Education Grant History

Since 2000, Akron Community Foundation has invested $12.7 million* in education programs all over Greater Akron to enrich our collective quality of life.

Nonprofits interested in applying for an Education cycle grant can review deadlines and other important information on our Competitive Grants page.

*Supplemented by donor-advised fund co-investment funding

2026 Education Grants

In 2026, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $695,500 to 37 nonprofit organizations:

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Akron-Canton, to engage high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry, $5,750
Akron Area YMCA, to support affordable early childhood care and education programming, $46,500
Akron Children's Museum, to support the Museum in a Box program, which provides children ages 3 to 5 in Summit County Head Start with creative, hands-on learning experiences through STEAM-based activities, $18,000
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support youth academic and social development through after-school soccer programming for Akron families with low income, $15,000
Akron Promise, to expand access to STEM enrichment experiences for Garfield CLC students and other Akron youth, fostering exposure to science, technology, engineering and math pathways through hands-on learning opportunities, $5,000
Akron Youth Mentorship, to support youth mentorship programs that help young people in areas of mentorship, education, work-readiness, and experiences, $7,750
Akron Zoo, for the School Transitions program, which includes story-time, animal demonstrations and classroom experiences to help young learners with the transition to kindergarten, $9,500
Alchemy Inc., to support Developing Heroes, an in-school group mentoring program for adolescents that features mythological storytelling, drumming circles, journaling and other activities, $8,000
ASIA Inc., for the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP), which provides academic support, language skills, and other enrichment opportunities for immigrant and refugee students in Akron, $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-to-one and site-based mentoring for school-age children in Summit County, $13,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to support free, evidence-based, youth development programming for minority and under-resourced youth at Akron Clubs, $66,000
Bright Star Books, to expand early literacy access for young children in Summit County through coordinated book giving programs and community partnerships that place free, high-quality books in the hands of families with young readers, $14,250
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA), focusing on parents' engagement in their child's education with an emphasis on social-emotional and early math and literacy skills, $94,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to help increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $90,500
Citizens Akron Church, for operating support to sustain the expanded capacity of the Vincent House afterschool program, which provides daily academic support, mentorship and enrichment in a safe, structured environment for neighborhood students, $8,750
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to support STEM-based literacy programming for second-grade students in Akron Public Schools, including in-person experiences at the Museum in addition to virtual programs and classroom activities, $7,000
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to provide education through facilitated programs that build respect, inclusion and cross-cultural understanding for students in Akron Public Schools, $9,000
Dreams Academy, to support the Kings and Queens academy mentoring programs, which offer after-school programming and peer-to-peer support to help improve educational, economic, and health outcomes for youth ages 10 to 17, $7,000
Early Childhood Resource Center, for Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) in Springfield School District, enhancing kindergarten readiness for children ages 3 to 4 through home visits and engaging parent as partners, $5,000
First Glance Student Center, to support youth mentoring programs in Kenmore, including Ladies' Night Out, The Connect for teen and young moms and their families, the LAUNCH after-school program and Hip-Hop Night, among others, $12,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support staff-led Girl Scout troops in under-reached schools, $13,000
Global Ties Akron, to support global education and multicultural programming, $12,500
He Brought Us Out Ministries (aka North Hill Community House), to support after-school programs for young people, which blend personal growth, academic enrichment, and community engagement throughout the year, $9,500
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to drive economic mobility and opportunity by empowering K-12 students in Summit County through financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programming, $15,500
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to support leadership development and emotional intelligence training in area high schools and middle schools, $3,500
Limitless Ambition, to support educational social-emotional programming for teen girls in Greater Akron, $10,250
National Inventors Hall of Fame, to support STEM enrichment programming for Summit County students with a focus on Akron Public Schools, $11,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $30,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to provide services like literacy classes, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), college preparation, and workforce development throughout Summit County, $18,750
RePlay for Kids, to support STEM education at Akron STEM High School using toy adapting workshops, while providing adapted toys for children with disabilities in Summit County, $3,750
Salvation Army Summit County Area, to support equity in education in Summit County with Learning Zone programming, including preschool, after-school, and summer enrichment camp programs, $5,000
Students With A Goal aka: SWAG, for operating support, including youth violence prevention programming and mentorship opportunities, $14,750
Summit Education Initiative, to help provide backbone support for local educators, schools and programs in Summit County, $30,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support a workforce manager to help strengthen school-to-work readiness and career pathway programming for more than 1,300 Akron Public Schools students, $14,750
University of Akron Foundation, to provide teacher certification in structured literacy and the science of reading, $17,500
University School, to provide entrepreneurial education for K-12 students in Akron Public Schools through YIPPEE Exchange and a summer Celebrate Youth Entrepreneurship event in partnership with Youth Success Summit, $7,500
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school enrichment program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for students in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, $15,750

