Orrville Area United Way (OAUW) is happy to announce that 2023 grant allocations were unanimously approved at the January Board of Directors Meeting and monthly checks were disbursed to OAUW’s partner agencies at the beginning of February.
Funding grants that serve the Dalton, Marshallville, and Orrville area is a cooperative process that involves over 50 volunteers. The process began in August 2022 at Campaign Kick-Off. Dedicated campaign cabinet volunteers set out into the community to engage individual and business donors, encouraging investment in the area by helping OAUW reach the campaign’s goal. Determining the goal is a deliberate process of assessing the needs in the area, the feedback of nonprofits who are serving the area, and the giving capability of our community.
Nonprofits submitted grant applications in August. Then began the valuable 3-month commitment of the Citizens Review Committee (CRC). The CRC was comprised of 8 volunteers, who live or work in Dalton, Marshallville, or Orrville, assembled for the purpose of reviewing agency partner grants and unbiasedly recommending funding decisions to the OAUW Board. This group extensively reviewed each grant and attended three evenings of live agency presentations. The CRC was diligent in requesting relevant information, committed to community awareness, and conscientious when making final allocation recommendations to make the greatest impact with the generous dollars entrusted by donors. The OAUW Board carefully reviewed CRC’s process and recommendations before unanimously approving the designated amount.
In total, OAUW will invest over half a million dollars into vital programs in the Dalton, Marshallville, and Orrville area in 2023, including 12 non-profits, 18 programs, and 6 of OAUW’s own Percy Programs. Programs focus on OAUW’s Impact Areas of Nurturing Children & Youth, Developing Life Skills, Helping in Hard Times, and Promoting Health & Wellness. In addition, OAUW will be making 6 special grants at $5,000 each available this coming May.
A detailed and transparent funding approach is inherent to OAUW’s commitment to be a trusted and integral investor in the area. This outcome is only possible because of the dedicated work, compassion, and partnership of each entity involved, from volunteers to non-profits to donors.
The Orrville Area United Way was founded in 1958. For over 60 years, OAUW has raised and distributed over $17 million to eastern Wayne County programs that measurably improve quality of life by engaging the caring power of our community to foster a thriving society.