By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Community organizations were given grants earlier this week to bring music, sports, reading and more to Bowling Green. The grants, from the Bowling Green Community Foundation, are intended to help the very young to the very old, and everyone in between.
The annual grant program began after the 1993 BG Leadership class started the foundation in order to help local groups serve the community, explained Cal Bowers, president of the foundation.
“What you’re doing speaks to the vibrancy of our community. You’re at the core of it,” said Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards.
This year’s grants total $29,000 for 14 different projects.
“That’s an impact to this community,” Bowers said.
Following is a list of all the projects awarded grants.
- BG Area Community Bands – $2,250 for a community band festival. “This is our 10th year as a community band. We feel we have become a staple in the community,” said Ardy Gonyer. “We’re very grateful for the support of Bowling Green.” Thom Headley explained the grant will help the band put on a concert with a guest conductor on May 6.
- BG City Schools – $1,000 for One Book BG literacy program. Two third grade teachers, Jeni Niekamp and Jonelle Semancik explained the grant will help the schools purchase books for every pre-kindergarten through fifth grade student. The reading program unites families and the community around one common book. “It’s created to promote a love of learning,” Semancik said.
- BG Parks and Recreation Department – $5,000 for the natural obstacle course. Ivan Kovacevic, of the parks and rec department, said the outdoor obstacle course behind the community center has already been the site of the Zombie Mud Run last fall.
- BG Parks and Recreation Department – $5,000 for waterpark splashpad creature. The splashpad additions help complete the area for the youngest pool users. “They are both really true community projects,” Kovacevic said of the pool and obstacle course.
- BG Youth Hockey Association – $1,100 for rink system upgrade. The hockey program involves 315 kids, ages 5 to 15, said Jennifer Bowers. “It’s a really big asset for the community,” she said. “It’s a team of people volunteering a lot of hours. The problem is we don’t have enough equipment.” The grant will help replace orange cones and upside-down buckets with real hockey goals.
- Bobcat Advocates – $1,310 for downtown banners. The Bobcat banner that stretched across the downtown has worn out, so this grant will help with the purchase of six banners to hang on downtown light poles during the school district’s Bobcat Week, said Lee Hakel. The advocates program was created after the school district lost a levy a few years ago. “It really was hard on the teachers and the administrators,” Hakel said. So the advocates group started a program to boost morale in the district.
- Horizon Youth Theatre – $1,107 for the musical production of “Cinderella.” Since 1997, the youth theater program has worked to put on productions with kids ages 8 to 18. “We are a true community organization,” said Karen Walters. The group is both non-profit and nomad, she said, with productions taking place wherever space is available. The grant will help the troupe produce the musical, “Cinderalla” this spring. “The cost of putting on a musical is quite large,” Walters explained.
- La Conexion de Wood County – $1,000 for immigration integration through language. The grant will support adult English as a Second Language classes. “We are so appreciative of these funds,” Beatriz Maya said. “Immigrants have built this country,” Maya said, and this program helps local immigrants integrate by learning English. The funds will be used to pay a small stipend to BGSU students who act as instructors, and help with transportation to classes.
- NAMI Wood County – $1,000 for program extension project. The funds will help pay for staff to be trained for Wellness Recovery Action Plan programs that help people manage mental illnesses. Marc Jensen explained that NAMI’s programs are for people with mental illness and their families. “All of our programs are aimed at recovery,” Jensen said. “There is recovery.”
- Right Direction Organization Inc. – $2,000 for youth development program. The program uses skateboarding, BMX and scooter sports to teach life skills to kids, according to Don DeBartolomeo. The program offers sports training to kids who often aren’t in any organized athletics, and sets up contests to give them recognition for success. “A lot of these kids have never received an award in their lives,” he said.
- The Feminist Organization Raising Consciousness – $1,000 for “The Vagina Monologues” at BGSU. The grant will pay for the production of the play on campus.
- United Way in Wood County – $3,000 for Continuum of Care Wood County web-based housing resource flow chart. The grant will be used to help connect homeless people to local resources. “We’re trying to tackle issues around housing,” said Jamie Brubaker. “If you think there aren’t homeless in this community, think again,” said Sue Clanton.
- Wood County Historical Museum – $500 for educational outreach for Wood County seniors. Mike McMaster said much of his focus at the historical center has been to educate children, but this program will help him provide educational outreach to senior centers and senior care facilities.
- Wood Lane Industries – $4,055 for a portable mechanical patient lift. The lift will help transfer people who use wheelchairs without placing strain on the consumers or staff at Wood Lane Industries. The lift is portable and can also be used in the community, said Kent Strange. This will allow consumers to “get out like everybody else gets out,” he said. “The more access, the less stigma.”
