Wean Foundation awards $105,736 to Warren, Youngstown groups

Staff report

WARREN

The Raymond John Wean Foundation awarded $105,736 to 27 resident-led Warren and Youngstown grass-roots organizations seeking to transform their neighborhoods and communities.

Among the 2018 grantees are the Junior Organizers, a group of Warren G. Harding High School students working to create meaningful opportunities to support other youth in Warren through mentoring and enrichment, and Youngstown’s West Prince- ton Block Club, which is working to transform a vacant lot into a Peace Corner for neighbors to gather, socialize and meditate.

The funds were awarded as part of Neighborhood SUCCESS, a foundation program that supports grass-roots organizations seeking to develop resident participation and leadership, promote communication and collaboration among residents and build on existing resources in their communities.

Neighborhood SUCCESS provides annual grants of $500 to $5,000 to projects aligned with the foundation’s strategic priorities of community revitalization, economic opportunity, educational opportunity and public service leadership.

Organizations seeking grants participate in a process that includes an orientation, technical assistance workshops and interviews. A council composed of residents from Warren and Youngstown makes the funding decisions. Those seeking grants must match the amount they are seeking with volunteer labor, cash and in-kind donations.

Since 2008 Neighborhood SUCCESS has awarded $1.6 million to more than 485 projects in the Mahoning Valley.

Organizations seeking to apply for a Neighborhood SUCCESS grant should contact Lori Wiebe, administrative and capacity building officer, at 330-394-5600, ext. 103.