Students in English 2367.015 met in Maynard Hall, Guthery Community Room on Tuesday, April 29, to award three area non-profit organizations $4,000 in funding for the upcoming year as part of The Ohio State University at Marion’s Pay It Forward Initiative.
Grace Clinics of Ohio, Inc. was awarded $1750, Ohio State's Buckeye Food Alliance was awarded $1750, and Marion Victim Assistance Program was awarded $500 to assist with the funding needs of their respective organizations.
Grace Clinics of Ohio is a nonprofit medical ministry serving multiple communities with free healthcare, prescription assistance, and specialist services for the uninsured and underinsured.
Buckeye Food Alliance (BFA) is an equal opportunity provider that works to ensure no Buckeye goes hungry. BFA works to reduce the impacts of food insecurity through outreach efforts and the operation of a client choice food pantry.
The Marion Victim Assistance Program provides county wide services to victims of any crime including emergency assistance, crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy and support, claims assistance, court orientation and advocacy, child support group, elderly support group, community referral and community education. The program also provides services to victims and families of DUI accidents and survivors of homicide.
According to Ohio State Marion Senior English Lecturer Amy Tibbals, who has taught the course for over a decade, three finalists for the grant awards were visited during spring semester to learn more about each organization as part of their class goals.
Each year, Tibbals witnesses the positive impact Pay It Forward has on her students.
“They get learned about positive things people are doing to help Marion. They worked with people who have big hearts that want to make Marion a better place, and they also learned what a volunteer might be able to do to help the Marion community,” she said.
What gives Tibbals the most pride is how memorable the Pay It Forward experience is for students.
Tibbals said, “Students leave the class with an experience that they will remember for a long time. They made a very positive impact while they were in the Ohio State Marion community.”
“Every semester it's amazing to watch students become very passionate about the work that they’re doing and the organization they are representing,” said Tibbals.
Pay It Forward, said Tibbals, began as a concept in the 2010-2011 academic year when fellow Ohio State English faculty member Dr. Cassandra Parente collaborated with her for a grant from the Federal Learn and Serve Program to help students learn about philanthropy.
The United Way of North Central Ohio has been our community partner in Pay It Forward since the project began in 2010, and they continue to participate in the course/project each year. Funds raised for Pay It Forward come from the work of students in Tibbals autumn 2024 Business and Professional Writing course that yielded $7,335 from which this semester's grants were awarded.