Past Winners

Wood County Hospital has established Community Health Workers in recent years whose aim is to evaluate the needs of clients in Wood County and assist these clients through case management services. Community Health Workers roles are unique in the fact that they directly engage with vulnerable populations in the community by improving access to health care coverage for uninsured and underinsured and connecting families with community resources and health education aimed at eliminating health care barriers in the Bowling Green Community. In 2023, Wood County Hospital’s Community Health Workers used a $1,000 grant to serve and assist 31 clients which ranged from low-income mothers, homeless individuals and their pets, a domestic abuse victim and individuals with severe health issues by supplying materials such as diapers and wipes, hygiene products, sleeping bags, and safety equipment.

Inspired by their history as a “poor farm” which assisted the elderly, disabled and homeless, the Wood County Museum aimed to create a more inclusive and accessible experience for individuals with disabilities and sensory issues. A $1,000 grant allowed the museum to purchase and assemble six sensory bags visitors could request to use while touring the historical farm. These sensory bags included adjustable headphones for those that struggle with noise sensitivity, emotion cards for non-verbal individuals, fidget-type toys and a miniature magnetic drawing and writing pad. The museum assembled these bags in the hope that all individuals that are differently abled could enjoy their local cultural institutions. The museum offers the bags as visitors enter and has trained all volunteers on how to properly assist visitors with using the bags.

Welcome BG focused their efforts on their Welcome International Friday’s program which aimed to provide food for international students which met cultural, dietary, and religious needs. This program was created in response to the food insecurities of international students which drastically increased during COVID. The organization was able to serve and assist a total of 181 international students in 2022 and served approximately 20 students a month.