantry – $5,000

Hardin County Junior Fair Board: Sending eight junior fair board members to The Ohio Fairs Convention – $700

Hardin County Master Gardeners: Tree and shrub border – $2,000

Hardin County Matters: Back to School Bash – $2,500

Hardin County Players: Costumes, scholarships and snacks for Little Mermaid presentation– $1,500

Hardin County Veterans Service Office: Annual Veterans Dinner – $2,500

Hardin Leadership, Inc. – Leadership graduate participants in the Ohio Northern University, Women in Business Leadership program – $2,000

Hardin Leadership, Inc.: Scholarships – $1,000

Hardin Northern Community Center: Double sided sign holder – $1,500

Hardin Northern Public Library: Summer reading program – $1,500

Heartbeat of Hardin County: Online curriculum program Bright Course and Crib program – $2,000

Helen Mabrey Shoe Fund, Inc.: Shoes for children – $3,000

Helping Hands Outreach Ministries: Back to School program – $4,000

HHWP Kenton Head Start: Clothing, coats, hats and gloves– $1,000

Jackson-Forest EMS: Young First Responder Academy and youth outreach programming – $2,500

Jackson-Forest EMS: Equipment – $4,000

Keep Hardin County Beautiful: Programming with local participating libraries – $500

Keep Hardin County Beautiful: Courthouse flowers and plants – $3,350

Kenton Alliance Church – English as a Second Language (ESL) classes – $5,000

Kenton Area Swim Team – Replacement of touch pads – $1,500

Kenton Athletic Boosters: Upgrade sound/acoustic systems– $5,000

Kenton Church of the Nazarene: Sound system and end of year party for Upward Sports – $1,550

Kenton Church of the Nazarene: Date Night event – $750

Kenton Church of the Nazarene: Father’s Day Cookout & Car Show – $800

Kenton City Schools: Kenton Winter Guard equipment – $1,500

Kenton City Schools: Snap Circuit kits – $750

Kenton City Schools: Computer headphones – $924

Kenton City Schools Tennis Team – Indoor tennis kit systems – $1,000

Kenton First Methodist Church: Repair and restoration of equipment at Jerry Cross Park – $2,500

Kenton Full Gospel Church Bread of Life Food Pantry: Food pantry improvements – $3,000

Kenton Historic Courthouse District Inc.: Winter Wonderland window displays – $1,000

Kenton Historic Courthouse District Inc.: Gene Autry Park landscaping, lawn care and lighting – $3,500

Kenton Historic Courthouse District Inc.: Market on Main program – $1,500

Kenton Historic Courthouse District Incl: Summer concert series – $5,000

Kenton Historic Courthouse District Inc.: Kenton’s Biggest Small Town Christmas Parade – $2,500

Kenton Lions Club: Playground equipment and mulch – $2,000

Kenton Lions Club: Park benches – $2,000

Kenton Reimagined A Community Reimagined: Seasonal flowers – $3,000

Kenton Reimagined A Community Reimagined: Kenton Rising Conference – $1,000

Kenton Reimagined A Community Reimagined: Family Fun at the Plaza – $1,000

Kenton Reimagined A Community Reimagined: The Double Time Jazz Band concert – $300

Kenton Reimagined A Community Reimagined: Free horse-drawn carriage rides for the Christmas Gala and Christmas Around the Square – $2,750

Kudostudio: Art supplies – $500

Lake of Lights : Christmas lights – $2,000

LifeWise – Kenton City Schools: Mobile coat rack and karaoke machine – $1,900

LifeWise – Upper Scioto Valley: Age appropriate Bible study guides – $2,000

Mary Lou Johnson Hardin County District Library: Summer reading program – $1,500

McGuffey Church of Christ: Glow Party – $1,000

McGuffey Church of Christ: Meals for after school events – $1,500

McGuffey Church of Christ: Vacation Bible School – $2,500 McGuffey Church of Christ: Food pantry – $1,500

McGuffey Memories Historical Society: Concrete bench pad – $600

McGuffey Memories Historical Society: Gazebo roof replacement – $600

Memorial Park Golf Club: Junior league program – $2,000

Midwest Regional ESC: Engagement events in partnership with Simon Kenton School and Hardin County Early Intervention – $2,000

