Bryan Area Foundation Grants Given
Since its founding in 1969, the Bryan Area Foundation and affiliate Foundations have issued over $11.2 million in grants to a wide spectrum of community-based projects and programs. These encompass recreation, education, athletics, cultural activities, youth and senior citizen programs.
2023 – 2024 Grants
Bryan Athletic Boosters ($200,000)
​The Bryan Athletic Boosters started fundraising for phase two of their Community Athletics Capital Improvement Project, and the Bryan Area Foundation awarded them a $200,000 grant to help them in their campaign. These monies will be used to improve the middle school-aged baseball, softball, and soccer facilities, including upgrades to Field 4 located in Recreation Park. They will also assist with constructing a new softball field and upgrading soccer amenities at the former Washington Elementary School site. If the Bryan Athletic Boosters reach their financial goal, all renovations and enhancements should be complete by the fall of 2024.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller, Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee Chair Mark Miller, Bryan Athletic Boosters President Jason Brown, Bryan Athletic Boosters and Bryan Area Foundation representative Dave Batt, and Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee members Steve Voigt, Larry Harsila, and Carolyn Sharrock-Dorsten.
Bryan Youth Activities Fund ($6,000)
The Bryan Youth Activities Fund, held at the Bryan Area Foundation, awarded $6,000 in grants to various youth sports groups. Each youth program recipient will use the money for their diverse athletic needs, ultimately allowing more local children to participate in that sport and instilling in all competitors the value of teamwork, healthy lifestyles, leadership, and determination.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are representatives from the following organizations: Bryan Youth Basketball Shelly Smith, Bryan Little Bears Program Nathan Keel, Bryan Soccer Association Carrie Zimmerman, Bryan Baseball Association Ryan Miller, Bryan Girl’s Softball Association Jodi Arnold, Bryan Area Foundation Steve Hess, and Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller.
Habitat for Humanity of Williams County (HFHWC) (Ohio) ($33,000)
The Bryan Area Foundation presented Habitat for Humanity of Williams County (HFHWC) (Ohio) with a $33,000 grant to help them construct a new house at 202 South Cherry Street. The property, donated by Faith United Methodist Church, is currently an empty parking lot, but in a few months, will be home to Kristin, Stella, and Steven Peet. This will be the 37th dwelling HFHWC (Ohio) has built, and it is only possible because of the incredible support of numerous local organizations and volunteers.
Pictured during the groundbreaking ceremony are left to right HFHWC (Ohio) volunteer Lyntha Collins, HFHWC (Ohio) Board President Steve Collins, First Presbyterian Church volunteer Marilyn Scott, future residents Stella, Steven, and Kristin Peet, HFHWC (Ohio) Board members Duane Knisely and Lisa Wert, HFHWC (Ohio) Build Chair Ross Widney, HFHWC (Ohio) Board Member Dawn VanHorn, Bryan Area Foundation Director of Communications and Programs Jenny Horn, HFHWC (Ohio) volunteer Jennifer Vetter, HFHWC (Ohio) primary and Mark It Done contractor Mark Vetter, HFHWC (Ohio) Executive Director Mary Ann Peters, HFHWC (Ohio) volunteers John Kurtz and Bradley Plummer, Faith United Methodist Church Pastor Eric Dailey, Faith United Methodist Church Trustees Doug Saul and Steve Casebere, and HFHWC (Ohio) volunteers Michelle Law and Jack Sigler.
Black Swamp Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America ($25,000)
The Bryan Area Foundation awarded the Black Swamp Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America a $25,000 grant to build a new lodge/dining hall at Camp Lakota. Thanks to the Field of Interest Walter and Esther Jackson Faben Memorial Fund requesting their monies be used for Boy Scout activities or programs, the future Cooper Lodge will serve as the only four-season building for large gatherings at the 640-acre camp. Once the construction is complete, the lodge will also host volunteer and youth trainings, including STEM and climbing courses.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller and Black Swamp Area Council Scout Executive Marc Kogan.
LifeWise Academy Bryan Matching Grant ($25,000)
The Bryan Area Foundation has committed a grant of up to $25,000, matching community contributions dollar for dollar. A Field of Interest Fund will provide the matching grant at the Foundation. Due to a shortage of licensed school bus drivers, LifeWise Academy Bryan will transition from their red school bus to using two 15-passenger shuttles that do not require a CDL license to drive. These shuttles will transport students from the Bryan City Schools to the LifeWise Academy Bryan facilities.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are LifeWise Academy Bryan teacher Summer Fernihough, Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller, LifeWise Academy Bryan teacher Tina Shirkey, LifeWise Academy Bryan Director Jack Brace, and LifeWise Academy Bryan Bus Driver Larry Harsila.
