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Community Foundation Awards $356K in Education Grants

August 22, 2025

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $356,637 for schools across Hancock County. Funding for education grants comes from the Allan H. Davis Civic Education Fund, Hancock Education Fund, HancockREADS Fund and the Bill and Eveline Stitt Fund. The following education grants were approved by the Board of Trustees and made possible by the generous donors of the funds listed.

“Education is a critical part of our mission to improve the quality of life for all in the community,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “These grants demonstrate the Foundation’s and the community’s commitment to education and ensuring our students are well-prepared for the future."

The Allan H. Davis Civic Education Fund was established to promote the civic involvement of Findlay High School students by providing extracurricular activities and opportunities that will teach them about the rights and duties of citizens and inspire them to be active participants in the United States democratic process. Grants were awarded to:

  • $20,000 to Blue & Gold Student Publications.
  • $10,000 to Trojan Trailblazers.
  • $10,000 to Student Council.
  • $5,000 to the Classroom to Courtroom program.
  • $50,000 to We the People.
  • $20,000 to Youth in Government.
  • $35,000 to Simulated Society Immersive Civic Engagement Role Play Activity (SIMOC) for Government Students.

The Hancock Education Fund was established to promote classroom learning in Hancock County schools by providing teachers with resources that encourage learning activities. Grants were awarded to:

  • Cory-Rawson Local Schools:
    • $4,000 for Thrive Outside the Hive.
    • $6,000 for the Community Honor Garden.
  • Findlay City Schools:
    • $4,000 for 3D Creativity.
    • $3,000 for Technology Student Lab.
    • $2,450 for Creating a Book Cover.
    • $5,425 for Singing Zoologist.
  • McComb Local Schools was awarded $4,000 for Zone of Regulations.
  • Riverdale Local School was awarded $6,000 for a Robotic Arm.
  • Van Buren Local Schools:
    • $6,000 for Expanding Minds through STEM.
    • $6,000 for International Knight.
    • $600 for Communication for All.
    • $4,000 for Art and Steam.

The HancockREADS Fund was established to ensure that families and community members in Hancock County are literate and enjoy the benefits of literacy. Funds are awarded to civic and service organizations, schools, libraries, and other nonprofit organizations addressing literacy issues. Grants were awarded to:

  • Findlay City Schools was awarded $4,700 for Reading, Literacy and Draw Along.
  • Findlay-Hancock County Public Library was awarded $5,000 for Cooking Up Culture – Books and Belonging.
  • Van Buren Local Schools:
    • $700 for Spanish in the Classroom.
    • $1,200 for Exposing Middle School Students to More Nonfiction Text.

The Bill and Eveline Stitt Fund was established to support early literacy intervention for preschool through third-grade students using mentors. Grants were awarded to:

  • Arcadia Local Schools was awarded $13,500.
  • Arlington Local Schools was awarded $15,000.
  • Cory-Rawson Local Schools was awarded $8,050.
  • Findlay City Schools was awarded $44,660.
  • Liberty-Benton Local Schools was awarded $15,000.
  • McComb Local Schools was awarded $15,000.
  • Riverdale Local Schools was awarded $15,000.
  • Van Buren Local Schools was awarded $13,352.
  • $4,000 was awarded for a grant coordinator to support all grant recipient schools.

Grant applications for these funds open in February each year. Applications are due on the first Friday in March. Details are available here.