Submitted photo Community leaders and first responders recently celebrated the opening of the new Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family Mahoning County First Responder Wellness Center. Among them were, from left, Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board Executive Director Duane Piccirilli, Boardman Township Trustee Steve Yacavone, Youngstown Foundation President Lynnette Forde, Boardman police Chief and Center Executive Director Todd Werth, and Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Foundation on Monday announced more than $1.8 million in new grants to 27 local nonprofit projects, including a new wellness center for first responders and an expansion project at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.

The foundation awarded $100,000 to the new Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family Mahoning County First Responder Wellness Center in Boardman — a first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to the mental and physical well-being of police, fire, EMS and dispatch personnel across the Mahoning Valley.

Located at the former Smith family homestead on Raupp Avenue in Boardman, the center was formally dedicated in October on National First Responder Day. The project was made possible through support from the Youngstown Foundation, the Smith family and local government partners, transforming the historic property into a safe, restorative space for first responders to gather, decompress and heal.

“This wellness center represents the best of what our community can do when we come together to care for those who serve us,” said Lynnette Forde, president of the Youngstown Foundation. “We’re proud to help make this vision a reality and provide a lasting resource for our local heroes.”

The foundation’s grant helped complete the initial part of the project — renovation of the main house into a wellness hub with counseling rooms, recreation areas and gathering spaces. Also planned is a physical wellness annex with fitness and rehabilitation programs specific to first responders.

“This project would not have been possible without the community’s generosity,” said Boardman police Chief Todd Werth, executive director of the center’s nonprofit organization. “The Youngstown Foundation’s support was instrumental in bringing this to life.”

Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board Executive Director Duane Piccirilli called the center “another jewel” for the county, noting his agency will host crisis intervention training there for police and emergency personnel.

RESCUE MISSION FUNDS

Meanwhile, the foundation approved a $125,000 grant to the Rescue Mission’s “Grow Our Mission” capital campaign, which is raising funds for additional space at the Youngstown shelter. The grant is the largest contribution to the campaign to date.

“At this time of year especially, our community realizes the importance of providing shelter to those in dire need of it,” Forde said. “We’re pleased to support the Rescue Mission’s initiative to serve more individuals and families experiencing homelessness, providing a pathway to hope and healing.”

The proposed new housing will accommodate up to 140 additional individuals nightly, increasing capacity from 186 to 326, said John Muckridge III, CEO of the Rescue Mission.

“We’re aiming to make sure that no one in need is turned away and that we can grow our mission by building a foundation of lasting change for countless individuals and families,” Muckridge said.

The campaign also will support ongoing Rescue Mission programs that provide food and job readiness for individuals and families at the shelter.

OTHER FUNDS

The foundation also cleared a $200,000 grant for Students Motivated by the Arts (SMARTS), which provides programming in music, visual arts, theater and dance for students with special needs.

The funds will enable SMARTS to continue its arts education programming for students in preschool through 12th grade.

A $100,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown will support its mental health program, which helps young people develop positive behaviors, such as staying physically active, practicing stress reduction techniques and building interpersonal skills.

A $114,350 grant to Golden String Inc., a nonprofit organization in Youngstown that serves children and adults with special needs, will support plans for a greenhouse that will offer learning opportunities and gardening activities.

An additional 22 local nonprofits received the following Youngstown Foundation grant awards:

•Youngstown City Schools (One Vision, One Youngstown), $148,000

•United Way of Youngstown (YCSD Care Closets), $125,000

•Down Syndrome Association of the Valley (general staffing and support), $110,000

•Society of St. Vincent de Paul (emergency assistance program), $75,702

•Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (Workforce Stability Project), $75,000

•Ohio Urban Renaissance (Community Hub for Youth), $75,000

•Valley Partners (Small Business Resource Center), $75,000

•Youngstown Warren Chamber Foundation (Center for Nonprofit Excellence), $75,000

•Adaptive Sports Ohio (sports for youth with disabilities), $60,000

•Heart Reach Neighborhood Ministries (Super Kids 2025), $50,000

•Intentional Development Group (Cornerstone Collective), $50,000

•Opera Western Reserve (2025-26 season), $50,000

•Potential Development Program (updated security system), $38,365

•Junior Achievement (Education & Workforce Center), $25,000

•Leadership Mahoning Valley (operating support), $25,000

•AxessPointe Community Health Centers (health and wellbeing), $20,000

•The Carter House (expansion project), $20,000

•Kool Boiz Foundation (mentoring program), $20,000

•Second Harvest Food Bank (produce to seniors), $20,000

•Humility of Mary Housing Inc. (personnel staffing support), $10,000

• Mahoning County Public Health (Baby Me and Tobacco Free Initiative), $10,000

•Produce Perks Midwest, Inc. (nutrition security), $10,000