Each fall the Women of Worth consider the applications that have been submitted for local projects benefiting women and children in the community. The group then votes on which specific projects to fund. Past awards have included support for a career carnival for young girls, an incentive store for families in need, and help for domestic violence victims. Over the past twelve years, the Women of Worth Funds have distributed almost $43,000 in grant awards.
2022
Arts Place, Inc.
$1,000 to host a series of healing arts workshops in support of helping Blackford County residents who have endured trauma better process their emotions in the form of artistic expression.
Blackford Youth Softball
$1,000 for construction of a 2nd softball field
Youth for Christ
$1,000 to help reduce the cost of attendance for students who wish to attend special Youth for Christ events
2021
IU Health Blackford
$1,000 for mammogram screenings to women without financial resources
Blackford County Schools
$1,000 for Camp Invention scholarships
Northside Elementary School (K-2)
$669 for books on social and emotional growth topics
Helping Hands
$1,000 for materials for a 16-week parenting workshop called Parenting in Progress
Blackford Junior Senior High School Agriculture Department
$1,000 for a hydroponic tower, plants, and nutrient supplies to grow lettuce indoors
2020
Blackford County Arts Center
$500 for the 2021 Arts in the Parks programming
Carey Services/Early Head Start
$500 for two pieces of equipment for the Hartford City Early Head Start
Community and Family Services
$500 for purchasing supplies and equipment for families with young children through the Silver Lining opportunity store
Hartford City Arts Council
$500 for helping to support local live music, art, and cultural events in town
Purdue University Extension/Blackford County 4-H Clubs
$500 to help purchase supplies to build and maintain planters at the Nature Play Area east of the Hartford City Public Library
2019
Arts Place, Inc.
$500 for community arts events for children, including Second Saturdays, the Spooktacular Event in October, and the Santa Around the Square event in December.
Blackford County Secret Families
$500 to provide Christmas for families that cannot afford gifts, a tree and decorations.
Carey Services/Head Start
$500 to upgrade playground equipment and add indoor instructional equipment for newborns through toddlers at the Hartford City Early Head Start location.
Hartford City Head Start Classroom #3
$500 to build the listening and library area with materials that support appropriate vocabulary, phonics, and letter recognition for preschoolers.
Imagination Library
$500 to help in purchasing the books that are mailed to Blackford County children newborn through age 5 each month for supporting literacy development.
2018
Blackford County Schools
$500 for scholarships to elementary students wishing to attend Camp Invention in the summer of 2019 in order to become better critical thinkers, problem solvers, and collaborative learners
Hartford City Police Department
$500 to offer the Strengthening Families program in collaboration with Blackford County Purdue Extension Service. This a substance abuse prevention program for families of young teens.
Community and Family Services
$500 to help purchase science and math learning materials for the preschool children at the Hartford City Head Start program.
Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center
$500 for help purchase the Relationships under Construction program curriculum and materials. The program is a program for middle school students that focuses on abstaining from risky behaviors surrounding alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and premarital sex.
Mothers of Preschoolers
$500 to help support the Mothers of Preschoolers program that provides a group support program for these mothers.
Blackford County Purdue Extension Service
$500 to help purchase supplies for the PEEPs after-school program/
2017
Blackford County Schools
$750 for a workshop for young women at Blackford Junior High School that aims to enhance each girl’s self-image, sense of self-worth, and her relationships and attitudes toward other girls of the same age
Blackford County Schools
$500 to purchase Breakout EDU Kits (Virtual reality problem solving kits) for teachers to use in classrooms at Blackford Junior High School
Community and Family Services
$750 to purchase inventory for the Silver Lining Store, at which parents may spend the coupons they earn from local social service programs, doctors, schools, and libraries to purchase items for their children.
Montpelier Civic Center
$500 to purchase equipment and supplies and to support program operations for a safe after school program for children ages K-grade 6 at the Montpelier Civic Center
2016
Blackford County Schools
$1,000 for creating a tailor-made 7th grade mathematics program that fits Indiana standards and local needs as opposed to national textbook
Hartford City Public Library
$500 for purchasing specialized materials that will support the library’s story time and craft sessions for preschool-age children
Helen Lieber Preschool
$750 for providing family-friendly activities and classes for young parents, especially mothers, using a national program called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
Treehouse Preschool
$750 for purchasing new and safe playgroup equipment
2015
Community and Family Services, Inc.
