CANTON: Trustees of the
Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation have approved grants totaling nearly $190,000 for 18 nonprofit organizations.The foundation supports programs that promote the physical and mental well-being of residents of Stark, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties.Among the programs receiving grants were:• Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio, Wooster, $5,855 for a sled hockey program for the physically disabled.• Canton Calvary Mission, $5,000 for the Loaves and Fishes Cafe food pantry.• Canton City Health Department, $6,000 for cardiovascular disease prevention screening and clinic.• Community Harvest, Canton, $9,000 to expand a program to collect food-industry food and distribute it to community organizations.• Hammer & Nails, Canton, $15,000 to build wheelchair ramps for disadvantaged
homeowners.• Hope Whispers Community Organization, Canton, $2,000 to provide physical activities to prevent childhood obesity and disease.• Love Center, Millersburg, $12,000 for food pantry.• Mount Eaton Care Center, $12,000 to purchase a newborn hearing screener.• Prescription Assistance Network, Canton, $10,000 for operations.• Philomatheon Society of the Blind, Canton, $10,000 to provide eyeglasses.• Reentry Bridge Network, Canton, $4,500 for its 12-week program of the arts to aid in the emotional healing of children with parents in prison.• Salvation Army, Canton, $15,000 for its soup kitchen.• SpringHaven Counseling Center, Mount Eaton, $12,000 to buy a vehicle to transport adult Amish residents.• Stark County Health Department, $15,000 for the Dental Safety Net Clinic.• Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community, $10,000 for the Fund Healthy Choices for Youth educational program.• Viola Startzman Free Clinic, Wooster, $25,000 to hire a second full-time certified nurse practitioner.• Wayne-Holmes Mental Health Coalition, Wooster, $6,000 to fund staff and program supplies for a physical activity wellness program for the developmentally disabled.• Western Stark Free Clinic, $15,000 for a free dental program.Austin-Bailey provides $4,000 scholarships to students at Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Kent State University Stark, Kent State University Tuscarawas, Malone University, Stark State College and Walsh University. A student at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine also receives a $6,000 scholarship from the foundation.All of the scholarships are for students enrolled in a health-related field.The foundation, established in late 1996 with proceeds from the sale of Doctors Hospital in Stark County, has two grant cycles each year. Deadlines for submitting requests are June 30 and Dec. 15.For information, go to http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/austinbailey/.