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In 2023, Akron Community Foundation awarded $755,000* in competitive Health & Human Services cycle grants to 68 programs that meet the basic needs of area residents, including those that address mental health, substance use disorders, housing and more.

  • A Kid Again Northern Ohio, to maintain the Adventure programming for Summit County families, providing children who have a life-threatening condition and their families with a cost-free day at a local, accessible venue like Cedar Point or the I-X Center, $7,000
  • Adaptive Sports Ohio, to provide wheelchairs for the creation of an interscholastic wheelchair basketball team in the Green Local School District, $6,000
  • Adult Guardianship Services of Summit County, to recruit volunteer guardians, who serve as decision-makers for older adults with developmental delays and severe mental health issues, while increasing the knowledge base of current guardians, $5,000
  • Akron Blind Center, to offer programs, resources and classes for people who are blind and visually impaired in Summit County, including Braille, computer literacy, physical fitness, crafts and volunteerism, $10,000
  • Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support Summit County food distribution through Akron on-site pantry and Summit County direct distribution, $46,000
  • Akron Children's Hospital, to support a Photovoice project, which will engage North Hill youth to examine and document health equity through photography, writing and a presentation, $8,000
  • Akron Police Department, to support a comprehensive health and wellness program that provides sworn officers and other personnel with mental, emotional and physical wellness, $15,000
  • American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, to support disaster cycle services in Summit County, including preparedness classes, disaster response and recovery assistance, $17,500
  • ARC Recovery Services, to provide certified peer support to individuals in early recovery from a substance use disorder, $7,500
  • Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support inclusive social and recreational opportunities through social clubs for individuals of all ages with autism, $6,000
  • AxessPointe Community Health Centers, to support health and wellness in individuals from marginalized communities throughout Summit County through medical care, education and outreach, $11,000
  • Battered Women's Shelter, to support the Hope & Healing Case Management Program for people who have experienced domestic/sexual violence or human trafficking, $37,000
  • Ben Curtis Family Foundation, to address the food insecurity of children and families in Summit County by distributing Birdie Bags containing nonperishable meals and snacks, $5,000
  • Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, to support programs like residential recovery, mentoring and workforce development for former offenders in Summit County, helping to remove barriers that lead to recidivism, $13,000
  • Canine Companions, to support service dog teams in Summit County, $5,000
  • Carve Your Own Path, for inclusive, certified culturally competent, trauma-informed counseling services for uninsured individuals and those with low incomes, $5,000
  • Catholic Charities of Summit County, to support emergency assistance services, like medical bills, home repairs, medical supplies, phone bills and other basic needs, $17,500
  • Celiac and Allergy Friendly Food Initiative, to support a food pantry that serves allergy-friendly food to families with low incomes, $5,000
  • Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide school-appropriate clothing for students in need, $11,000
  • Community Legal Aid Services, to support the HEAL medical-legal partnership work in Summit County, helping families whose legal needs have adverse effects on their health, $25,000
  • CORE Furniture Bank, for operating support, like the transport and handling of donated furniture for families in need in Summit County, $10,000
  • Crown Point Ecology Center, to support increased fresh produce and vegetable plant donations to the community by training paid farm interns, $12,000
  • Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in need, $4,000
  • Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity, to provide food and other resources to Akron-area residents, $5,000
  • Family and Community Services, to address older adult hunger in Summit County by providing home-delivered and congregate meals, $20,000
  • Family Promise of Summit County, to support the organization's growth, including the evolution of Survive to Thrive and implementation of a new strategic plan, $15,000
  • First Glance Student Center, to support children and families in the Kenmore community through free meals, youth mentorship, and after-school programs for local teens, $8,500
  • Forever R Children, to assist children and their immediate families with basic needs, like toiletries, clothes and household items, $7,500
  • Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to support a bereavement program at local hospitals for families who have experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth, $5,000
  • Freedom House for Women, to provide substance abuse treatment, recovery housing and supportive services to women in Summit County, $9,000
  • Girls On the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a running-based youth enrichment program for Summit County girls with an interactive curriculum that builds confidence and character, $10,000
  • Grace House Akron, to provide caregiving, housing and for the basic needs of unhoused individuals with a terminal illness, $9,500
