Denison Venture Philanthropy (DVP), a unique Denison University student program organized around philanthropy, will present $10,000 and 200 volunteer hours to Together We Grow. Together We Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food, education, training and work opportunities for the residents of Licking County, Ohio, through community and school gardening.
Members of DVP will work with Together We Grow to help purchase and assemble a solar-powered greenhouse, begin to grow the plants inside the greenhouse, put handicap accessible equipment together, plan the volunteer schedules, and help with a marketing campaign.
“I’ve never volunteered for a nonprofit before, I am really excited for this grant; what we are doing overall for the community is really innovative. I really love greenhouses and gardening!” said the club’s grant manager Alina Panek ’20.
To date, more than $67,500 and 1,500 student hours have been invested in the Licking County community by DVP. Other organizations DVP has partnered with include Center for Disability Services, Newark’s Look Up Center, the Licking County Humane Society, Licking County Coalition for Housing and Pathways of Central Ohio, among others.
Grants for the Denison Venture Philanthropy program are mostly funded through the generosity of David Kuhns, a member of the Denison class of 1968. In 2008, Kuhns challenged Denison students to organize an effort based around philanthropy – but one that also required an investment of student time as well as dollars. DVP creates strong ties between the college and the community and offers students experience with real-world issues. The Burton Morgan Foundation also supported the award with a generous contribution in 2016-17.