Clubhouse Receives Grant for Books

Julie McIntosh, dean, College of Education and Allison Baer, Clubhouse director, stand on each side of Hancock-Wood board members.

The Clubhouse, a free literacy outreach service, has received a $2,000 grant from the Hancock-Wood Electric Community Trust Fund. Sponsored by The University of Findlay’s College of Education, The Clubhouse provides reading instruction and support for school-age children and an authentic experience for the University’s teacher education candidates.

According to Tricia Valasek, grants manager for The University of Findlay, the funds received from Hancock-Wood’s Community Trust Fund will be used to purchase books for children enrolled in the one-on-one tutoring program for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Clubhouse director Allison Baer, Ph.D., reported that 153 children have been served in small-group tutoring since fall 2013 and 83 have received individual tutoring. (The Clubhouse also receives support for the individual tutoring program from the Findlay-Hancock Community Foundation.)

“On average, our waiting list has approximately 30 children on it and most of them are in the first through third grades,” added Baer. “From parent comments, it appears that the pressure from the Third Grade Guarantee is one cause of the increased numbers of children in grades one through three attending the Clubhouse.”

To fund the grant, participating Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative Members’ bills are rounded up each month to the nearest dollar and the additional change is considered a charitable donation to the Hancock-Wood Electric Community Trust Fund. The program is branded nationally as Operation Round Up and allows members the opportunity to make a powerful impact on their communities for just pennies a month.