$1,000 for additional inventory for the Silver Lining Incentive Store
Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center
$1,000 for establishing a satellite center in Blackford County that would provide counseling and clothing and supplies for young families
Blackford County Community Services Center, Inc.
$500 for providing meals at the Senior Citizens Center
Blackford County Schools
$500 for support of the Blackford High School Credit Recovery Program
2014
Tri Kappa Sorority
$500 for support to Blackford County residents with cancer
Community and Family Services, Inc.
$500 for the Silver Lining Incentive Store inventory
John XXIII Retreat Center
$500 for a self-esteem program for junior high school girls
Blackford County Schools
$500 for Kindles technology for junior high school special needs students
Montpelier-Harrison Township Public Library
$500 for refurbishing children’s area of library
A Better Way Services, Inc.
$500 for transportation to shelter for Blackford County victims of domestic violence
Psi Iota Xi-Alpha Mu Chapter
$500 for street signs listing Domestic Violence Hotline
Blackford County Schools
$500 for strategic college campus visits, tutoring, and other supports for the Early College High School program at Blackford High School
Blackford County Schools
$500 for funding the Positive Behavior Support program at Blackford Junior High School
Blackford County Community Services, Inc.
$500 for Blackford County senior citizens fellowship activities
Hartford City Public Library
$500 for materials for the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program
Carey Services, Inc.
$500 for technology items and sensory supplies for the Hartford City Day Services Center
Blackford County Schools
$500 for “I am . . .” poster program and classroom incentive program for the Credit Recovery Program at Blackford High School
Hartford City Headstart #1
$500 for books and audio learning tapes for the Headstart library center
Blackford County Schools
$500 for continued implementation of character education program at Blackford High School
2013
Silver Lining Incentive Store
A W.O.W. grant of $2,500 will help support the operation of the Silver Lining Incentive Store. The store is intended for families enrolled with Community & Family Services who earn coupons through their involvement in programs promoting family health. Those coupons are then spent on Silver Linings Store items for infants and children.
Born to Learn Program
The Youth Service Bureau sponsors a Born to Learn program in Blackford County. Their W.O.W. grant of $228 will partially fund this interactive in-home program targeting 0-5 year olds and their families. The program also sponsors monthly playgroups for families.
2012
Comprehensive Intervention Model Training
A W.O.W. grant of $2,500 will fund the training and travel costs for two master teachers/literacy coaches to attend a summer workshop at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock where Dr. Linda Dorn, national authority on the Comprehensive Literacy Model, leads the Center for Literacy. The two literacy coaches will learn how to implement various types of research-based reading and writing interventions in their own schools. They will also learn how to share that new information and skill with fellow teachers.
Career Carnival
The Guidance Department at Montpelier School was awarded a 2012 W.O.W. grant of $680 to assist with the funding of a Career Carnival for all Montpelier and Northside Elementary girls in grades five and six. The students will learn about careers in math and science beginning with a keynote speaker. They will then divide into small groups that rotate among different stations, each led by a local woman in a math or science career who will speak to the students and provide them with an opportunity to participate in a hands-on activity related to her specific career.
2011
Silver Lining
Community and Family Services is using a W.O.W. grant of $2.500 to support an incentive store called Silver Lining. The store helps families who earn coupons by participating in programs that better the health of the family. These coupons are earned by keeping appointments, attending educational sessions, and meeting other program requirements. Families redeem the coupons at the store for clothing and supplies for infants and children. The grant award is being used to purchase inventory, advertising, and other Silver Lining incentive store needs. The store opened on December 11, 2010, and is open one Saturday each month.
Character Counts Program
The Montpelier School Guidance Department asked for $750 to support a Character Counts program. This program focuses on character education in the areas of responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship, respect, and fairness. Students participate in weekly lessons and other activities that teach these character traits to every Montpelier student. The funds provide copies of age-appropriate books that support each lesson.
Tailgate Program
The Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc., received a W.O.W. grant of $325 to provide food to low-income residents in Blackford County through its Tailgate Program. This program supplements the work of Blackford County’s two local food pantries by providing some food products through a monthly distribution at the Blackford County Fairgrounds on the second Friday of each month. During 2010, Second Harvest Food Bank provided 154,420 pounds of fresh produce, dairy products, and dry food products to an average of 1,134 people at each monthly stop. According to the 2007 census update, 1,204 residents of Blackford County are living in poverty. Another 2,019 are working but are not earning enough to make ends meet.