2025 Education Grants

In 2025, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $764,109 to 41 nonprofit organizations:

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Akron-Canton, to engage high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry, $4,000
Akron Children's Museum, to support the Museum in a Box program, which provides children ages 3 to 5 in Summit County Head Start with creative, hands-on learning experiences through STEAM-based activities, $13,250
Akron Fossils and Science Center, to support the Nourishing Minds: Healthy Snack Initiative, which offers healthier snack options to day camp participants to foster improved physical, mental and emotional well-being, $500
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support youth academic and social development through after-school soccer programming for Akron families with low incomes, $12,500
Akron Public Schools, to support the middle school partnership liaison position, which builds partnerships between the schools and more than 100 local nonprofits, as well as the 8th Grade Changemaker Challenge, $101,000
Akron Youth Mentorship, to support experiential learning and Academic Incentives for Mentees (AIM), which provides money toward good grades for middle and high school students, $6,000
Akron Zoo, for the School Transitions program, which includes storytime, animal demonstrations and classroom experiences to help young learners with the transition to kindergarten, $9,500
Alchemy Inc., to support an in-school group mentoring program for adolescents in Akron that features mythological storytelling, drumming circles, journaling and other activities, $8,500
Always Climbing Project, for Future Climbers, a mentorship project that helps bridge generational gaps in Akron by connecting high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with both successful adults and elementary- to middle school-age students, $5,000
ASIA Inc., for the International Community Empowerment Project, which provides academic support, language skills, and other enrichment opportunities for immigrant and refugee students in Akron, $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-to-one and site-based mentoring for school-age children in Summit County, $14,250
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to support free, evidence-based youth development programming at the LeBron James Club, Steve Wise Club, and Helen Arnold CLC in Akron, $69,200
Bridge the Village Inc., to support in-school group mentoring, focused on social-emotional development, conflict resolution, and emerging leadership skills, $5,000
Bright Star Books, to support children's book-giving programs in Summit County, $10,250
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority focusing on parents' engagement in their child's education with an emphasis on social-emotional and early math and literacy skills, $93,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to help increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $80,000
Citizens Akron Church, for operating support for the Vincent House, an after-school program and safe space for K-12 students in East Akron and their families, $7,250
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to support STEM-based literacy programming for second graders in Akron Public Schools, $5,500
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support diversity, equity and inclusion education for students in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
Dreams Academy, to support Black youth ages 10 to 16 and their families through after-school programming and peer-to-peer support to improve educational, economic and health outcomes, $7,000
Early Childhood Resource Center, for Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) in Springfield School District, enhancing kindergarten readiness for children ages 3 to 4 through home visits and engaging parents as partners, $5,250
First Glance Student Center, to support youth mentoring programs in Kenmore, including Ladies' Night Out, The Connect for teen and young moms and their families, the LAUNCH after-school program and Hip-Hop Night, among others, $8,500
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Girl Scout Journey Program, which offers after-school activities like STEM, financial literacy and healthy living, $11,500
Global Ties Akron, to support global education and multicultural programming, $12,750
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness programming for K-12 students in Summit County, $10,750
Law & Leadership Institute, to support a legal and leadership preparatory institute, a tuition-free program for high school students who are at risk of not graduating high school or attending college, $6,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to support leadership development and emotional intelligence training in area high schools and middle schools, $3,500
Limitless Ambition, to support educational social-emotional programming for teen girls in Greater Akron, $7,500
MAPS Air Museum, for a U.S. history and STEM program for Summit County schools, $8,159
National Inventors Hall of Fame, to support STEM enrichment programming for Summit County students with a focus on Akron Public Schools, $11,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $23,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to provide services like literacy classes, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), college preparation, and workforce development throughout Summit County, $18,750
Proyecto RAICES, to help Hispanic youth ages 4 to 14 increase academic and social skills through a summer STEM camp, $15,250
Students With A Goal (SWAG), to support Operation Life Skills, which fosters academic success, social-emotional learning, and violence prevention for Akron inner-city youth, $14,000
Summit Education Initiative, to help provide backbone support for local educators, schools and programs in Summit County, $31,500
TECH CORPS, to support Techie Camps, bringing career-connected technology learning to middle school students in Summit County, $5,750
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to help educate employers to recruit, engage and hire local youth ages 14 to 24, $14,000
University of Akron Foundation, to help support Summit County children in grades K-2 who are reading below grade level using University of Akron interns, who will teach structured literacy to area school instructors, $13,000
University School, to support public school educators in Akron who teach entrepreneurship education by providing professional development and mini grants through the YIPPEE online resource marketplace, $7,500
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school enrichment program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for students in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, $14,250
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron Ohio (YMCA), to support high-quality, affordable early childhood care and education programming, $40,500

