Receiving the Director's Choice Award and accompanying $10,000 operational grant from the Acorn Fund was the Washington County Literacy Council. To be eligible to apply, charities were required to have an operating budget of less than $250,000, have been in existence for at least three years, and provide a program in one of the six areas supported by the Acorn Fund - arts and humanities, education, environment and animal welfare, health and fitness, human needs or religion and faith-based.
Applicants were judged on quality of programming, community impact as gauged by the number of people served, programs offered, or other measurable component, and improvement in the balance sheet over a period of years.
The literacy council has been providing basic adult literacy services in Washington County for more than 20 years. The council works primarily as a volunteer, community based organization but plans to use the award for staffing.
Four additional charities received grants of $500 each from the Acorn Fund: Charleroi Historical Society, CASA for Kids, Interfaith Hospitality Network and the Washington Community Arts & Cultural Center.
A second grant of $10,000 was awarded from the Mother's Fund to Transitional Employment Consultants. TEC's mission is to assist individuals with disabilities to become independent, productive members of the community by providing job-readiness training and placement in competitive employment. TEC will use the grant to provide short-term transportation and child care for women entering or returning to the work force. The Mother's Fund provides grants in support of disadvantaged women and children in Washington County.
A $1,000 grant was presented to the ABCDE Fund in conjunction with Janet Abernathy being selected to receive this year's Louis E. Waller Humanitarian Award. The ABCDE Fund was initiated by Abernathy's husband, the late Dr. Ernest Abernathy, and provides scholarships to black students pursuing higher education.
A $1,000 grant was presented to Peters Township School District Thespian Troupe No. 185 in conjunction with Barry Wood being selected to receive the Dr. Howard Jack Outstanding Public Educator Award.
For more information, call the foundation at 724-222-6330 or info@wccf.net.