Nick & Edna Weller Grant to Fuel Transition To Work

For Immediate Release
Date: November 6, 2024

Kettering, OH – We Care Arts (WCA) is thrilled to announce the receipt of a generous $10,000 grant from the

 Nick & Edna Weller Charities, Inc., aimed at enhancing our Transition To Work (TTW) program. This funding will empower WCA to expand our services, reach a greater number of students, and foster new partnerships with local schools across the Greater Miami Valley.

The TTW program, established by the state, is designed to assist students with special needs, aged 16 to 22, in their transition from high school to employment and independent living. We Care Arts supplements this vital in-school program by offering weekly art classes that reinforce essential life and job skills. These classes are provided at no cost to the students, schools, or districts.

Each participating student receives an individual bag containing all the necessary art supplies for their projects, along with a corresponding teacher bag. Additionally, WCA provides YouTube instructional video links for each art project in the kit, ensuring a comprehensive and accessible learning experience.

In 2023 alone, the TTW program delivered nearly 400 ten-week art kits each semester, resulting in over 3,810 art projects completed by students across twenty schools in five counties. This grant will enable WCA to further expand our reach and continue to provide these enriching educational opportunities to even more students.

"We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to broaden our impact and help more young individuals develop the skills they need for future success," said Katie Neubert, Executive Director of We Care Arts. "Art is a powerful tool for building confidence and capability, and we are excited to continue supporting our students on their journeys toward independence."

We Care Arts is committed to transforming lives through art. We look forward to using this grant to deepen our engagement with the community and extend our services to additional schools in need.

For more information about the Transition To Work program and how you can support We Care Arts, please visit www.WeCareArts.org or contact Claudia Burnell at outreach@wecarearts.org.

About We Care Arts:
We Care Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals through the arts. By fostering creativity, skill-building, and self-expression, we help individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders achieve personal success and growth.

3035 Wilmington Pike
marketing@wecarearts.org
937-252-3937