Midwest Regional ESC: Developmentally appropriate materials to support children ages 3-5 who receive special education services across Hardin County – $2,000

Mt. Victory Community Improvement Corp.: Downtown beautification – $3,500

Mt. Victory Community Improvement Corp.: Port-a-John for public use – $800

Mt. Victory Community Improvement Corp.: Tennis/pickleball court resurfacing project – $4,000

Mt. Victory Community Improvement Corp.: Memorial Day Car Show – $1,500

Mt. Victory United Methodist Church: Repair of ceiling dome – $4,000

Neighborhood Center Corporation of Hardin County: Food pantry – $3,000

New Hope Child Care Center: Fencing, playground equipment and mulch – $5,000

Northern Hardin County Fire District: Fire safety program – $2,000

Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy: Dream It, Be It (DIBI): Career Support for Girls program – $1,000

Our Lady, The Immaculate Conception: Entry upgrades – $1,500

Painter Creek Grange: Refrigerator – $2,000

Play For Purpose: Game Night program – $2,000

Play For Purpose: Community outreach trailer – $3,000

Project Linus of Hardin County: Tools and blanket materials for the benefit of children – $600

Quilts for Kids NW Ohio Chapter: Fabric and batting for quilts for displaced children – $1,000

Ridgemont FFA: Financial assistance to in need members for FFA State and National conventions – $4,255.40

Ridgemont Public Library: Summer reading program – $1,200.

Ridgemont Schools: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programming – $3,900

Ridgeway Firefighter Association: Equipment – $1,000 Ridgeway United Methodist Church: Hymnal on thumb drive and replacement of chairs – $1,000

Roundhead Fire Department: Inflatable fire safety house, $4,000

Roundhead McDonald Park Board: Slide replacement – $3,000

Roundhead United Methodist Church: Free meals – $700 Safe Haven of Hardin County: Storage unit rental – $700

Saint Vincent DePaul Society of Immaculate Conception: Hygiene items – $1,500

Scioto Junction Model Train Club: Caboose restoration – $2,500

Silver Creek Community Church: Turn Around program to help with Hardin County Community School (Life Works) and Resilient Heights (former Northwood School) – $1,500

Some of Us People (SOUP): Food storage containers – $800

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church: Bless the Backpack program – $2,000

The Ohio State University, Hardin County OSU Extension: Water bottles for 4-H campers and Cloverbud Day camp participants – $1,500

The Park District Liberty Twp. Hardin Co. Ohio: Picnic tables – $2,000

Tree Town Festival: Youth activities – $2,500.00 United Way of Hardin County: Student leadership program – $2,000

United Way of Hardin County: County high school food pantries – $1,500

Upper Scioto Valley Middle School Student Council: Backpack Blessings program – $2,000

Village of Ada: National Night Out event, $1,000 Village of Ada Tree Commission: Removal, stump grinding and clean up of 5 trees – $2,250

Village of Alger: Commemorative ceremony honoring Ray Brown – $4,000

Village of Alger: Gazebo roof replacement – $500

Village of Alger: Social Center flooring – $2,000

Village of Dunkirk: Downtown decorations – $2,500

Village of Dunkirk: Christmas decorations – $3,000

Village of Forest: Children’s activities – $2,500

Village of Forest CIC: Downtown beautification – $5,000

Village of Forest CIC: Tree Town Christmas Celebration – $1,000

Village of Forest Park and Recreation Board: Playground equipment – $1,500

Village of Patterson: Village clean up – $400

Village of Patterson: Annual Soup Party and Christmas Party – $800

Walnut Grove Methodist Church: AED – $2,115

Walnut Grove Methodist Church: Food for Friends program – $3,000

Wings Support and Recovery: Transportation improvements – $2,500.00

Wolf Creek Center for the Arts of Hardin County: Free art activities – $2,000

Scholarships:

Ada Doctors Scholarship (Ada Schools, Hardin Northern Schools & Upper Scioto Valley Schools) – $5,000

Dollars for Scholars Kenton City Schools – $2,000

Dudek Scholarship (Upper Scioto Valley Schools) – $2,500

Rushsylvania Rough Riders (Ridgemont and Benjamin Logan Schools): $2,000

Spath Scholarships (Upper Scioto Valley Schools) – $20,000 Sterling Sisters Scholarships (various schools) – $4,000.00

(Story submitted)