Foundations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from U.S. foundations.
Featured Stories
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Announces $288,000 in Grants Awarded for Youth Sports From the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
DETROIT, Michigan, April 23 -- The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan issued the following news release on April 22, 2024:
Today, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (Community Foundation) joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Detroit Sports Commission to announce $288,000 in grants to 15 youth sports organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, which focus on regional caregiving, design and access, and youth sports. Since the funds were established in 2016, more than 190 grants totaling $3.7 million have been awarded to youth sports and recreation
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DETROIT, Michigan, April 23 -- The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan issued the following news release on April 22, 2024:
Today, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (Community Foundation) joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Detroit Sports Commission to announce $288,000 in grants to 15 youth sports organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, which focus on regional caregiving, design and access, and youth sports. Since the funds were established in 2016, more than 190 grants totaling $3.7 million have been awarded to youth sports and recreationorganizations in southeast Michigan.
The Community Foundation through its initiative Project Play: Southeast Michigan is excited to announce these grants in advance of the 2024 NFL Draft, which will be held April 25 through April 27 in Detroit. Through these partnerships, the Community Foundation is building a community that empowers all its children to play sports and participate in physical activity in safe, enriching environments.
"Sports play a significant role in creating a healthy, successful lifestyle for young people. We encourage youth to become involved in safe and enriching sports at an early age so they can lead healthy lives.The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. grants are incredibly important in making that happen by supporting youth every step of the way. The grants are especially meaningful this year as Detroit hosts the 2024 NFL Draft. We look forward to watching our community thrive as a result of the generosity and dedication of all those involved," says Richard (Ric) DeVore, President of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.
This collaboration among local partners will be transformative for youth sports in Michigan and set the region and its youth up for long-term success.
"Project Play has been a transformational partner for Sheriff PAL, elevating our organization through ongoing learning opportunities and the sharing of best practices in the youth physical activity space. This grant will allow us to continue to build elementary based sports programs in the Pontiac area, ensuring children that may not be able to access sports due to transportation or financial barriers have a chance to play alongside their peers and build both friendships and sports skills. Bringing fun and development to the forefront of our programs helps kids stay engaged and unlocks the limitless potential of play. We can't expect children in our communities to stay active when there are limited opportunities to explore new sports in accessible, exciting ways. Support from Project Play ensures we are able to do just that and encourages natural collaboration with other like minded partners to build a sustainable, comprehensive path to play for all youth in our region." says Lauren Fuller, Executive Director of Oakland County Sheriff PAL.
"The level of investment in our youth directly impacts the growth and sustainability of our communities. It is arguably the greatest investment a society can make. Project Play supports Figure Skating in Detroit's investment in youth and mission to create a safe space for girls to build life-skills engaging in movement and play through the disciplined sport of figure skating. Our partnership with Project Play helps us to create programming that empowers girls to become the leaders of their communities through self-actualization, confidence and academic achievement as they build a foundation on ice to be champions in life! Thank you, Project Play for investing in a dream," says Lori Ward, Executive Director of Figure Skating Detroit.
The following organizations received grants this year:
* Chandler Park Conservancy
* City of Port Huron (Teen Volleyball)
* Clark Park Coalition
* Detroit United Lacrosse Association
* Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
* East Side Youth Sports Foundation
* Figure Skating in Harlem, - Detroit
* Free Bikes 4 Kidz
* Friends of Detroit Rowing,
* Great Lakes Regional Field Hockey,
* Kids on the Go
* LAHC-Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities
* Sheriff PAL Program
* Wendy Hilliard Foundation
* YMCA of Monroe
The life trustees of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established the endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to support issues that were important to the late Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., a Detroit native and the founder and a longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills football team. Mr. Wilson recognized the importance and value of being active and playing sports beginning at a young age and into adulthood.
The endowed Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation are complementary to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation's direct grantmaking efforts to create an immediate impact within the communities of southeast Michigan and Western New York. The Legacy Funds are a generous, important tool of support, particularly for a range of smaller and mid-sized nonprofit organizations. Grants from these funds are made annually, and information on the next round of grantmaking will be available this fall.
In 2017, only a fraction of youth in Southeast Michigan had access to safe, affordable sport options. As a result, the Community Foundation partnered with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program to launch Project Play: Southeast Michigan. The initiative creates opportunities for youth to engage in sports and play regardless of race, ability or zip code. In just a few short years, Project Play: Southeast Michigan has made youth sports more accessible to all our children.