2023 – 2024 Founders Grants
Fountain City Festival ($2,500)
Fountain City Festival was the recipient of a $2,500 grant from the Bryan Area Foundation to help pay for expenses associated with their upcoming production of Disney’s Newsies, the Broadway Musical. Marking the 25th anniversary that the Fountain City Festival has brought quality live theater to the local community, they are grateful to the Mike Eschhofen Fund for Musicians for funding this grant. The monies will be used to offset the costs of the choreographer, accompanist, vocal director, pit orchestra conductor, and more.
Pictured during the check presentation are left to right Fountain City Festival Treasurer Linda Jinks, Fountain City Festival Board President and Director of Disney’s Newsies Denver Henderson, and Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller.
United Way of Williams County ($2,500)
The Bryan Area Foundation and Millcreek-West Unity Foundation each awarded $2,500 grants to the United Way of Williams County. The $5,000 will be used to help pay for speaker Chris Herren, a former college, and National Basketball Association (NBA) player, who is coming to Bryan, Ohio, to give a raw and powerful talk about his battles with substance abuse. All junior high and high school students from the seven school districts in Williams County have been invited to attend the event, which will be held on Tuesday, May 7.
Pictured during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee Chair Mark Miler, United Way of Williams County Executive Director Andy Brigle, Millcreek-West Unity Foundation President Patsy Miller, and Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller.
Williams County Humane Society ($2,500)
The Williams County Humane Society was awarded a $2,500 grant to assist with the overpopulation of outside cats in our community. The monies will be used to safely capture, medically treat, and find a forever home for the animals. Pictured during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller holding Ingrid, Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee Chair Mark Miller, and Williams County Humane Society Executive Director Alicia Strup holding Dennis.
Williams County Habitat for Humanity ($2,500)
A $2,500 grant from the Bryan Area Foundation was given to the Williams County Habitat for Humanity for their 2023 Joe Pilarski Memorial Build in Bryan. The monies were used to purchase the home’s flooring. Since 1991, Williams County Habitat for Humanity has built 36 residences in Bryan, Montpelier, Edgerton, Edon, Pioneer, West Unity, and Stryker, and none of this would have been possible without the generosity of vendors, volunteers, and donations.
Standing on the home’s porch accepting the check are left to right Williams County Habitat for Humanity Board Member Duane Knisely, Williams County Habitat for Humanity Board President Steve Collins, Mark It Done Contractor Mark Vetter, Williams County Habitat for Humanity Board Member Lisa Wert, Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller, Williams County Habitat for Humanity Board Members Ross Widney and Roz Wendorf, and Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Mary Ann Peters.
Sarah's Friends, Inc. ($2,500)
A $2,500 grant was awarded to Sarah’s Friends, Inc., for installation costs of new LED lay-in fixtures that replaced existing fluorescent lighting in their offices, which will result in long-term maintenance savings. This small non-profit, founded in 1991, is Williams County’s leading crime victim services organization, serving more than 175 individuals annually. The Bryan Area Foundation grant helped pay for the new lighting, alleviating the need to pull funding from program support.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee Chair Mark Miller, Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller, Sarah’s Friends, Inc. Executive Director Katie Shaffer, and Sarah’s Friends, Inc. Survivor Advocate Cathy Schmidlin.
Bryan Bear Bags ($2,500)
The Bryan Bear Bags program started in 2010, exists to provide nutritious food over the weekend to Bryan City School students and their families with food insecurity. Entirely funded by individual donations and community food drives, during the 2022-2023 school year, the average number of weekly bags sent home was nearly 40. This school year, the number of bags has increased to 75 per week. The Bryan Area Foundation awarded the Bryan Bear Bags a $2,500 grant, enabling the program to continue providing access to needed food, which will improve the quality of life for all in our community.
Pictured during the check presentation are, left to right, Bryan Bear Bags volunteer Julie Cummins, Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller, and Bryan Area Foundation Grant Making Committee Chair Mark Miller.
CPC Women's Health Resource ($2,500)
The Bryan Area Foundation gave the CPC Women’s Health Resource a $2,500 grant to help them with their Earn While You Learn (EWYL) program. Expectant and new parents can attend free EWYL sessions, and after each participant has completed the course, they earn baby bucks, enabling them to “purchase” new equipment, such as cribs, car seats, diapers, formula, and more. The grant monies will assist CPC Women’s Health Resource purchase updated curriculum literature and DVDs in English and Spanish.
Pictured left to right during the check presentation are Bryan Area Foundation President/CEO Amy Miller and CPC Women’s Health Resource Executive Director Mark Pitman.