The Oxford Community Foundation awarded $33,293 in grants to seven local groups in its first round of philanthropy for 2021.

“We are so pleased to make these awards to help creatively solve issues and improve quality of life for greater Oxford,” said Betsy Hope, executive director of the foundation. The awards are:

• • National Inventors Hall of Fame, $3,000 for “Camp Invention for Economically Challenged Students at Talawanda.” 
  • PARACHUTE, Butler County Court Appointed Special Advocates, $2,000 for “Be a Child’s Voice.”
  • We Thrive Together, $2,000 for “Socialization Project to Reduce Loneliness.”
  • Butler County VHF Association, $2,113 for “Self-Supporting Radio Tower.”
  • Age Friendly Oxford, $2,652 for “O Town News.
  • Women Helping Women, $1,152 for “Mandarin Brochure for Survivors of Abuse.”
  • Diversity Committee/Miami University Library, $10,000 for “Mapping and Segregation/Desegregation Projects.”

The foundation funds scholarships and grants for projects involving health, education, recreation, civic and social welfare projects, arts and the environment. The foundation’s goal is to improve Oxford for all who live and work there. 

In addition to its general fund grants, the foundation’s board also approved $10,376 in grants to community groups from the foundation’s other restricted funds. The foundation awards three rounds of grants each year.

The Oxford Community Foundation is a supporter of the Oxford Observer.

The deadline for the next cycle of grant requests is April 15. Grant guidelines and applications can be found at oxfordfdn.org, or by calling (513) 523-0623. The foundation is particularly interested in projects related to diversity, equity and inclusion for the next cycle of grants, Hope said.