Who We Support
Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.)
Operation Underground Railroad salutes our nation’s law enforcement officers and prosecutors at the federal, state and local levels who protect our country’s children. O.U.R.’s mission is to save children and seek justice for those who victimize them. Therefore O.U.R. is committed to enhancing law enforcement efforts by providing resources where budget shortfalls prohibit an operation from going forward. The organization also provides child exploitation investigative training in U.S. jurisdictions where a need exists. Collaborating with law enforcement reduces duplication, promotes best practices and avoids other potential issues which might arise without close coordination. O.U.R. is privileged and honored to support our nation’s heroes in this important cause to deter, disrupt and dismantle child exploitation and the trafficking of children in our nation’s communities.
Bluff Street Village
Bluff Street Village is a hand up, not a handout. Their pilot program helps new homeowners rent, and then purchase, what are known as “Tiny Homes” of 400 square feet or less. The goal is to provide affordable high-quality housing for persons with an income less than $18,000 annually. Bluff Street programs charge rent of $1.00 per square foot, with a maximum of rent of $400.00/month. They are also working on building all electric houses with solar panels, resulting in electric bills of less than $50.00/month. In addition to financial qualifications, residents are expected to be active participants in the Bluff Street Village community by attending monthly neighborhood meetings and volunteering 10 hours per month. They are also required to attend monthly two workshops on subjects like home repair, budgeting, health and wellness and more. Residents then take full ownership after seven years, and are typically long term and meaningful members of a tight-knit community.
CareNet
In 2002, healthcare providers in Lucas County, Ohio responded to a challenge from the late Toledo Mayor Jack Ford to help uninsured residents. The result is Toledo/Lucas County CareNet, an innovative approach to increasing access to healthcare for low-income residents who are uninsured and not eligible for public/private coverage. CareNet coordinates a charity care network with primary care, hospital and specialty services, creating a uniform approach to charity care by identifying and serving the uninsured and addressing the access issues of awareness, coordination, cost and transportation.
Joy Ministries
Joy Ministries provides intervention with spiritual emphasis. It is a non-profit, non-denominational ministry for women, promoting emotional and spiritual healing. Our mission is to provide peer counseling at no cost, support groups, Bible studies, prayer groups and educational opportunities in a non-judgmental atmosphere to women within the community. Our vision is to serve as an integral social service in the community, improving the emotional and spiritual health of women in the area. We will acquire the necessary resources to minister to more women through professional-level volunteers.
Pregnancy Center of Greater Ohio in association with Bella Vita
Our compassionate and professional team work every day to create a safe, confidential place for women to be educated about their pregnancy options. All of our services are provided at no cost to expecting mothers, our only goal is to help them make the safest and best option while considering all their needs. The Pregnancy Center of Greater Toledo has been serving women and families in the Toledo area since 1984. We are here to help individuals make the right choice for themselves, no matter the circumstance.
The Barney Charter School Initiative (BSCI)
The mission of the Barney Charter School Initiative is to promote the founding of classical charter schools and excellence in their teaching and operations, to the end that public-school students may be educated in the liberal arts and sciences and receive instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.
The Barney Charter School Initiative is a project of Hillsdale College devoted to the education of young Americans. Through this initiative, the College supports the launch of K-12 charter schools. These schools will train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a rigorous, classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.
World Vision
World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and enrich lives through our ministry and good works. We pursue this mission through integrated, holistic commitment to transformational development that is community-based and sustainable, focused especially on the needs of children.
We’re a global Christian humanitarian organization, and we partner with children, families, churches and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We seek to facilitate an engagement between the poor and the affluent that opens both to transformation. We respect the poor as active participants, not passive recipients, in this relationship. They are people from whom others may learn and receive, as well as give. Together we share a quest for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in a broken world.
Family House of Toledo
As a non-profit agency dedicated to keeping families together in time of crisis, Family House has offered hope to families since 1985. Over the years, our community leaders recognized that many families were trapped in a cycle of poverty and that additional services were needed to successfully move families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Comprehensive programs and services were developed to address the root causes of homelessness.
Family House provides not only for the immediate needs of families, but gives these families the tools to become self-sufficient. A facilitator of alliances with other service providers, we dedicate our efforts to creating an environment that is compassionate, valuing all individuals and treating them with respect regardless of the factors contributing to their homelessness.
Toledo Choral Society
Founded in 1919 by Mary Willing Meagley (1878-1968), the Toledo Choral Society strives to present the finest in classical and contemporary choral music. Its continued existence over the decades, not without struggle nor triumph, attests to the talent and dedication of its three directors and its many members and supporters. The Toledo Choral Society currently has nearly one hundred members who come from all over the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region. We are students to retirees, diverse in our ethnic and cultural heritage, our religious backgrounds, and occupations. We are bonded by our love for performing outstanding choral works for our communities, and enriching their lives though the beauty of the arts.
Food For Thought
The core mission of Food for Thought is to feed the hungry in a thoughtful and intentional manner. We accomplish this through three distinct programs: mobile food pantries, which provide supplemental nutrition assistance (shelf-stable and fresh produce at no cost to patrons) throughout the region; emergency food box delivery; and a weekend lunch distribution and outreach targeting people experiencing homelessness. Food For Thought continues to identify and address barriers to food insecurity and gives anyone with a passion to serve the opportunity to do so. We believe in creating a community where the hunger for food, respect, and belonging is met for all people.
Keeping Our Girls Safe
Keeping Our Girls Safe’s is a grass roots organization created by the Kolasinski Family (Sierah’s long-time boyfriend Josh’s family) to Honor Sierah. It is our hope and the mission of KOGS to help create a community where violence against women doesn’t exist. To advocate for women’s empowerment against violence; to teach women personal safety awareness; and educate the community regarding resources available to promote and continue this mission. We continue these efforts to Honor the life of Sierah in hopes a tragic event similar to hers never happens to anyone else.
Through fundraising efforts, such as the KOGS annual sponsors; general donors from our local community; KOGS Annual Sierah Joughin Memorial Motorcycle Ride, having a presence at the Fulton County Fair; along with being present at other community events – KOGS provides advocacy for protection against violent offenders to the community; encouragement & empowerment to women through education & awareness.
Justice for Sierah
In 2016, Sierah Joughin’s life was cut short by a repeat violent offender. Since then, the Justice for Sierah organization has been committed to ensuring no more young people meet this fate. Our multifaceted approach for creating safe communities through empowerment, education, and advocacy is focused on preventing assaults and abductions and establishing systems for quicker recovery if someone is in danger.