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About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan:
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties. Visit http://www.cfsem.org to learn more.
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About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr.
Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson's desire for the Foundation's impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit http://www.rcwjrf.org.
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Original text here: https://cfsem.org/wilson-sports-grants-2024/
[Category: Sociological]
Meet the John Locke Foundation's New Board Chair
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 23 -- The John Locke Foundation issued the following news release:
The John Locke Foundation is proud to announce Mr. Rodney Pitts as its new Board Chair. A seasoned supporter of free markets and longtime board member, Mr. Pitts has an extensive history of commitment to the economic prosperity of North Carolinians.
"We are thankful to have Mr. Pitts as a guiding voice at our organization," said Locke CEO Donald Bryson. "Under Rodney Pitts' chairmanship, the John Locke Foundation will continue fighting for economic freedom, limited, constitutional government, and
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 23 -- The John Locke Foundation issued the following news release:
The John Locke Foundation is proud to announce Mr. Rodney Pitts as its new Board Chair. A seasoned supporter of free markets and longtime board member, Mr. Pitts has an extensive history of commitment to the economic prosperity of North Carolinians.
"We are thankful to have Mr. Pitts as a guiding voice at our organization," said Locke CEO Donald Bryson. "Under Rodney Pitts' chairmanship, the John Locke Foundation will continue fighting for economic freedom, limited, constitutional government, andpolicies that promote prosperity across the state."
Having acquired Southern Elevator in 1991, Mr. Pitts transformed the enterprise into the premier regional elevator company across the Carolinas and Virginia. Under his stewardship, the company became synonymous with exceptional service, repair, and modernization of diverse elevator systems.
Mr. Pitts' business acumen was honed in the competitive corridors of AEA Investors, a private equity firm in New York City, before he returned to his roots in Charlotte. His academic journey is equally impressive, holding degrees from Duke University, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and the University of Louvain in Belgium.
He has volunteered his time to several boards and associations, including the Charlotte Economics Club, Charlotte Country Day School, and the Duke University Alumni Association. Mr. Pitts also contributes his expertise to the Federal Reserve Industrial Council for the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank and serves on the Investment Committee of Charlotte Country Day School.
As a member of Locke's board since August 2018, Mr. Pitts has been instrumental in advocating for policies that enhance liberty and economic freedom -- principles that he has upheld throughout his career.
Mr. Pitts replaces Paul Slobodian, Pamlico County resident and founder of Pivot Consulting, who will remain on the board.
Bryson continued, "Mr. Slobodian has been an absolute asset to the John Locke Foundation. He helped us navigate bringing two large public policy organizations together in 2021, and with that we have seen increased public policy success in our state. I'm proud to have worked with him and thank him for his continued service in North Carolina public policy."
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Original text here: https://www.johnlocke.org/press/meet-the-john-locke-foundations-new-board-chair/
Flinn Foundation: Arizona Bioscience Growth Continues, Sets Record Highs
PHOENIX, Arizona, April 23 (TNSres) -- The Flinn Foundation issued the following news release:
Arizona's bioscience sector has continued its sustained advancement over the past two years and established record highs for several performance metrics, at growth rates often outpacing the nation, according to the latest data analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation.
Arizona reached record highs in National Institutes of Health funding, bioscience jobs and wages, university research and development, and certain measures of university technology-transfer, as well as an increase in venture capital
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PHOENIX, Arizona, April 23 (TNSres) -- The Flinn Foundation issued the following news release:
Arizona's bioscience sector has continued its sustained advancement over the past two years and established record highs for several performance metrics, at growth rates often outpacing the nation, according to the latest data analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation.
Arizona reached record highs in National Institutes of Health funding, bioscience jobs and wages, university research and development, and certain measures of university technology-transfer, as well as an increase in venture capitalfunding.
Since the launch of Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap in 2002, performance metrics have been tracked and shared publicly by a third-party consultant. The latest analysis by TEConomy Partners released April 22 is the first since 2022.
"Arizona's bioscience community--researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, hospitals, companies, and more--has accomplished so much since the beginning of the Roadmap," said Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., Flinn Foundation president and CEO. "The upward trajectory of metrics like new bioscience jobs and university research shows the power of collaboration across the community. And it illustrates why the Flinn Foundation is intent on renewing the Roadmap, our state's strategic plan to enhance health outcomes and economic prospects."
