Bryan Soccer Association received a grant of $30,000 for goal and field improvements.

Founded in 1991, Sarah’s Friends, is a non-profit in Williams County providing non-judgmental support for those harmed by crime. Operating with the mission to empower victims of domestic violence and abuse to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually, Sarah’s Friends delivers a continuum of care in a manner that promotes individual and family safety, autonomy, and dignity.  Serving 175 people each year, they offer compassionate aid, advocacy and referrals, and supportive in-house services.

Sarah’s Friends also has four transitional housing units and recently the Bryan Area Foundation granted them $17,850 to renovate unit 114. The newly remodeled apartment will give the individual moving in the opportunity to become economically stable, gainfully employed, and independently sufficient.  All survivors and their independents can be housed for a minimum of six months, with possible extensions up to twenty-four months, until they reach a point of sustainability.   

Shalom Counseling & Mediation Center received a Founders Grant for $2,500 to create an attractive and highly functional outdoor space for therapists to offer counseling in a natural setting. The project required removing landscape gravel, excavating, and preparing the area for setting forms, reinforcing mesh wire, and pouring concrete. There are now patio tables with umbrellas, chairs, and a small water feature with potted flowers that provide staff and clients with a tranquil setting.

This summer the Edon Area Ministerial Association received a $500 grant to pay for supplies needed to run their summer food lunch program. Children, ages 1-18, were invited to the Harold C. Baker Park in Edon for a free lunch and activities hosted by community volunteers and the Edon High School Basketball and Cheerleading teams. In its fourth year, this program allows adults and youth to interact in a positive way, along with receiving a healthy meal.