People Working Cooperatively wins 14 grants to help it serve community

People Working Cooperatively has received 14 grants totaling nearly $410,000 to support its mission to provide professional critical home repairs and accessibility modifications to low-income homeowners in communities throughout Greater Cincinnati.

Among the grants were  five that’ll be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Farmer Family Foundation.

The grants include:

• An anonymous foundation awarded $40,000 for HVAC training equipment. 
• Andrew Jergens Foundation awarded $7,500 for repairs and modifications. 
• Bob’s Cares Foundation awarded $2,500 for repairs and modifications. 
• The 513 Fund awarded $5,000 for repairs and modifications.
• The Charles H. Dater Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant for student volunteer projects. PWC’s student volunteers gain hands-on home maintenance experience while improving living conditions and quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities.
• The Ohio Finance Fund awarded $60,000 for lead remediation equipment and supplies. PWC, along with other community partners, offers lead inspections and remediation services to protect families and local residences from the dangers of lead. 
• The S.C. Ministry Foundation awarded $110,000 for repairs and modifications in the Price Hill area.
• The Wayfair Foundation awarded $10,000 for repairs and modifications in homes in Northern Kentucky.
• The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation awarded $20,000 for the volunteer involvement program. 

Additionally, the following organizations and foundations provided $103,000 grants that will be matched by the Farmer Family Foundation. That funding is part of the $1 million challenge grant the Farmer Family Foundation awarded PWC earlier this year.

• Foxwynd Foundation, $30,000
• Park National Bank, $10,000
• The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, $50,000
• The Huntington Foundation, $10,000
• Walmart Foundation, $3,000 

“I want to thank all of these wonderful organizations for their generosity in supporting PWC’s mission,” said Chris Owens, the organization’s vice president of development.

Five decades of strengthening Greater Cincy communities

Incorporated in 1975, People Working Cooperatively is a nonprofit serving low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners in 20 counties of southwest Ohio, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. 

PWC staff and its volunteers have worked for the past 49 years to strengthen those communities by providing free repair, weatherization and modification services to help residents stay safely in their homes. The organization’s staff of licensed, trained employees and dedicated volunteers assist nearly 6,000 individuals in more than 3,500 homes each year. 

Owens said all of these grants, including those matched by the Farmer Family Foundation, “empower us to continue to grow our efforts in providing essential home repair and modification services to underserved community members.” 

Many of those we serve are elderly, veterans, single parents, or even grandparents raising children, and individuals with disabilities,” he said. “This funding allows us to make a meaningful and positive impact in our community.”

To learn more about People Working Cooperatively and who is eligible for services, visit pwchomerepairs.org or call 513-351-7921.