DUBLIN, OH - Groundwork Ohio recognized the Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation with the 2025 Groundwork Champion Award, in honor of its ongoing commitment to help alleviate child care barriers across Richland County.

Women’s Fund Chair Amy Hiner, Chair-Elect Amy Goyal, and Richland County Foundation President Allie Watson accepted the award during Groundwork Ohio’s Momentum 2025 conference on October 23. Groundwork Ohio is a nonpartisan advocacy organization focused on improving the lives of young children and their families through policy and public awareness.

For several years, the Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation has awarded grants to make quality child care affordable and accessible to women in the local community, as the organization believes that child care is critical for women’s economic mobility. From joining Groundwork Ohio’s women’s coalition, attending advocacy days, presenting key data on child care challenges across the state, and sharing lived experiences during webinars, The Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation embodies the true definition of a champion.

The award honors long-standing cross-sector partners who have helped lay the groundwork for change through steadfast leadership, meaningful collaboration, and bold investment in the early childhood movement.

“The Women’s Fund is energized by the efforts of other civic groups who help elevate the conversation in our communities like Groundwork Ohio.

While the challenges around child care are the same across many communities, we believe solutions are best identified and addressed through local synergies and partnerships,” said Women’s Fund Chair Amy Hiner.

In 2018, the Women's Fund surveyed the community to better understand the specific and unique needs facing women's economic mobility in Richland County. Access to quality and affordable child care was identified as one of the biggest barriers to women's participation in the workforce.

To meet this need, the Women's Fund along with community partners have invested $338,000 to reduce barriers for childcare providers and improve the quality of care available to children.

About the Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation:

· The Women's Fund was founded in 1996 as a permanent endowment to meet the unique needs of women and girls in our community

· The Women's Fund supports programs at nonprofit organizations that promote the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, economic, or cultural growth of women and girls in Richland County.

About the Richland County Foundation The Richland County Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3, was established in 1945 as a way for individuals to pool and invest their gifts for the long-term good of Richland County and its residents.

The Foundation helps people in Richland County give back to their community by investing their gifts wisely so that grants can be made to improve the quality of life for all the county’s citizens. Collaborating with donors, the Foundation meets important needs today and plans for a strong future.

Jennie James