2024 Education Grants

In 2024, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $760,000 to 41 nonprofit organizations:

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Akron-Canton, to support a mentorship program that introduces students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering, $5,000
Akron Children's Museum, to support the Mobile Museum in a Box program, which brings interactive learning experiences to preschoolers in Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $13,000
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support youth academic and social development through after-school soccer programming for families with low income in Akron, $13,500
Akron Promise, to support the social and emotional health of students and families at Garfield and Innes CLC through activities like team-building exercises, field trips and career preparation, $6,000
Akron Public Schools, to support the middle school partnership liaison position, which helps build partnerships between the schools and more than 100 local nonprofits, as well as the 8th Grade Changemaker Challenge, $100,000
Akron Youth Mentorship, to support experiential learning for junior high and high school students, the Annual Back to School Bash and other educational initiatives, $6,000
Akron Zoo, for the School Transitions program, which includes story-time, animal demonstrations and classroom experiences to help young learners with the transition to kindergarten, $8,000
Alchemy Inc., to support an in-school group mentoring program for adolescents in Akron that features mythological storytelling, drumming circles, mentors, journaling and other activities, $8,000
Always Climbing Project, for Future Climbers, a mentorship project that helps bridge generational gaps in Akron by connecting high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with both successful adults and elementary to middle school-age students, $5,000
ASIA Inc., for the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP), which provides academic support, language skills, and other enrichment opportunities for immigrant and refugee students in Akron, $17,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-to-one and site-based mentoring for school-age children in Summit County, $13,500
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, for the Exploring program, which connects youth and community partners through educational and hands-on sessions that help enhance knowledge of potential career paths, $11,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to support free, evidence-based youth development programming for youth at the LeBron James Club, Steve Wise Club, and Helen Arnold CLC in Akron, $67,000
Bridge the Village Inc., to support an after-school program serving students in grades 3 through 12 in Summit County, including tutoring, enrichment activities, and leadership workshops, $15,000
Bright Star Books, to support children's book-giving programs in Summit County, $10,750
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority focusing on parents' engagement in their child's education with an emphasis on social-emotional and early math and literacy skills, $93,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to help increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $80,000
Citizens Akron Church, for operating support of the Vincent House, an after-school program and safe space for K-12 students in East Akron and their families, $6,000
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support diversity, equity and inclusion education for students in Akron Public Schools, $8,000
Dreams Academy, to support Dreams and Queens Academy, an 8-week mentoring experience for African American youth ages 10 to 16, $6,000
Empower Her Network, to support college and career readiness and persistence for Summit County human trafficking survivors between the ages of 18 and 24, $8,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Girl Scout Journey Program, which offers after-school activities like STEM, financial literacy, and healthy living, $12,000
Global Ties Akron, to support global education and cultural diversity programs in Summit County schools, $12,500
International Student Services Association Inc., to support immigrant and refugee students at Cuyahoga Falls High School with career exploration and planning, among other areas, $5,250
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness programming for K-12 students in Summit County, $10,000
Law & Leadership Institute, to support a legal and leadership preparatory institute, a tuition-free program for high school students who are at risk of not graduating high school or attending college, $6,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to support leadership development and emotional intelligence training in area high schools and middle schools, $3,500
Limitless Ambition, to support educational social-emotional programming for teen girls in Greater Akron, $7,500
Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS Air Museum), for a U.S. history & STEM program for Summit County schools, $10,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame, to support STEM enrichment programming for Summit County students with a focus on Akron Public Schools, $10,750
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $23,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to support family literacy for English learners through the Caregiver English and Conversation Club programs, $15,750
Proyecto RAICES, to support the Proyecto RAICES Enrichment Program, which helps youth ages 4 through 14 increase academic and social skills, $10,000
Students With A Goal (SWAG), to provide after-school mentoring programs, tutoring, and other enrichment activities for middle school and high school students in Akron, $12,500
Summit Education Initiative, for general operating support including the implementation of a new strategic plan, $30,000
TomTod Ideas, to support a project-based mentorship program guiding teams of Summit County middle schoolers through the project management process of prototyping and piloting their ideas, $5,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to help educate employers to recruit, engage and employ local youth ages 14 to 24, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support Summit County's kindergarten through second-grade teachers in evidence-based reading instruction for at-risk readers through an equity-informed multi-tiered system of supports, $12,500
University School, to support K-12 Akron educators through the YIPPEE entrepreneurial platform, which allows educators to "shop" for classroom resources at no cost, $7,500
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school enrichment program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for students in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, $13,500
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron Ohio (YMCA), to support high-quality, affordable early care and education programming, $40,000

