Fostoria Community Foundation 2nd-half grants exceed $367K

FOSTORIA — The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $367,009.63 across all component funds to several organizations during the second half of 2025.The recent grants took the total distribution of foundation grants awarded from across all component funds to more than $4.5 million since the foundation's inception in 1998, supporting more than 70 non-profit agencies and organizations in Fostoria and beyond.The Eugene and Elizabeth Schalk Legacy Fund provided the following grants: $58,169.87 to Sandusky Central Catholic School to create the Eugene and Elizabeth Schalk Endowed Scholarship Fund and $29,084.94 each to the Good Shepherd Home Good Samaritan Activities Fund, to Tiffin University for the Eugene and Elizabeth Schalk Endowed Scholarship Fund and to the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity and to the Sisters of Notre Dame for general support.Also,:Kaubisch Memorial Public Library received $25,000 from the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Fund and $25,000 from the Mennel Milling Community Improvement Fund toward a comprehensive renovation of the children's department.The Seneca County Children's Literacy Fund received a $50,000 gift from the Mennel Milling Community Improvement Fund and $1,000 each from the Widman Family Donor Advised Fund and the Donald A. and Michele D. Cochran Charitable Fund to grow the endowment for children's literacy initiatives.Grants of $20,000 each were awarded from the Miller Family Donor Advised Fund to both Hope Lutheran Church and to the Ritz Theatre, with $10,000 suggested for capital improvements and $10,000 for operating support.Fostoria Vision 2020 received a $10,000 matching grant toward outdoor public art initiatives from the Fostoria Revitalization Fund in order to garner a $10,000 grant from the Greater Toledo Community Foundation Arts and Culture Fund.The Geary Family YMCA received grants totaling $5,000 toward replacing its fire-alarm system, with $2,500 coming from the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Fund, $1,500 from the Richard and Ann Carter Fund and $500 each from the Leroy T. Kelbley Fund and the Robert and Betty Watson Fund.First Step Domestic Violence Services received a $2,500 grant from the Leroy T. Kelbley Fund toward a storage shed for residents.The Fostoria Learning Center received $2,500 from the Fostoria Learning Local Fund for programming support.The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation received a $2,000 gift from the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Community Involvement Fund toward its Cheryl Buckland Fund for the Toledo Zoo.Diabetes Youth Services was awarded $1,000 from the Ashland Farms Fund to support diabetes education for school staff.St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received a $1,000 grant from Miller Donor Directed Pooled Fund for general support.Shriners Hospitals for Children received a $500 grant from the Aaron and Donene Smith Donor Advised Fund for Seneca County Families in need.Also, the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation facilitated grants from private component funds whose donors wish to remain anonymous, including $25,000 to the Fostoria Fireworks Fund.The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation accepts grant applications from qualified 501c3 organizations twice a year for consideration from its unrestricted community funds.The application deadline for spring 2026 awards is Feb. 27. Notification of those awards is scheduled for May, with distribution set for June.Organizations applying for grants usually will not be considered for funding from a Greater Fostoria Community Foundation unrestricted fund more than twice in a three-year period. This guideline, however, does not apply to grants from foundation funds that are restricted for specific purposes or from any of its donor-advised funds.For more information, see website www.fostoriafoundation.com/grant-information, call 419-434-1894 or email to director@fostoriafoundation.com.