The Latest Updates: March 2025
Save the Date:
Join us for the next OneOhio Impact Academy session, “Ensuring Long-Term Impact: Sustainability Strategies for Your Organization,” on Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies to strengthen your organization’s long-term success. Learn more and register today!
Executive Director Update
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation has kicked off 2025 with a major milestone in Ohio’s fight against addiction - awarding over $45 million in grants to support 245 projects across the state. These critical funds will directly fuel the lifesaving efforts of treatment providers, first responders, recovery coaches, and community leaders who work tirelessly on the frontlines every day.
By investing in these initiatives, we are not only saving lives but also strengthening communities and expanding access to the care and support needed for long-term recovery.
This first round of grant funding marks a significant step forward and would not have been possible without the dedication of our OneOhio regional volunteers, the Expert Panel, the Board of Directors, and our small but mighty staff. Their commitment to a thorough and thoughtful review process ensured that funds are directed to organizations best positioned to make a real impact. As OneOhio moves forward, we remain committed to transparency, collaboration, and responsible stewardship - ensuring that every dollar is used effectively to build a healthier, stronger Ohio.
Warm regards,
Alisha Nelson
Executive Director
OneOhio Recovery Foundation
Grant Process Update
On February 12, 2025, the Foundation announced its final grant awards for the 2024 Regional Grant Cycle. All grants and abstracts for awarded projects are available here, and all grant award announcements are posted on the News section of our website here.
Grant Reporting
Our grant partners vary in size, mission, scope, and geography, but they all share a commitment to making a meaningful impact - and we’re dedicated to supporting them every step of the way. We understand that organizational capacity differs, which is why, in collaboration with our grant evaluation partners, we are committed to equipping all grantees with the resources and guidance they need to meet their grant tracking and reporting obligations and maximize their success.
In late February, OneOhio launched the first technical assistance training sessions to guide new grantees through the reporting process, reinforcing our dedication to helping organizations fulfill their reporting requirements as we enter this first-of-its-kind process. As we move forward together, we are committed to transparency, collaboration, and lasting impact - ensuring these funds drive meaningful change and strengthen the fight against addiction for years to come.
Preparing for the Next Grant Round
Over the past several months, our team has actively gathered feedback from partners across the state, listening and learning from our inaugural grant round. This valuable input will shape improvements to our processes and guide the launch of the next round of funding as soon as possible. We’re excited to build on this momentum - stay tuned for updates!
Grantee Spotlight
Fresh Start Recovery Center Expands Support for Mothers with OneOhio Grant
OneOhio Executive Director Alisha Nelson was thrilled to join Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana for the grand opening of the Fresh Start Family Focus Recovery Center in Columbus! This transformative program was recently awarded a $250,000 grant from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation to expand critical services for mothers and their children on the path to recovery. More than just a facility, Fresh Start is a place of hope, healing, and renewal - where faith, love, grit, and resilience come to life. By focusing on the needs of mothers and babies, the center addresses substance use disorder in a way that strengthens families and improves long-term health outcomes. It also works to break cycles that hold people back, such as addiction, abuse, poverty, and lack of opportunity.
With the Foundation’s support, Fresh Start will fill a critical gap in services, ensuring women have the care and resources they need to build a healthier future for themselves and their children. Learn more here.
Hope Town Ohio Visit
OneOhio Executive Director Alisha Nelson and Director of Partnership & Outreach Sarah Anstine visited Hope Town Ohio to learn more about how their organization serves Ohioans.
Hope Town, which is led by OneOhio Board Member Ted St John, stands dedicated to championing individuals in their pursuit of recovering from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Through an integrated system that includes recovery housing, peer support networks, employment initiatives, essential transportation services, jail supports and social enterprises, we aim to inspire profound change and help liberate people to build a foundation for a brighter future.
OneOhio Grantees In the News
The Gazette: “Hope Recovery Community to expand recovery housing for women”
The Chronicle: “Riveon Mental Health and Recovery gets $457,000 in grant funds for recovery services”
Journal News: “Butler County Prevention Coalition granted nearly $1M from OneOhio”
WYSO: “Wright State University piloting street medicine project in Dayton”
Dayton Business Journal: “Dayton Children’s gets $1.77M from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation”
OneOhio Hosts Grant Writing Workshop
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s first Impact Academy of 2025 featured a Grant Writing Workshop to help Ohio-based organizations identify and apply for available grant funding. This 90-minute session provided expert insights on crafting strong applications and maximizing funding opportunities to support community-driven initiatives. Organizations looking to enhance their grant proposals can watch the full event below and view additional resources here.
OneOhio Mission Moment
As they reflect on their service and mission, the OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s Board of Directors take a moment at the beginning of their meetings to recognize Ohioans impacted by the opioid epidemic.
February: Victor Daprile
Victor Daprile’s journey with his son’s addiction deeply shaped his commitment to serving on the OneOhio Region 7 board. What began with the unsettling discovery of altered grades in high school evolved into years of struggle - marked by substance use, arrests, and the difficult road to recovery.
Through family support meetings, Victor gained a new perspective, learning to step back and allow his son to face the consequences that ultimately led to lasting change. Today, Pal is thriving in long-term recovery, building a successful business and a loving family. Inspired by his family’s journey, Victor remains dedicated to ensuring that individuals and families in Trumbull and Mahoning counties have access to the support, resources, and hope that made his son’s recovery possible. Read Victor’s story here.
Meet the Team
Our OneOhio staff is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s mission, bringing diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to making Ohio a healthier place to live and thrive. In our new Meet the Team series, we’re excited to introduce the individuals behind our work - each playing a vital role in driving our mission forward. As they travel the state to meet with community partners, we hope this series helps you get to know them, their stories, and the impactful work they do each day to support those on the frontlines of the fight against addiction.
Sarah Anstine, Director of Partnership & Outreach
Sarah Anstine’s work as the Director of Partnership and Outreach at OneOhio is driven by more than just professional expertise - it is rooted in her own lived experience in recovery. Having navigated the challenges of addiction firsthand, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that others have the same opportunities she did to access treatment, find community support, and sustain long-term recovery. Read more here.
Two New Members Join OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is pleased to welcome Scottie Powell and Daphne Ayers as the newest members of its Board.
Scottie Powell was recently appointed to represent OneOhio Region 9. Read more here.
Daphne Ayers was recently appointed to represent OneOhio Region 19. Read more here.
In Case You Missed It
2025 Board Meeting Schedule
The next public meeting of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board of Directors will be announced at a later date. More information is available at: OneOhioFoundation.com/Meetings.
Stay Informed
Follow OneOhio on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn and help us share the latest Foundation news with others across the state.
Tune into the Foundation’s Board of Directors and committee meetings, which are always open to the public and posted on our website.