2023 Education Grants

In 2023, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $698,400 to 41 nonprofit organizations:

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Akron-Canton, to support a mentorship program that introduces students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering, $4,000
Akron Children's Museum, to support the Mobile Museum in a Box program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $12,000
Akron Fossils & Science Center, to support the Science Adventure Club program, a five-week STEM program for local schools that includes interactive, hands-on lessons, $500
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support youth academic and social development through after-school soccer programming for low-income families in Akron, $11,000
Akron Promise, to support the social and emotional health of students and families at Garfield and Innes CLC, $6,000
Akron Public Schools, for its middle school partner liaison position, which connects nonprofits and students with service learning and career exploration opportunities, $75,000
Akron Zoo, to provide in-school programming for Akron Public Schools kindergarten students, $7,850
Alchemy Inc., to support an in-school group mentoring program for urban adolescents in Akron that features mythological storytelling, drumming circles, mentors, journaling and other activities, $7,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-to-one mentoring for children in Summit County, $12,500
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support career exploration and workforce development opportunities for youth in Greater Akron, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to support academic success for under-resourced youth in Greater Akron, $65,000
Bright Star Books, to support children's book-giving programs in Summit County, $10,000
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority focusing on parents' engagement in their child's education with an emphasis on social-emotional and early math and literacy skills, $92,500
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $81,000
Citizens Akron Church, to support the Vincent House, a hub for after-school programming, youth development and community events in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood, $5,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to support third-grade reading success in Akron Public Schools through Dig In, Akron!, a multifaceted, multidisciplinary science, literacy and math learning program, $7,500
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support equity and inclusion education for students in Akron Public Schools, $8,000
Dreams Academy, to provide mentorship programs at East CLC, $6,000
Economics Center for Education and Research, to support financial education for students in Summit County, $7,500
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support leadership development and STEM programming for girls in Akron Public Schools, $11,850
Global Ties Akron, to support global education and cultural diversity programs in Summit County schools, $12,500
Greater Akron Chamber, to connect high school and college students to work opportunities through the creation of a portal where local employers can post job opportunities, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support the development of a three-year strategic plan to help them gain a holistic perspective of how this student support organization fits into the workforce, entrepreneurship and financial literacy space, $10,000
Kent State University Foundation, to provide summer enrichment activities to students impacted by foster care in Summit County, $5,000
Law & Leadership Institute, to support a college pipeline for local high school students interested in pursuing law careers, $6,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $3,500
Limitless Ambition, to empower teen girls in Summit County through an art enrichment entrepreneurship program, $8,500
National Inventors Hall of Fame, for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment STEM program for kindergarten to sixth grade students, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $24,350
Project Learn of Summit County, to support a high school equivalence (HSE+) course in West Akron, $18,850
Proyecto RAICES, for programming that supports Hispanic and Latine youth in the Greater Akron area academically, emotionally and culturally, $10,000
Shanti Community Farms, to support the Yard Corps Youth program, which provides agricultural, academic and cultural programming for refugee/immigrant APS students in North and West Akron, $5,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support academic mentoring programs for students in southeast Akron, $7,000
Springfield Assembly of God, to support the Power Up after-school program for students in the Springfield Local School District, including academic support, physical activities and healthy snacks, $5,000
Students With A Goal (SWAG), to provide after-school mentoring programs, tutoring, and other enrichment activities for middle school and high school students in Akron, $12,500
Summit Education Initiative, to support Readiness Coalitions, which promote community collaboration and kindergarten readiness in Summit County, $31,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support work-based learning opportunities for youth, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support Summit County K-3 teachers in evidence-based reading instruction for at-risk readers, $10,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school enrichment program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for students in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, $13,500
Young Entrepreneur Institute at University School, to support K-12 Akron educators through the YIPPEE entrepreneurial platform, which allows educators to "shop" for classroom resources at no cost, $5,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron Ohio (YMCA), to support high-quality, affordable early care and education programming, $37,500

