The WPCU Sunshine Community Fund (Sunshine Community Fund) – the charitable giving arm of Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc. (WPCU) – awarded 13 nonprofit organizations more than $156,000 in inspiRAYtion Grants during its 2022 second quarter grant cycle.
Eighteen nonprofits applied for funding consideration in May 2022. After initial vetting by the Sunshine Community Fund's InspiRAYtion Committee and its Board of Trustees, WPCU and myCUmortgage partner-employees voted for the following thirteen organizations to receive funding:
Agape for Youth – Help teens prepare for emancipation, reduce homelessness of foster youth, and increase financial literacy as they enter adulthood. Air Camp - Inspire and support young people to become future scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technical leaders. Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. - The only agency in the Miami Valley region that works relentlessly to provide care and support for all those affected by ALZ and other dementias. County Corp. - Improves the greater Dayton-Montgomery County community by offering affordable housing and economic programs for residents and small businesses. Family Promise Greene County, OH (Xenia, OH) - Accompanies families on their journey from the homeless shelter to housing. Provides critical funding to help formerly homeless families rebuild their lives and ensure their basic needs are met. Feed the Kids Columbus - Focus on supporting reduced hunger insecurities and supporting children's self-esteem and success in school. Provides supplemental meals and snacks to kids who get most of their nutrition at school. Junior Achievement of OKI Partners, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) - Career readiness sessions focused on social and soft skills competencies that relate real-life experiences to job skills and prepare students for their future careers. Nellie's Champions for Kids, Inc. (NC4K) (Columbus, OH) - Helps make life a little easier for pediatric cancer families by providing them financial support and assistance, hospital support, family fun events, and more. Set the Banquet Table dba Miami Valley Meals - Recover donated food and transform it into prepared meals for distribution through organizations serving the hungry. Funds will be used for direct program costs, specifically supplemental food for their prepared meal program. Star House (Columbus, OH) - Operational support of Star House to continue providing crucial drop-in center services for young people experiencing homelessness. St. Vincent de Paul Services, Inc. - Faith based nonprofit organization serving those in the community who are low-income and suffering the economic marginalization that often leads to homelessness. Vista Village, Inc. (Columbus, OH) - Created to serve homeless individuals with affordable housing solutions in a tiny home village. Facilitate wraparound services for clients including healthcare, life skills training, education, GED classes, financial literacy, mental health counseling, job training, job placement, and employment. YWCA Columbus - Provides resources that help enable families experiencing homelessness to achieve housing stability.
Agape for Youth – Help teens prepare for emancipation, reduce homelessness of foster youth, and increase financial literacy as they enter adulthood.
Air Camp - Inspire and support young people to become future scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technical leaders.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. - The only agency in the Miami Valley region that works relentlessly to provide care and support for all those affected by ALZ and other dementias.
County Corp. - Improves the greater Dayton-Montgomery County community by offering affordable housing and economic programs for residents and small businesses.
Family Promise Greene County, OH (Xenia, OH) - Accompanies families on their journey from the homeless shelter to housing. Provides critical funding to help formerly homeless families rebuild their lives and ensure their basic needs are met.
Feed the Kids Columbus - Focus on supporting reduced hunger insecurities and supporting children's self-esteem and success in school. Provides supplemental meals and snacks to kids who get most of their nutrition at school.
Junior Achievement of OKI Partners, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) - Career readiness sessions focused on social and soft skills competencies that relate real-life experiences to job skills and prepare students for their future careers.
Nellie's Champions for Kids, Inc. (NC4K) (Columbus, OH) - Helps make life a little easier for pediatric cancer families by providing them financial support and assistance, hospital support, family fun events, and more.
Set the Banquet Table dba Miami Valley Meals - Recover donated food and transform it into prepared meals for distribution through organizations serving the hungry. Funds will be used for direct program costs, specifically supplemental food for their prepared meal program.
Star House (Columbus, OH) - Operational support of Star House to continue providing crucial drop-in center services for young people experiencing homelessness.
St. Vincent de Paul Services, Inc. - Faith based nonprofit organization serving those in the community who are low-income and suffering the economic marginalization that often leads to homelessness.
Vista Village, Inc. (Columbus, OH) - Created to serve homeless individuals with affordable housing solutions in a tiny home village. Facilitate wraparound services for clients including healthcare, life skills training, education, GED classes, financial literacy, mental health counseling, job training, job placement, and employment.
YWCA Columbus - Provides resources that help enable families experiencing homelessness to achieve housing stability.
“These recipients are addressing the barriers that ultimately have negative impacts on financial wellbeing," shared Tracy Szarzi-Fors, Wright-Patt Credit Union's Vice President of Marketing and Business Development and Executive Director of the WPCU Sunshine Community Fund. “As we eliminate those barriers, the Sunshine Community Fund will continue to transform the communities and people we serve."
Applications for March 2023 InspiRAYtion Grants will open in November.
Nonprofits who have a project or program that aligns with the Sunshine Community Fund's areas of focus and financial wellbeing building blocks are invited to apply for an InspiRAYtion Grant by visiting WPCU.coop/SCF and clicking on “Apply for a Grant."
For the next round of grants, which will be awarded in March 2023, a letter of intent must be submitted no later than November 30, 2022. Organizations will receive notification if its intent letter is accepted and must submit a grant application by January 6, 2023.
To learn more about the Sunshine Community fund and how it helps vulnerable populations within our community, please visit https://www.wpcu.coop/about-us/sunshine-community-fund.
Download the Press Release here.