2026 Grant Award Winners
1. Olney Help:
The funds will be used to meet the increasing demand for food assistance. Olney Help strives to avoid hunger in the community. For food aid, volunteers take and process household calls and online requests year-round, Monday through Friday. Olney Help has a pantry where volunteers pack and distribute food to residents. Occasionally, volunteers shop for housebound individuals. Also, volunteers provide referrals to additional resources when needed. Food requests are limited to one delivery per month. However, the need in the area is increasing and public transportation is limited. Olney Help distributes all donations in the local community, fulfilling 100% of qualifying requests.
2. Olney Theatre:
Funding will be used to support SummerFest on August 9, 2026. SummerFest is the Theatre’s annual open house and community celebration, welcoming families from the Olney area and beyond. This year, SummerFest kicks off an exciting and impactful new chapter in OTC’s 88-year history. The event will be a grand opening of new and revitalized spaces on campus following completion of the multi-year Staging the Future Capital Campaign. SummerFest provides community members of all ages, backgrounds, and interests the opportunity to share in the joy and benefits of live performance, arts education, conversation, and connection in Olney. Artistic and community events like these are vital as Americans navigate high polarization and widespread feelings of isolation and loneliness. Grant funding from partners like the Olney Civic Fund helps sustain this event, offering free performances, arts classes, community conversations, access to local vendors, and more.
3. Friends of Olney Farmers Market
The funds will be used to offer three "Friday Night Flicks" evenings filled with entertainment for all ages. Funds will go toward hiring area teens to facilitate each event. Teens will be mentored by professional guides to set up and break down the equipment; run the show; choose the movies; provide musical entertainment; and help organize the layout and operation of the event. In order to make the evening more affordable, funds will be used to offer deeply discounted food offerings such as pizza, Asian and Caribbean specialties, smoothies, desserts and kettle corn. Select teen and senior crafters will be featured. The funds will be used to support craft vendors who offer their goods at deep discounts.
4. So What Else
Funds will be used to support the distribution of rescued, nutritious food to Olney residents through the Harvest Intercontinental Church–Olney Midcounty hub. Funds from the Olney Civic Fund will specifically be used to support transportation expenses of taking the food in temperature-controlled vehicles from the So What Else warehouse to the distribution.
The funds will be used to meet the increasing demand for food assistance. Olney Help strives to avoid hunger in the community. For food aid, volunteers take and process household calls and online requests year-round, Monday through Friday. Olney Help has a pantry where volunteers pack and distribute food to residents. Occasionally, volunteers shop for housebound individuals. Also, volunteers provide referrals to additional resources when needed. Food requests are limited to one delivery per month. However, the need in the area is increasing and public transportation is limited. Olney Help distributes all donations in the local community, fulfilling 100% of qualifying requests.
2. Olney Theatre:
Funding will be used to support SummerFest on August 9, 2026. SummerFest is the Theatre’s annual open house and community celebration, welcoming families from the Olney area and beyond. This year, SummerFest kicks off an exciting and impactful new chapter in OTC’s 88-year history. The event will be a grand opening of new and revitalized spaces on campus following completion of the multi-year Staging the Future Capital Campaign. SummerFest provides community members of all ages, backgrounds, and interests the opportunity to share in the joy and benefits of live performance, arts education, conversation, and connection in Olney. Artistic and community events like these are vital as Americans navigate high polarization and widespread feelings of isolation and loneliness. Grant funding from partners like the Olney Civic Fund helps sustain this event, offering free performances, arts classes, community conversations, access to local vendors, and more.
3. Friends of Olney Farmers Market
The funds will be used to offer three "Friday Night Flicks" evenings filled with entertainment for all ages. Funds will go toward hiring area teens to facilitate each event. Teens will be mentored by professional guides to set up and break down the equipment; run the show; choose the movies; provide musical entertainment; and help organize the layout and operation of the event. In order to make the evening more affordable, funds will be used to offer deeply discounted food offerings such as pizza, Asian and Caribbean specialties, smoothies, desserts and kettle corn. Select teen and senior crafters will be featured. The funds will be used to support craft vendors who offer their goods at deep discounts.
4. So What Else
Funds will be used to support the distribution of rescued, nutritious food to Olney residents through the Harvest Intercontinental Church–Olney Midcounty hub. Funds from the Olney Civic Fund will specifically be used to support transportation expenses of taking the food in temperature-controlled vehicles from the So What Else warehouse to the distribution.
Click here to see past award winners
Where does the money come from that OCF grants out?
Our District 14 delegation was able to get some state funding for Olney Civic Fund to further its mission in supporting Olney non-profits. Additional amounts depend mostly on the weather. Our model for Olney Days depends squarely on the sponsorship of local businesses and citizens. Our sponsors underwrite most of the $55,000 cost of Party in the Park, plus costs for the other events. In 2023, the weather for Party in the Park was amazing, we had record breaking attendance, record breaking sales of beer and wine, record breaking income from parking and games. But, on a rainy day, we’d be lucky to break even. That’s why our sponsors are so critical. Our sponsors sustain the event allowing Olney Civic Fund to raise money for the community.