2022 Education Grants

In 2022, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $619,241 to 36 nonprofit organizations:

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Akron-Canton, to support a mentorship program that introduces students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering, $4,000
Akron Area YMCA, to provide affordable, high-quality child care for families with young children in Summit County, $34,000
Akron Children's Museum, to support the Mobile Museum in a Box program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $10,100
Akron Fossils & Science Center, to support the Super Science Saturday program, $500
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support a youth development and after-school soccer program for low-income families in Akron, $10,100
Akron Promise, to support the social and emotional health of students and families at Kenmore-Garfield High School and Innes CLC, $6,500
Akron Public Schools, to support a middle school partner liaison position, $50,000
Akron Zoo, to support a summer educational program for Akron Public Schools students and their parents to reduce summer learning loss, $7,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, for one-to-one mentoring programs that pair a supportive role model with children in Summit County, $12,500
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support career exploration and workforce development opportunities for youth in Greater Akron, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $65,000
Bridge The Village, to support the P.O.S.E. for Gains program, which aims to address learning loss and increase academic gains for Summit County youth, $5,000
Bright Star Books, to provide books to young children in Summit County, $10,000
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, $91,500
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $80,000
Citizens Akron Church, to support the Vincent House, a hub for after-school programming, youth development and community events in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood, $5,500
Dreams Academy, to provide mentorship programs for African American teens ages 12-15, $5,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
Global Ties Akron, to support global education and cultural diversity programs in Summit County schools, $15,250
I-Vision Ministries, to support substance use prevention programs for elementary school students, $4,000
Kent State University Foundation, to support a summer architecture program for students at Firestone CLC, $5,000
Law and Leadership Institute, to support a tuition-free college preparatory institute for high school students at risk of not graduating, $5,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $3,500
Limitless Ambition, to empower teen girls in Summit County through an art enrichment entrepreneurship program, $7,750
National Inventors Hall of Fame, for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment program offering STEM activities for Summit County students in grades K-6, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $21,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to provide digital literacy classes for adults in Summit County, $20,000
Proyecto RAICES, to support educational and cultural programs for Latinx, Hispanic and immigrant youth in Akron, $8,500
Shanti Community Farms, to support a farm-to-school and landscaping training program for students in Akron Public Schools, $10,041
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support academic mentoring programs for students in southeast Akron, $5,000
Springfield Assembly of God, to support an after-school program for students in the Springfield Local School District, including academic support, physical activities and healthy snacks, $5,000
Students With A Goal (SWAG), to provide after-school mentoring programs, tutoring, and other enrichment activities for middle school and high school students in Akron, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative, to support Readiness Coalitions to promote community collaboration and kindergarten readiness in Summit County, $30,000
TECH CORPS, to support technology summer camps that engage Akron high school students in hands-on learning experiences in cyber security and computer programming, $6,500
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide early learning programs for the children of JOG participants, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support Summit County K-3 teachers in using evidence-based practices for reading and writing instruction for students with dyslexia, $10,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school enrichment program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for students in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, $13,500