The most recent data show:
Bioscience industry jobs increased by 14.8% between 2020-22 to 39,118, compared to the U.S. average of 11.1% growth. The number of total bioscience jobs, with hospitals factored in, increased 3.8% between 2020-22 to 138,409, slightly outpacing the national growth rate of 3.6%.
The average Arizona bioscience wage of $84,536 in 2022--an 11.5% increase--is 30.7% higher than the average private sector job in the state. For non-hospital bioscience jobs, the average Arizona wage is $99,658, an 8.2% increase over 2020.
In 2023, Arizona institutions received $365 million in NIH grants. This record-high figure has increased 29%--three times the national average--since 2020. Arizona's percentage of nationwide NIH funding continues to increase as well and is nearing a target of 1.0% of all NIH funding. About three-fourths of the state's NIH grants go to the state's three public universities, followed by 20% to Arizona hospitals and research institutions.
Arizona had a dip in venture capital investment in bioscience companies in 2022 to $188 million, but responded in 2023 with an uptick to $272 million, despite the national trend continuing downward.
Arizona's academic research and development expenditures in 2022 reached a record-high $706 million, a steady increase over $642 million in 2021 and $623 million in 2020.
Steady growth continued at Arizona's public universities across a series of technology-transfer measures, though the number of university bioscience startups launched during 2022-23 dropped to 29 after reaching a record high during the previous period.
"This data further confirms the growing impact the biosciences have on Arizona's economy," said Ryan Helwig, principal and project director at TEConomy Partners. "For more than two decades, the bio sector has grown its allocations of funding for research--which enables new health discoveries and development of products to benefit patients--and has drawn increasing capital investment for startups, while creating high-paying jobs at an extraordinary rate."
For the first time in its work studying the biosciences in Arizona, TEConomy Partners conducted an analysis on industry job postings in the non-hospital bioscience sector. There were nearly 28,000 new postings by Arizona employers from March 2022 through March 2024, representing 1.2% of total job postings in the state. The U.S. average for bio jobs is 1.7%.
The Roadmap--the longest-running, statewide bioscience strategic plan in the nation--is guided by Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, which includes about 125 leaders from the public and private sectors in science, health care, business, academia, and policy.
This will be the final set of biennial data commissioned by the Flinn Foundation before the renewal of Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap in late 2025.
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About the Flinn Foundation
The Flinn Foundation is a Phoenix-based privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn that awards grants and operates programs in four areas: the biosciences, the Flinn Scholars, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations. The foundation's focus on health care and medical research stems from the career of Robert Flinn, a cardiologist who headed the departments of cardiology and electrocardiography at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.
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Original text here: https://flinn.org/arizona-bioscience-growth-continues-sets-record-highs/
Environmentalists and Youth Group Sue Maine for Failure to Act on Climate Change
PORTLAND, Maine, April 23 -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Maine Youth Action (MYA), and Sierra Club are suing the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to force movement on cutting carbon emissions as required by the law. The suit follows the DEP's failure to act even as climate change threatens livelihoods, coastal communities, and health.
"Climate change isn't waiting, it's rapidly warming our ocean, worsening our weather, killing our fisheries, and robbing us of winter," said Emily K. Green, Senior Attorney
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PORTLAND, Maine, April 23 -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Maine Youth Action (MYA), and Sierra Club are suing the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to force movement on cutting carbon emissions as required by the law. The suit follows the DEP's failure to act even as climate change threatens livelihoods, coastal communities, and health.
"Climate change isn't waiting, it's rapidly warming our ocean, worsening our weather, killing our fisheries, and robbing us of winter," said Emily K. Green, Senior Attorneyfor CLF Maine. "The state needs to follow its own laws and commit to cutting carbon pollution from cars, buildings and energy systems - which is why we've filed suit."
Maine's legislature and governor approved the Climate Law in 2019, requiring Maine to slash climate-damaging emissions 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 - reductions lawmakers and climate experts said were necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Since that time, the state has failed to enact emission regulations for buildings, has approved plans for more highway miles that will add to, not reduce, emissions from cars and trucks, and seen repeated delays in construction of offshore wind. But the failure in curbing emissions from cars and trucks - Maine's biggest source of pollution - has been stark.
