AKRON, Ohio (June 10, 2011) GAR Foundation President Robert Briggs announced that the Foundation’s Distribution Committee approved $1,661,159 in grants at its second quarter meeting of 2011. Grants were awarded to support programs and operations at 43 nonprofit organizations and included outright and challenge grants.
The Foundation’s growing support for early childhood education and development programs in Summit County is evident with grants to early learning initiatives. Mr. Briggs stated, “The research is clear. Quality early childhood programs have a significant long-term economic return on investment. Helping young children prepare for success in school is a wise use of our philanthropic dollars.”
Early learning grants include: Greenleaf Family Center to continue the early literacy-parent training program known as SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids); the Salvation Army of Summit County to support the Learning Zone, a comprehensive, community-based education program for children ages 2 to 14; and Child Guidance and Family Solutions to provide the Toddlers and Preschool Succeeding Program), which offers training and support to childcare staff and children.
Other education grants awarded this grant cycle include $294,970 in small grants to educators through the Foundation’s annual Educator Initiative Grants (EIG) program as well as grants totaling $327,500 for tuition assistance at 11 private schools that serve economically disadvantaged students.
The Foundation made a grant to Mobile Meals, Inc. Foundation to advance its strategy of helping seniors to remain independent in their homes. It also made multiple youth development grants to help at-risk youth define a better future. These grantees include: the Boys and Girls Club of the Western Reserve, First Glance Student Center, Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop, Celebration Church, Hiram House Camp, and Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.
The Foundation’s strong interest in the arts and arts education programming that enriches the lives of Summit County residents and the region’s identity and reputation is advanced by notable grants to the Akron Art Museum, Children’s Concert Society of Akron, and Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet. A grant to the Musical Arts Association will support the 2011 Blossom Festival.
The following organizations received grant awards at the Distribution Committee meeting:
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT PURPOSE
Akron Art Museum $100,000 Operations
Arlington Christian Academy $50,000 Tuition Assistance**
Arts in Stark $6,000 Art at the Airport project
Boys and Girls Club of the Western Reserve $70,000 Operations
Canton Museum of Art $5,000 Educational programming
Cascade Locks Park Association $7,500 Educational programming for
school-age children
Celebration Church $7,000 2011 Royal Family Kids’ Camp
Child Guidance & Family Solutions $29,100 Toddlers & Preschoolers
Succeeding Program
Children’s Concert Society of Akron $17,000 Concert Hall Series & Outreach
Program
Crown Point Ecology Center $10,000 Operations
Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet $25,000 Reach Out & Dance Program
Emmanuel Christian Academy $30,000 Tuition Assistance
Entrepreneurs EDGE, The $10,000 EDGE Fellows Summer Intern
Program
Faith in Action-Interfaith Caregivers $15,000 Operations
First Glance Student Center $27,000 Operations ($25,000) & one-time
Emergency grant for repairs
($2,000)
Great Lakes Theater Festival $30,000 2012 Surround Series
GroundWorks Dance Theater $15,000 Summit County performances,
outreach & education
Hametown Christian Academy $12,500 Tuition Assistance
He Brought Us Out ministry $25,000 Operations
Hiram House Camp $20,720 2011 Camp Scholarships
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio $30,000 Operations*
Lawrence School $35,000 Tuition Assistance**
The Lippman School $15,000 Tuition Assistance
Mobile Meals, Inc. Foundation $50,000 Operations
Musical Arts Association $100,000 2011 Blossom Festival
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, $5,000 Equipment and Home
Ohio Buckeye Chapter Modification Program
in Summit County
North Akron Catholic School $60,000 Tuition Assistance*
Ohio Grantmakers Forum $5,000 Operations
Our Lady of the Elms School $25,000 Tuition Assistance
Project GRAD $100,000 Operations
Proyecto RAICES $5,000 Operations
Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs $10,000 2011 Camperships
The Salvation Army $100,000 The Learning Zone Program
St. Bernard-St. Mary Grade School $40,000 Tuition Assistance and
Operations
St.Paul School $30,000 Tuition Assistance**
Spring Garden Waldorf School $10,000 Tuition Assistance
Summit Christian School $20,000 Tuition Assistance**
Urban Vision $20,000 After-School & Summer
Enrichment Program*
Victim Assistance Program $25,000 Operations
Western Reserve Historical Society $25,000 Educational Programing at Hale
Farm & Summer Public History
Internship Program
The Village Network $7,500 Trauma-Informed Care Training
Program
Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop $25,000 Operations
*The award consists in part or entirely in the form of a challenge grant.
**The award is a two-year grant.
About GAR Foundation
GAR Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1967 as charitable trust by Galen J. Roush co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roadway Express, and his wife Ruth. Since its inception, GAR has distributed approximately $196 million to support nonprofit organizations within the Foundation's areas of interest. Funding priorities include education, health and social services, arts and arts education, civic enhancement and nonprofit enhancement, with a preference for organizations serving Summit County, Ohio.
On the Web: www.garfoundation.org
For more information, contact Julie Rittenhouse, Program Officer, 330-576-2913, or jrittenhouse@garfdn.org