2021 Education Grants

In 2021, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $574,383 to 34 nonprofit organizations:

The 2nd & 7 Foundation, to support the Tackle Illiteracy program, in which student-athletes from universities and high schools read and hand out free books to second grade students, $5,750
Akron Area YMCA, to support Early Care and Education programming and virtual learning opportunities for school-age children, $25,000
Akron Children's Museum, to produce a Virtual Mobile Museum in a Box, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $12,000
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support a year-round, after-school soccer program for low-income families in Akron, $11,000
Akron Zoological Park, to reinforce 3rd-5th grade-level science concepts through a blended learning experience, $8,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-on-one mentoring for children in Summit County, $12,500
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support Scouting in Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley for economically disadvantaged youth, $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $68,000
Bridge the Village Incorporated, for the Learning Enrichment Project (LEP), which supports students facing learning and development struggles due to the pandemic, $4,000
Bright Star Books Inc., to accept, sort and redistribute thousands of donated books throughout Summit County, $7,750
Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, $96,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers & Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) Program, which trains and coaches teachers on how to incorporate social-emotional learning into the classroom, $80,250
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program in Akron Public Schools, which covers topics such as STEM, entrepreneurship and life skills, $10,250
Global Ties Akron, to support current and new global education, diversity and inclusion programs, and to adapt to a virtual delivery of programs, $15,000
Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee, to provide academic enrichment to middle and high school students who are struggling in school due to language insecurity, $5,000
Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education, to support financial education training for educators in Summit County, $10,000
The Improvement Movement, to support the "North Hill Kids College" program, an eight-week mock college experience that exposes children to the rewards of secondary education, $2,500
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to create comprehensive programming for the Akron Public Schools College and Career Academies, $10,000
Kent State University Foundation Inc., for an eight-week summer program that provides 10^th and 11^th grade students from Firestone Community Learning Center with college-level academic experience, $10,627
Law and Leadership Institute, to support the tuition-free college preparatory institute for at-risk high school students, $5,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $2,500
LeniBug Foundation, for the Children & Books program, which provides age- and culturally appropriate books to children and students living in the Greater Akron area, $5,000
Limitless Ambition, to empower teen girls in Buchtel High School and STEM Middle School in Akron through enrichment programs, $5,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment program offering STEM activities for local students in grades K-6, $10,000
Ohio State University Extension Summit County, for the Akron Grows project, which teaches third grade students and their families to grow their own vegetables, $5,694
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $23,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to provide English as a Second Language courses to employees in local manufacturing companies, $16,812
Proyecto RAICES, to support educational and cultural programs for Latinx, Hispanic and immigrant youth in Akron, $10,000
Shanti Community Farms, for a farm-to-school and landscaping training and tutoring program for students in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support community collaboration efforts in education initiatives for at-risk youth, $5,750
Students With a Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $11,000
Summit Education Initiative, to support Readiness Coalitions that promote community collaboration and kindergarten readiness in Summit County, $31,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk high school youth in Summit County, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support Summit County teachers in literacy assessment and instruction, $10,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the Akron area, $12,500

