UWLC Receives $75,000 Grant from the Jerome T. Osborne and Georgeanne S. Osborne Charitable Trust

United Way of Lake County Receives $75,000 Grant from the Jerome T. Osborne and Georgeanne S. Osborne Charitable Trust 

Mentor, OH (December 18, 2023) – United Way of Lake County is proud to announce that it has been awarded a generous $75,000 grant from the Jerome T. Osborne and Georgeann S. Osborne Charitable Trust. This significant contribution has been designated to strengthen the organization's ongoing efforts in their fight against food insecurity.

An approximate 26,000 Lake County residents (11.2%) and 7,000 children (14.7%) are estimated to be living with food insecurity.

The grant will empower United Way of Lake County to enhance its initiatives aimed at alleviating hunger to help ensure families, seniors, and individuals struggling with hunger have food on the table.

Maryann Chaloupka and Sunny Masters, administrator of the trust, visited the organization to award the funds.

According to Chaloupka, “The goal of the members of the Jerome T. Osborne and Georganne S. Osborne Charitable Trust is to effect positive change throughout our community in the same way that my dad did for so many years. Supporting nonprofits such as United Way of Lake County helps to build a stronger, healthier community. My family and I are grateful for this opportunity and proud to partner with United Way in their fight against hunger.”

UWLC has a long-standing history of working collaboratively with local partners and meets quarterly with the 38 food pantries they help serve to assess their current needs and fill in identified gaps during their food distribution program which takes place on several occasions throughout the year.

Last year UWLC provided nearly $110,000 in food to Lake County food pantries based on the generosity of those who donated during their annual spring food drive and fundraiser.

Beyond this, UWLC also addresses food scarcity through its Community Impact Allocation program. In the previous year, they allocated funds to help provide more than 17,000 nourishing communal meals for seniors, 10,000 meals for the homeless, and over 700 cans of formula to nourish babies of low-income households.

"We are deeply grateful to the Jerome T. Osborne and Georgeann S. Osborne Charitable Trust for their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those facing food insecurity in our community," said UWLC President and CEO Dione DeMitro. "This grant will enable us to help fulfill the increasing challenges of hunger."