ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) has been awarded over $18,000 by the J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation to upgrade the facilities at Heart to Heart school. The grant will fund essential safety and security enhancements, creating a more supportive and stable learning environment for students with significant cognitive needs and behavioral challenges. These upgrades aim to provide a setting where students can thrive academically and personally, free from distractions that may impact their learning and development.
Heart to Heart is a specialized school serving students with moderate to severe cognitive needs who also experience behavioral challenges that can impact their ability to learn effectively. The program focuses on creating a supportive, tailored environment to help these students reach their fullest potential.
Susan Straker Holdren, Executive Director and President of the Straker Foundation, stated, “The Straker Foundation is pleased to support a project that allows children to learn and interact in a safe environment. This aligns with our founders’ interest in education and youth development.”
The J.W. and M.H. Straker Foundation grant will play a crucial role in enhancing the mission of Heart to Heart. “The generous support from the Straker Foundation will allow us to make critical upgrades to our facilities, providing a safer, more secure environment where our students can focus on their learning and personal growth,” said Monte Bainter, Superintendent of Muskingum Valley ESC.
William and Mary Helen Straker launched the J.W. and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation in 1994. Today, ten descendants of J. William and Mary Helen Straker serve as its board of trustees. The trustees are committed to supporting projects that reflect the Strakers’ values: programs that foster community growth, enable young people to grow in character and integrity, enhance education, and increase community exposure to the arts and sciences.