"Our generation will inherit a state overwhelmed by carbon emissions and climate change - with damage to the environment, to marine life, and to our own health - if we can't start making these changes now," said Cole Cochrane, Co-Founder and Policy Director of MYA. "Five years is too long without significant actions. Maine is breaking the law."
The suit targets both the DEP and Maine's Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) after the BEP last month rejected regulations requiring that clean electric vehicles make up the majority of new car sales by 2030. Similar rules have passed in neighboring states and would have resulted in dramatic cuts to emissions and better health for Mainers.
Instead, the DEP and BEP have failed to adopt a single policy to cut emissions from transportation, despite their own assertions that cutting transportation emissions is crucial to Maine's climate future.
"Our leaders need to uphold their duty to protect Maine residents' health, environment, and livelihoods from the worst effects of climate change," said Matthew Cannon, State Conservation and Energy Director for Sierra Club's Maine Chapter. "The law is clear - we need regulatory action to prevent climate change now."
"Environmentalists, health advocates, concerned young people - all of us want to work with the state to cut these emissions, curb climate change, and improve respiratory and heart health. We shouldn't have to sue to make that happen," CLF's Green said.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/clf-and-partners-sue-maine-for-failure-to-act-on-climate-change/
Dr. Sahil Shah From Stanford University Awarded $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant to Research the Role of Kinesin Cargo and Adapter Specificity in Retinal Dystrophies
FLOWER MOUND, Texas, April 23 -- Knights Templar Eye Foundation issued the following news:
Dr. Sahil Shah from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California was awarded a $90,000 grant for the research entitled: Role of kinesin cargo and adapter specificity in retinal dystrophies.
Visual information from the world is first detected by cells in the retina, a photosensitive layer in the back of the eye. It is then converted into electrical signals and transmitted through the optic nerve to the rest of the brain by retinal ganglion cells. These cells have long extensions, and
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FLOWER MOUND, Texas, April 23 -- Knights Templar Eye Foundation issued the following news:
Dr. Sahil Shah from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California was awarded a $90,000 grant for the research entitled: Role of kinesin cargo and adapter specificity in retinal dystrophies.
Visual information from the world is first detected by cells in the retina, a photosensitive layer in the back of the eye. It is then converted into electrical signals and transmitted through the optic nerve to the rest of the brain by retinal ganglion cells. These cells have long extensions, andtransport of molecules through the entirety of the cells to their connections in the brain is vital for survival.
When this transport is disturbed, this crucial link is disrupted leading to blindness or vision loss. Although Dr. Shah knows the importance of this transport, and has identified some candidates for regenerative therapy, he does not yet have a good understanding of the exact cargoes being transported.
By deciphering this network of cellular transport, he can target specific molecules to restore normal function and preserve vision in pediatric eye diseases.
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Original text here: https://www.ktef.org/news/2024/4/22/dr-sahil-shah-from-stanford-university-awarded-90000-knights-templar-eye-foundation-grant-to-research-the-role-of-kinesin-cargo-and-adapter-specificity-in-retinal-dystrophies
Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties: A Novel Approach - The Community Foundation and Its Supporters are Turning the Page on Youth Reading
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, April 23 -- The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties issued the following news:
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The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties leads a collaborative effort to improve childhood literacy, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the community's future.
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For over five decades, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has fostered partnerships with donors, nonprofits, and community members to address local needs. At present, a new challenge looms large: children's literacy.
With over 50 percent of Palm Beach
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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, April 23 -- The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties issued the following news:
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The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties leads a collaborative effort to improve childhood literacy, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the community's future.
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For over five decades, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has fostered partnerships with donors, nonprofits, and community members to address local needs. At present, a new challenge looms large: children's literacy.
With over 50 percent of Palm BeachCounty third graders unable to pass their reading assessments, the future of a highly educated, local workforce is at risk.
"Third grade is a turning point, with studies showing that children who can't read on grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to not graduate high school. That's why our vision is to make 2024 a transformative year for children's literacy," said Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation.
This dilemma is what propelled the Community Foundation to rally the community at its annual Founders Luncheon, where the organization announced a philanthropic response -- the Early Literacy Fund -- to support nonprofits at the grassroots of this issue through its competitive "Community Impact" grantmaking cycle. The Lawrence A. Sanders Foundation was the lead donor to the Early Literacy Fund.
