MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Foundation has announced the distribution of more than $475,000 in grants to support a diverse range of projects and programs that will benefit Knox County residents.

These grants, awarded through the first cycle of the Foundation’s 2025 Competitive Grantmaking Program, reflect the Foundation’s commitment to assessing and responding to emerging and evolving community needs in education, youth services, recreation, health, arts and culture, social services, and civic and community development.

“The Foundation is proud to support these important initiatives, which will enhance the quality of life for so many in our community,” said Lisa Lloyd, senior program director of the Knox County Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to our donors — past and present — who make this work possible through their generosity and dedication to our county.”

The grants awarded in this funding cycle include:

• Habitat for Humanity of Knox County – Headquarters Improvement: $150,000
• Foundation Park Conservancy – Ariel-Foundation Park Partnership: $75,000
• Knox County Regional Airport – Aviation Education Center Project: $60,000
• Danville Athletic Boosters Club – Football Field Turf Project: $50,000
• The Gund at Kenyon College – Support for The Annex’s Artist Residencies and Senior Programming: $30,000
• Main Market and Beyond – Danville Veterans Memorial Park Restoration: $19,619
• Knox County Park District – Thayer Ridge Program Shelter: $10,000
• City of Mount Vernon – Memorial Park Babe Ruth Baseball Field Renovation: $10,000
• Knox County Educational Service Center – 2025 Youth Enrichment Series: $10,000
• Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio – Junior Achievement Program Support for Knox County Students: $8,500
• Mount Vernon City School District – Mount Vernon High School Beginning Guitar Class: $7,458
• Food for the Hungry – Campaign Request: $5,000
• Community Roots – Compost Expansion Project: $5,000
• Knox Memorial – Knox County Memorial Building Intelligent Lighting Update: $4,552
• Fredericktown Forest Cemetery – Cemetery Signage: $2,500
• VineLawn Community Garden Team – Water Installation at the Community Garden: $1,500

These projects represent a broad spectrum of community enrichment efforts, from educational programming and arts initiatives to recreation and infrastructure improvements.

The Foundation remains committed to fostering a thriving and vibrant Knox County by investing in impactful projects that address both immediate and long-term community priorities.

The Board also approved allocating $30,000 of unrestricted funding toward the Foundation’s scholarship programs. The funds will be available for both traditional 2- and 4-year degrees as well as Career and Technical Education certificate programs.

The Knox County Foundation extends its sincere appreciation for donors whose contributions to their unrestricted Community Impact and Field-of-Interest funds have made these grants possible.

Through their support, the Foundation continues to serve as a catalyst for positive change in Knox County.

For more information about the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts or ways to contribute, please visit www.knoxcf.org or contact Lisa Lloyd at [email protected].

About Knox County Foundation

Knox County Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Knox County by connecting people and resources to address community challenges. Through strategic grantmaking, donor partnerships, and collaborative initiatives, the Foundation works to create lasting, meaningful impact across a variety of sectors.

by From the Knox County Foundation February 12, 2025