The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation awarded just over one million dollars in January 2026 grant funding. This cycle included grants of up to $150,000.00, and covered a range of needs, from helping fire departments upgrade equipment to providing support for back-to-school initiatives. Awards address youth programming, educational needs, poverty and homelessness, mental health initiatives, and animal care issues.
Recipients of the 2026 January grant include the following:
- Allwell Behavioral Services; $45,000.00; transportation;
- Bishop Fenwick Pre-School; $21,183.74; security upgrade;
- Duncan Falls Elementary School; $49,411.50; playground;
- Eastside Community Ministry; $26,146.50; back-to-school storage;
- East Muskingum Band Boosters; $45,000.00; transportation;
- East Muskingum Choral Program; $28,642.00; performance equipment;
- Ebenezer Country Church; $67,000.00; infrastructure upgrade;
- Falls Township Fire Department; $55,000.00; firefighting equipment;
- Fetch Remedy Dogs; $2,000.00; Therapy dog training
- Foxfire Schools; $55,000.00; window upgrades;
- Frazeysburg Volunteer Fire Department; $41,091.15; firefighting equipment;
- Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland; $20,000.00; lighting upgrade;
- Harrison Township Fire Department; $62,000.00; firefighting equipment;
- Muskingum County Specialty Dockets Court; $25,000.00; emergency funds;
- Muskingum Valley Family YMCA; $30,000.00; teen space;
- NAMI 6 County; $17,000.00; programming needs;
- Ohio State Parks Foundation; $45,000.00; equine area upgrade;
- PAWS of Muskingum County; $40,000.00; spay and neuter services;
- Perry Township Fire Department; $58,267.79; firefighting equipment;
- Roseville Volunteer Fire Department; $45,500.00; firefighting equipment;
- Scouting America; $61,268.00; camp upgrades;
- Tri-Valley Bowling Boosters; $22,254.89; concession stand upgrade;
- Tri-Valley Youth League Softball; $75,000.00; fencing;
- TruLight Ministries; $73,300.00; second floor renovation;
- Village of South Zanesville; $43,300.00; pickle ball courts.
Accredited educational institutions, governmental entities, or 501-c-3 nonprofit organizations interested in applying for Straker grants should consult the website (https://www.strakerfoundation.org/) for updates.