The Community Foundation is taking its Early Literacy Fund further with the implementation of a phonics curriculum pilot created by the University of Florida's Literacy Institute (UFLI), set to launch this summer. Palm Beach resident James Patterson is a supporter of UFLI and connected the Community Foundation to UF's changemaking program.
The UFLI curriculum offers a lifeline to students grappling with their reading skills, and will be piloted among four participating nonprofit organizations: the Banner Lake Club in Hobe Sound, Fuller Center in Boca Raton, Achievement Center for Children & Families in Delray Beach and the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center in Jupiter.
State-wide education systems have already seen notable results with the curriculum in use: In the Alachua County school district, the percentage of second graders reading at grade level by the end of their year had risen from 30 to 80 percent following the introduction of the UFLI program.
"We believe children's literacy is not just an educational issue, but a societal imperative with a lasting impact on our community's future. And youth in the communities we serve are falling behind in record numbers. We are excited to see what impact our partnership with the University of Florida can have in these four crucial summer programs," said Danita R. DeHaney, President and CEO of the Community Foundation.
With a sense of urgency echoing through the halls of academia, the Community Foundation continues to expand its journey, empowering young minds armed with tremendous potential. If you'd like to get involved in this initiative, or want to learn more, click here (https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/funds/early-literacy-fund/) or call us at 561.659.6800.
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Original text here: https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/articles/a-novel-approach/
Akron Community Foundation: Women's Endowment Fund Awards a Record-Breaking $203,000 in Grants at Annual Celebration
AKRON, Ohio, April 23 -- Akron Community Foundation issued the following news release:
The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation announced $203,000 in grants - the largest amount awarded in a single year in the fund's history - to 34 nonprofit organizations serving women and girls. This latest round of grants brings the fund's cumulative grantmaking total to nearly $2.3 million. Fund leaders announced the grants on Thursday, April 18, during the fund's "For Women, Forever" Annual Celebration at House Three Thirty.
"These grants would not have been possible without your generous
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AKRON, Ohio, April 23 -- Akron Community Foundation issued the following news release:
The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation announced $203,000 in grants - the largest amount awarded in a single year in the fund's history - to 34 nonprofit organizations serving women and girls. This latest round of grants brings the fund's cumulative grantmaking total to nearly $2.3 million. Fund leaders announced the grants on Thursday, April 18, during the fund's "For Women, Forever" Annual Celebration at House Three Thirty.
"These grants would not have been possible without your generoussupport and that of our community over the years," said Pamela Kiltau, president of the Women's Endowment Fund.
Several of the nonprofits receiving grants in 2024 were featured in a video about projects the Women's Endowment Fund has supported, including the Maker House, an initiative of the North Hill Community Development Corporation. This year, the Women's Endowment Fund awarded a $5,000 grant to the North Hill CDC to support programming in the Maker House, a women's empowerment space that addresses income and educational disparities for immigrants and refugees by fostering women-owned small businesses.
"Without the Women's Endowment Fund, this space doesn't exist," said Justin Chenault, executive director of the North Hill CDC. "The conversations and work that happen within this space (are) directly impacted by the dollars that we received here."
In addition to the grant announcements, the event featured a keynote presentation from international speakers and best-selling authors Dr. Lindsay Kite and Dr. Lexie Kite. As leading experts in body image resilience and media literacy, Lindsay and Lexie shared insights that can empower women and girls to recognize and reject the harmful effects of objectification in their lives.
The event culminated with fund leaders presenting the 2024 Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service & Advocacy for Women to Barb Greene, founder of CommonGood Consulting Inc.
"Barb has a heart for people. She has a heart for causes, and she's willing to use the skills that God has given her to promote those," said Women's Endowment Fund Advisory Board member Pam Valentine, who chaired the Judith A. Read Tribute Award selection committee this year.