  • Greenleaf Family Center, to support parents of children with mental health and other complex needs, $10,000
  • GriefCare Place, for support groups and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $3,000
  • Guy's and Gal's Community Partnership, to support the Hoop for Coop adult and youth health fair and basketball sports clinics, $10,000
  • Hope Meadows Foundation, to provide social and emotional learning through equine-assisted services for youth in Summit County, $5,000
  • Hospice of the Western Reserve, to support Summit County residents by reducing inequality in hospice and palliative care utilization through outreach, communications, education/awareness, and reducing health care costs, $5,000
  • IBH Addiction Recovery, for support of addiction treatment, including case management, referrals and counseling, $10,000
  • International Institute of Akron, to support housing services for refugees and immigrants, $23,000
  • Jewish Family Service of Akron, to support general operations, including older adult and mental health services in Akron, $10,000
  • Let's Grow Akron, to create and support community food gardens in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food, $15,000
  • Love Akron, to support mental health and wellness and to empower young adults to help reduce violence across Greater Akron, $16,000
  • NAMI Summit County, to support the Reedy Housewarming Project, which provides basic household items for people with a serious mental illness who are transitioning to independent living, $7,500
  • North Coast Community Homes, to support the Akron/Summit County Residential Services Program, which provides home goods and skill development programs for individuals with disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness, $2,500
  • NEOMED, to support the Student-Run Free Clinic to provide integrated health care services to Summit County residents who are uninsured or underinsured, $12,500
  • OhioGuidestone, to support the expansion of evidence-based therapeutic approaches by enhancing training for Summit County staff members, $7,500
  • Open Arms Adoptions, to support the recruitment of Summit County individuals and families to adopt children from foster care, $7,000
  • OPEN M, to support free medical and dental services for uninsured residents of Greater Akron, $21,000
  • Pathway Caring for Children, to support targeted foster parent recruitment efforts in Summit County, $2,500
  • Pegasus Farm, to support the Military and First Responders Center's equestrian program, $3,000
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to ensure stable access to affordable contraception for Akron patients in need, $25,000
  • Prevent Blindness Ohio, for the Vision Care Outreach Program, which offers vision screenings and access to eye care for Summit County residents in need, $9,000
  • Project Outrun, to provide custom shoes and apparel that empower and strengthen children and their families as they battle life-threatening illnesses, $5,000
  • RAHAB Ministries, for intervention services for people who have experienced human trafficking, $20,000
  • Red Oak Behavioral Health, to address the behavioral health workforce shortage through an on-the-job training program for behavioral support specialists who work with Akron Public Schools students, $10,000
  • Regina Health Center, to support recreational programming for older adults, $1,000
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, to support the Family Meal Program, which provides home-cooked meals to families staying at the Akron Ronald McDonald House, $10,000
  • Second Chance Village, for peer recovery support services and mobile outreach drop-in services for people experiencing homelessness, $3,000
  • Stewart's Caring Place, to increase awareness of no-cost cancer support services in communities that experience cancer-related health disparities, $6,000
  • Summit County Community Partnership, to support the Deterra Project, which provides free medicine disposal bags and educational materials to help residents safely use, store and dispose of prescription medicine, $10,000
  • Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, to support free fatherhood classes and services through a community partnership, $15,000
  • United Disability Services, to support employment services like job exploration, skills assessment, interviewing and soft-skills training for Summit County residents with severe disabilities, $15,000
  • United Way of Summit & Medina, to support the 2-1-1 Information and Referral helpline for Summit County residents, $15,000
  • VANTAGE Aging, to support Home Wellness Solutions, which includes home care, Meals on Wheels, behavioral health, and other services to help older adults remain in their homes, $21,000
  • Victim Assistance Program, to assist individuals who have experienced crime or trauma through advocacy, education, and support, $22,500
  • Victory Gallop, for operating support, including a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with behavioral challenges and life-threatening illnesses, $6,000
  • Women Revived Ministries, to support the Total Life Wellness program, which provides mentorship, professional development, and coaching for people who have experienced human trafficking, $5,000
  • Women's Auxiliary Board, Summit County Children Services, to support the Beds for Kids Program, which aims to prevent rollover deaths by providing beds and cribs to families in need, $8,000

*Includes contributions through Akron Community Foundation's co-investment program, which enables donor-advised fundholders to review the board's competitive grant applications and support initiatives that align with their charitable interests. 

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