Women’s Fund continues its support to improve childcare

(Photo: Women's Fund Advisory Committee members: Amy Goyal, Debra Weaver, Margaret Lin, Veronica Williams, Elizabeth Daniels, Nyasha Oden, Reneta Music, Amy Brunell, Sharlene Neumann, Elizabeth Buttil and Amy Hiner.

The Women's Fund of the Richland County Foundation awarded $71,216 in grants and announced the JoAnn Dutton Award honoree during a recent luncheon.

For the sixth year in a row, the Women's Fund awarded a grant to make quality childcare affordable and accessible to women in Richland County. This year's $25,000 grant went to the YWCA of Northwest Ohio. They will take applications from in-home childcare providers and centers for grants of up to $2,500 for resources and continuing education. The Women's Fund believes that childcare is important to women's economic security.

Other grants were awarded to The Domestic Violence Shelter to upgrade electrical service in individual rooms and provide mini refrigerators, the Music Academy of Karate and Empowerment for a self-defense class, North Central State College Foundation for an essentials and wellness program at its Child Development Center, Planned Parenthood for a program to improve access to contraceptive services, Project One for a five-day grace stay for women and children seeking refuge from human trafficking, Renaissance Theatre for a lactation pod for patrons and staff members, Richland Public Health to expand its infant car seat distribution, Shelby Diaper Pantry to distribute diapers, and Third Street Family Health Services for a mobile fresh food program for new and expecting mothers.

Since 1998, the Women's Fund has awarded $617,240 via 333 grants impacting thousands of lives.

The Women's Fund also announced the JoAnn Dutton Volunteer Community Service Award winner. The award was named in honor of JoAnn Dutton, former executive director of the Mansfield YWCA. It celebrates women who devote a significant amount of time and energy in a meaningful way to local charitable organizations.

This year's winner is Suzanne Allen, a volunteer at The Domestic Violence Shelter. She was recognized for volunteering to respond to sexual assault cases at Avita and OhioHealth hospitals to provide immediate support, guidance, and comfort to those affected by sexual assault. Allen is a strong advocate for policy change, using her firsthand knowledge to lobby for improvements in legislation and services for sexual assault survivors on the local and national levels.