Richland County Foundation Awards $367,505 in Grants, Including $83,000 for K-12 Classroom Programs

For Richland County teachers with classroom ideas and students weighing career training, the Richland County Foundation's August grant cycle put local charitable dollars within reach. During its August meeting, the foundation's Board of Trustees approved $367,505 for classrooms, scholarships and community organizations.

The package included $83,000 for K-12 classroom programs, 15 career-technical education scholarships and donor-advised grants to 30 organizations, most of them local.

The $83,000 in education grants will support teachers in public and private Richland County schools, funding creative, innovative and supplemental teacher-developed classroom programs not covered by regular school budgets.

The foundation's Teacher Assistance Program grants are selected by a committee of board members and community stakeholders, with priority given to projects focused on attendance, literacy, mathematics and career advising. Past programs funded by the foundation include a hoop house farming project at Malabar Intermediate School, a forensic science program at Crestview High School, an art program at Abraxas School of Ohio and a Reformatory field trip at Clear Fork Middle School.

With the 15 career-technical scholarships awarded in August, the foundation has provided $105,100 across 62 career-technical scholarships so far in 2026. The scholarships are open to Richland County residents or graduates of Richland County high schools pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited career-technical education institution. Students may apply anytime from January 1 through December 31, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis and scholarship money sent directly to the school selected on the application.

The foundation scholarships complement larger public investments in the region. Pioneer Career & Technology Center in Shelby and Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion each received $320,000 in state Career-Technical Education Access Grants in July 2026, part of a $3.2 million statewide investment intended to create about 300 new manufacturing CTE seats.

Unlike state funding allocations, the foundation's grant decisions rest with a local volunteer Board of Trustees. Dr. Theresa A. Roth-Groth serves as chair. The board's 15 members are Karen Bierly, Dr. Joseph Bocka, Brigitte Burnell, Dakota Durbin, Nikia Fletcher, Jessica Gribben, Chris Hiner, Jason Guilliams, Barbara Zaugg Joudrey, Jana Mulherin, Dr. Theresa Roth-Groth, Jotika Shetty, Jack Stewart, Lee Tasseff and Aaron Williams. Allie Watson has served as President & CEO of the Richland County Foundation since April 2024.

Beyond classrooms and scholarships, the trustees approved donor-advised grants to 30 organizations in August 2026. Recipients were 4 Leaf Rover, Anchor Health, Avon Theatre Film Center, Blessings in a Backpack, Boy Scouts of America Buckeye Council, Catalyst Life Services, Crossroads Church, Discovery School, Domestic Violence Shelter, First Congregational Church, Friendly House Association, Greenwich Point Conservancy, Humane Society of Richland County, Make a Wish Foundation (Ohio/Kentucky), Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield Police Department, Mt. Sinai Baptist Food Pantry, North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Richland Academy of the Arts, Richland County Dog Warden, Richland County Habitat for Humanity, Richland County Sheriff's Office, Renaissance Performing Arts, SoundWaters Marine Education Center, St. Anne's Episcopal Church, St. Jude's Research Hospital, United Way of Richland County, Visual Bucket List Foundation, Wayfinder Ohio and YMCA of North Central Ohio.