The following is a complete list of organizations receiving grants in 2024:
* ACCESS Inc., to provide safe shelter, food, clothing and hygiene items for women and children who are experiencing homelessness, $10,000
* Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to increase participation by female players and coaches in a year-round, low-cost soccer program, $5,000
* Akron Urban League, to support a college and career readiness program for historically marginalized and low-income female students in Summit County, $5,000
* Alchemy Inc., to continue a group mentoring program at the I Promise School that uses myths and storytelling to help girls understand their personal obstacles and aspirations, $2,500
* Battered Women's Shelter, to provide protective shelter services for women and children who have been impacted by domestic violence, $10,000
* Bounce Innovation Hub, to provide affordable business development resources for female entrepreneurs, including a makerspace, software accelerator, and small-business program, $2,500
* Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to support a social-emotional learning program for under-resourced adolescent girls in Akron, $5,000
* CASA Board Volunteer Association, to train volunteers to become effective court advocates for Summit County girls living in foster care, $2,200
* Community Legal Aid, to provide emergency legal services for low-income women who have experienced domestic violence, $10,000
* Empower Her Network, to help women who have experienced trafficking become financially independent by removing housing barriers and offering financial education and career guidance, $10,000
* Family Promise of Summit County, to support the economic empowerment of single mothers without housing through tailored case management services, transportation and child care assistance, and job preparation support, $5,000
* Forever R Children, to purchase toiletries, personal hygiene items, and household cleaning products for women who are experiencing homelessness or living in poverty, $4,000
* Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program, an after-school program that educates girls in under-resourced schools in STEM, financial literacy and healthy living, $6,500
* Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a running-based program for girls that combines physical activity with discussions about self-confidence, stress management and healthy relationships, $10,000
* Grace House Akron, to provide end-of-life care and housing for terminally ill women, $2,000
* Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, to support basic home maintenance trainings that will empower female homeowners to complete essential home repairs, $3,000
* Harmony House, to provide emergency and transitional housing for single young women who are experiencing housing insecurity, $10,000
* IBH Addiction Recovery, to provide holistic support for women recovering from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, $5,000
* International Soap Box Derby, to support a workshop that introduces girls in fifth through eighth grade to career opportunities in STEM fields, $2,500
* Legacy III, to support the Pathways to Freedom program, which provides transitional and rapid rehousing services for women experiencing homelessness while recovering from substance use disorders, $8,000
* Limitless Ambition, to support the Purposely Chosen Teen Enrichment Program, which will equip teen girls with tools to become leaders, discover their passions, and resolve conflict, $5,000
* North Hill Community Development Corporation, to support the Maker House, a women's empowerment space in North Hill that addresses income and educational disparities for immigrants and refugees by fostering women-owned small businesses, $5,000
* Not Just October, to provide cancer support services for women diagnosed with breast cancer through the Kim Jacobs Breast Cancer Resource Center, $2,000
* Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to support a comprehensive sexual health education program for high school students in Summit County, $10,000
* Proyecto Raices, to provide Hispanic women living at or below the federal poverty line with business development training to increase their earning potential, $6,300
* RAHAB Ministries, to support a trauma-informed retreat for women who have experienced sex trafficking, $5,000
* Rape Crisis Center, to support 24/7 crisis intervention services for women and girls impacted by sexual violence or abuse, $10,000
* Stewart's Caring Place, to provide support services and wellness programs for women impacted by cancer, $3,500
* Students With A Goal, to support The Girl Circle, a weekly mentor-led reading circle that fosters literacy and self-confidence in adolescent girls, $2,500
* Summit Artspace, to provide entrepreneurship coaching for female artists in Summit County who are seeking to establish or grow an arts business, $5,000
* VANTAGE Aging, to provide in-home, nonmedical care services for older women who are not eligible for Medicaid, allowing them to remain at home as they age, $10,000
* Victim Assistance Program, to provide trauma-informed advocacy services for women who have been impacted by domestic violence, $8,000
* Victory Gallop, to support an equine therapy program for adolescent girls with behavioral challenges or life-threatening illnesses, $2,500
* The Well CDC, to provide trauma-informed job training and individual counseling sessions for women in the Middlebury neighborhood, $10,000
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About the Women's Endowment Fund
The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation was established in 1993 as a permanent endowment committed to encouraging the advancement of women and girls in Summit County. To date, it has grown to nearly $5 million and awarded $2.3 million in grants. Contributions of any amount are welcome and can be made online at akroncf.org/give/WEF or mailed to Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307. For more information, call 330-376-8522 or visit womensendowmentfund.org.
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About Akron Community Foundation
For 68 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of approximately $290 million with a growing family of more than 870 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $236 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.
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Original text here: https://www.akroncf.org/forwomenforever2024-grants/
