05-02-2025
PALS grants due Feb 20
PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Area Ladies (PALS) are nearing another deadline, as they anticipate first quarter grants of 2025. The group is composed of a plethora of dedicated women who live and work in the Portsmouth community and aim to improve the quality of life in the area through micro-grants, and, sometimes, larger grants, based on the scope of projects.
17 years ago, a group of Portsmouth area ladies started a new nonprofit group, PALS, Inc., to benefit the community and improve the quality of life for the residents in the Portsmouth area.
The premise was quite simple. A group of volunteers, all ladies, carry out fundraising activities through events and then distribute that money to other organizations in the community for a variety of needs through grants.
From that simple premise, and a lot of hard work by members, PALS has donated over $211,000 back to our community. Last year, they granted $22,650 alone.
The group's mission statement follows, 'Portsmouth Area Ladies, Inc. (PALS) will engage in fundraising events and activities using volunteers to support charitable needs and organizations that will improve the quality of life and the changing needs of the residents in Portsmouth and the surrounding area. PALS will cooperate with other not-for-profit organizations when appropriate and address the needs of community children which are not being met by other organizations. The Portsmouth Area Ladies Inc. (PALS) is a 501C3 organization'
This upcoming deadline will be the first for newly installed President Teri Webb.
Webb is the patient accounting coordinator at Southern Ohio Medical Center, where she has worked for nearly 30 years. Her time has been spent working closely with her predecessor, Tami Davis, who is also an SOMC employee.
'PALS to me is a good feeling. It is a good feeling because it is a good group of caring women from the area who want to better the community. These women work hard to improve the Portsmouth area,' Webb explained in a recent story about her appointment. 'I stay involved because of the work we accomplish and the people we meet. Over the years, we've granted so many good causes, have helped so many during Christmas, and have offered scholarships. It is wonderful seeing everyone come together to do what we do.'
The non-profit spends the year fundraising through reverse raffles, purse bingos and more to raise funding that they then divert to other non-profits who offer social programming, community development and more. They also offer scholarships, help during the MLK Breakfast, and volunteer for a Christmas benefit each year.
Awarded funding from PALS have included grants to Scioto County Health Coalition, the Homeless Shelter, Scioto County Children's Services, Hillview, Cirq d Art, RSVP, SOLO, Area Agency on Aging and the Counseling Center, The Scioto County Public Library, Scioto County ESC, the Red Cross, Portsmouth Little Theatre, local food pantries, Portsmouth Murals Inc., SOPPA, Friends of Greenlawn, Rotary of Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Area Arts Council, Main St. Portsmouth, SOMC Hospice and Ohio River Valley T1d, Portsmouth Wind Symphony, Portsmouth Civic Chorale, Salvation Army, Portsmouth Little League, Watch Me Grow, Scioto County Heritage Museum and Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund, Sierra's Haven, Animal Welfare League, St. Francis Catholic Outreach, Trillium Project, Hisle House, Friends of Portsmouth, Friends of Brush Creek, Potter's House Ministries, as well as the Scioto County Historical Society, and more.
PALS is an extended network of driven locals. Some of them include Tami Davis, Teri Webb, Shawn Jordan, Linda Woods-Jones, Debbie Smith, Patty Tennant, Carol Davis, Therese Egbert, Tess Midkiff, Kay Bouyack, Phyllis Fried, Rhoni Maxwell-Rader, Lynsi Eason, Jill Arnzen, Linda Woods-Jones, Ruth Ann Logan, Betty Kennedy, Julia Wisniewski, Toni Dengel, and more.
2025's quarter one applications close February 20. See their website for more information,
