Community Foundation Pledges A Challenge Grant To The Village Network

MOUNT VERNON – The Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County pledged $20,000 to The Village Network on Wednesday March 16th at the recipient’s Mount Vernon residential campus. The check passing kicks off The Community Foundation’s matching challenge, encouraging local businesses, organizations and individuals to engage in the mission of both non-profits.

The match challenge is part of a capital improvement initiative that will help refurnish The Village Network’s Mount Vernon residential treatment center, which provides mental health services to neglected and abused youth. An additional $40,000 is needed to update the 20-year-old facility.

“It is in the best interest of the children to have an environment that fosters a home-like environment (versus institutionalized environment), in which each child has their own bedroom suite that will enable them to sleep peacefully and to store their individualized/personal items safely,” reveals Sandy Sims, Regional Director of the Central Ohio region for The Village Network. New couches, chairs and tables will replace the current dated and worn furniture in the common rooms where group therapies take place. The campaign also updates living quarters so each child will have their own small suite of furniture provided to them for individual use.

In 2015, The Mount Vernon residential program served 47 children. Statewide The Village Network provides mental and behavioral healthcare in multiple settings (residential, day treatment and outpatient treatment, in-school therapy, Treatment Foster Care, and transitional living services) to over 900 boys and girls each day at 20 locations throughout Ohio. For more information, visit TheVillageNetwork.org and find us on Facebook and Twitter.