Kiwanis trustees approve funding for various projects
The Kiwanis trustees recently met to review applications for funding from funds managed by the Coshocton Foundation. The committee approved quarterly requests in excess of $7,000.
Included in the approvals were $1,000 to the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) for the Camp Invention Program. NIHF curricula focus on developing creativity, inventive thinking, and problem-solving skills through hands-on STEM content. The curricula incorporate history, arts, and entrepreneurship along with collaboration and teamwork — learning skills essential to success in the global workforce of the 21st century. Camp Invention uses creative teaching practices to foster innovation by bringing enrichment into classrooms and helping teachers give children the opportunity to apply classroom learning through a practical, hands-on approach. In 2021, 171 Coshocton County campers explored, experimented, and invented, with 14 certified local teachers and 31 high school-aged Leadership Interns gaining professional development at the camps.
Also, $1,000 was approved for Coshocton Regional Medical Center for the Fill the Backpack Program. This community outreach initiative has the goal of equipping each elementary school student with a backpack filled with the essential school supplies to begin the school year. The hope is to reduce the financial burden on parents and teachers and will serve 3,300 students in all county schools and Newcomerstown schools.
The committee approved the request from the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum for $250 to pay for bussing services so that Conesville Elementary students can tour the museum. A request from Coshocton City Schools for $300 that was originally earmarked for the Eastern Ohio Summit has been reallocated for the Coshocton Leadership Conference. The participants that will be invited to this conference will be the students who sustained their participation in the Eastern Ohio Summit until the very moment it was cancelled, the students who participated in the God, Flag and Country Speech Competition, as well as the students who participated in Math Counts. Each of these activities demanded a great deal of commitment, persistence, and effort from the participants, as well as the willingness to take academic risks to meet the demands of the programs. Included will be some children who are not identified “gifted” but who have shown their leadership by their everyday classwork and by participating in this event.
Finally, the committee approved $5,000 from the Kiwanis Reserve Fund for the renovation of the soccer field restrooms at Lake Park. The restroom/concession stand has not been renovated since it was constructed in 1990. The updated restroom will provide facilities for more than 250,000 people who utilize the walking paths, soccer field and other areas of the park.
The next meeting of the Kiwanis fund trustees will be Wednesday, July 20. Applications for funding by non-profit organizations can be obtained by contacting Mindy Fehrman at mindyfehrman@yahoo.com.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
