Girl Scouts of Western Ohio (GSWO), which includes Greater Cincinnati, is one of the ten largest Girl Scout Councils in the nation, serving more than 41,000 girls in Western Ohio and Southeastern Indiana.  The Dater Foundation grant will enable GSWO to engage economically disadvantaged girls in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Girls who participate develop a stronger sense of self, gain problem-solving and challenge-seeking behaviors, and, ultimately, grow as leaders. 

Grants made in April:

Crayons to Computers, $25,000.  Program enhancements include the Teacher Free Store and Mobile Outreach as well as Crafts with Conviction.  More than 3,000 teachers took advantage last year.

Ensemble Theatre, $50,000.  Education outreach includes free intern performances in area schools and community centers, a Teen Scene initiative, and underwritten student/children show admission that enriches school curriculum and touches the lives of at-risk children in Over-the-Rhine and throughout Greater Cincinnati. 

First Baptist Church of Cumminsville (Faith Alliance Coalition), $7,000.  The Coalition’s Day of Hope 2018 will distribute back-to-school backpacks and supplies to hundreds of children at a community celebration focused on building relationships with Cincinnati Police and social service groups. 

Franciscan Ministries, $10,000.  Vouchers for haircuts at participating salons will be provided to underserved, inner-city youth with the goal of enhancing self-esteem as they begin the next school year.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, $20,000.  Educational outreach features the development of additional pathways to participation and engages about 3,000 Greater Cincinnati girls in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods in non-traditional ways.

Camp Joy Foundation, $20,000.  Program for underserved youth enables economically-disadvantaged children to participate in fun, safe outdoor activities that promote development of self-esteem, social skills and decision making through a resident camp, an overnight weekend retreat, a leadership program or a school visit.

Junior Achievement of OKI Partners, $20,000.  Adult volunteers participate in training and then take Junior Achievement’s time-tested financial and life success programs into classroom, working with teachers in elementary, middle and high schools.

WAVE Foundation, $20,000.  A Community Outreach Scholarship Fund enables youth at under-resourced schools to benefit from free-of-charge wildlife educational experiences presented by WAVE’s professional educators. 

The Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs that benefit young people and focus in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs.  Information about the grantmaking process and guidelines and links to an online grant application website are available at www.DaterFoundation.org.

The private foundation was established by fourth-generation Cincinnatian, businessman and philanthropist Charles Dater (1912-1993) to ensure that his resources would continue to fund worthwhile community programs after his death.  The foundation has made more than 2,900 grants totaling over $45 million since its inception in 1985.