Lots Happening at Rainbow Connection

During the 10th anniversary reunion of Cleveland’s 2016 American League champion baseball team, former Cleveland Indians pitcher and current Rainbow Connection Executive Director Perci Garner bragged about what he’s doing 10 years after the team’s World Series run.

“I told them all about Rainbow,” Garner said. “All of my former teammates are doing really cool things, and it was great to involve both Rainbow Connection and Tuscarawas County in that conversation.”

Rainbow Connection is an independent nonprofit health charity dedicated to assisting Tuscarawas County’s disabled and disadvantaged residents and the schools and nonprofits that serve them.

During the April and May meetings of its Board of Directors, the organization awarded 31 households and 4 nonprofit agencies with more than $90,000.00 in support. Assistance included funding for hearing aids, medical bills, medical equipment, prescriptions, transportation to long-distance medical appointments, dental bills, medical alert devices, school accessibility equipment, and other health and medical expenses.

To help support their ongoing mission, Rainbow Connection recently received a $2,500.00 grant from The African American Community Fund. In partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), this grant is awarded to Black-led or Black-serving organizations in Ohio’s 32 Appalachian Ohio counties who are spearheading efforts that create opportunities, meet pressing needs, and unleash the potential within local communities. 

“We are really proud to be recognized with this grant,” Garner said. “When we relieve casework of large medical expenses, we, of course, provide them with what they need medically to move forward with their lives. We also give them hope and a reminder that the entire community came together to support them. It’s not just a hearing aid, a prosthetic, or access to a lifechanging therapy: our assistance is a tool needed to reach their full potential.”

To further address the needs of their disadvantaged clients, Rainbow Connection recently received assistance with a financial literacy project led by Leadership Tuscarawas class members Andrew Burrell of Timken, Andrea Tyson of Little Ceaser’s and ECOESC, Chris Pleska of The Commercial & Savings Bank, and Erin Wright of Ohio Mideastern Governments Association.

“We can’t provide financial advice, and our assistance is limited to health and medical expenses,” said Board President Karon Baker. “We hope this project will allow our clients to make financial decisions toward a more independent, self-sufficient future.”

Visitors to Rainbow Connection’s website will soon have access to financial literacy courses and information from Banzai and DoverPhila Federal Credit Union. Additionally, all members of Rainbow Connection’s casework now receive a copy of their monthly household budget as reported to the agency and community resources to access additional aid.

Rainbow Connection’s board of directors meets regularly to review and approve casework. If you or someone you know resides in Tuscarawas County and could use assistance with a health or medical expense, call 330.343.8686 or visit tuscrainbow.org.