2020 Education Grants

In 2020, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $603,550 to 34 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Children's Museum, to expand its in-school field trip program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $15,000
Akron Fossils & Science Center, to support the Super Science Saturday program, a monthly educational event for students in grades K-8, $1,000
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support a year-round youth development and after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $10,000
Akron Municipal Court, to expand the "Have Gavel, Will Travel" program, which offers judicial education to elementary students in Summit County, $700
Akron Public Schools, to support its Summer Symposium professional development training for teachers, $25,000
Akron Public Schools, to support the hiring of a staff member who will work with area nonprofits to provide career exploration and service-learning opportunities for middle school students, $25,000 (off-cycle grant)
Alchemy Inc., to support its Developing Heroes program, which provides in-school group mentoring for urban adolescents in Akron, $12,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-on-one mentoring programs for children in low-income and at-risk families, $17,500
Boy Scouts of America Council, Great Trail Council, to support scouting within inner-city Akron, helping youths expand leadership skills, outdoor education, civic service, and character development, $7,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $75,000
Bright Star Books Inc., to accept, sort and redistribute thousands of donated books throughout Summit County, $5,500
Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child's first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $76,000
First Congregational Church of Hudson, to establish The Children's Center at Valley View, a high-quality satellite preschool for families living in the Valley View Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA), $10,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program, a 20-week after-school leadership program covering topics such as STEM, financial literacy and healthy living, $10,800
Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community–Know Your World program, which teaches students about diverse global cultures through guest speakers and classroom projects, $10,000
Hattie Larlham Foundation, to offer pre-employment activities and education to high school students with intellectual and development disabilities, $8,500
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support the development of a three-year strategic plan for community engagement, sustainability and board progression, $10,000
Kent State University Foundation Inc., to support a residential-based college immersion summer program for 10^th graders at Firestone High School, $18,500
Law and Leadership Institute, to support the tuition-free college preparatory institute for at-risk high school students, $5,000
Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $2,500
Lenibug Foundation, to provide culturally appropriate books to underserved children and students in Greater Akron, $3,750
MAPS Air Museum, to support U.S. history and STEM programs for Summit County students, including aviation-related activities and museum tours, $10,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment program offering STEM activities for local students in grades K-6, $10,000
Power of the Pen, to support interscholastic creative writing workshops and tournaments for seventh- and eighth-grade students in Summit County, $5,800
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $21,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to support high school equivalency and college and career preparation courses for adults without diplomas in West Akron, $19,000
RePlay for Kids, to promote female-focused STEM education in Summit County public schools by teaching students to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $5,000
Shanti Community Farms, to support farm-to-school programs for Akron Public Schools students that includes harvesting crops, adding locally grown produce to the school lunch menu, participating in farmers markets, and increasing multicultural awareness; as well as the pilot Chick Farm to School Early Learning Program, which will challenge youth to use science, technology, engineering and math skills to investigate the life cycle of an embryonic chicken, $13,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to provide mentoring and incentives to disadvantaged students in southeast Akron to help them excel in school and escape generational poverty, $5,000
Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative, to support the Readiness Coalitions program, which convenes Summit County's early childhood education providers to align their efforts in preparing children for kindergarten, $30,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Dunbar Primary School in Tallmadge, $12,500
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the Akron area, $10,000

2019 Education Grants

In 2019, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $544,231 to 28 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Children's Museum, to expand its in-school field trip program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $8,600
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $10,000
Alchemy Inc., to support its in-school group mentoring program, which uses storytelling and mythology to empower urban adolescents in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support a one-on-one mentoring program for children in low-income and at-risk families, $12,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $79,500
Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child's first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,500
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $75,000
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support diversity and inclusion programming in Summit County schools, $7,500
Dreams Academy, to support a mentoring program for African-American male youth that builds problem solving, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills, $5,500
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support an after-school program for underserved girls in Akron Public Schools that builds leadership skills through community service projects and hands-on educational activities, $12,500
Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community–Know Your World program, which teaches students about diverse global cultures through guest speakers and classroom projects, $15,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program for at-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $8,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support financial literacy programming for students in Akron Public Schools that builds work readiness and entrepreneurial skills, $10,000
Kent State University Foundation, to support a residential summer program featuring campus tours and educational projects for students in Akron Public Schools' College and Career Academies, $16,000
Lenibug Foundation, to provide books for local children living in poverty, $8,000
MAPS Air Museum, to support U.S. history and STEM programs for Summit County students, including aviation-related activities and museum tours, $20,000
Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to provide summer internships for first-generation, underrepresented Akron Public Schools graduates who have been accepted to the University of Akron, $11,350
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $25,500
Project Learn of Summit County, to develop an advanced course for English language learners that prepares them for careers in health care, hospitality and entrepreneurial development, $20,531
RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education in Summit County public schools by teaching students to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $5,000
Shanti Community Farms, to support a farm-to-school program for students in the North Hill neighborhood that includes harvesting crops, adding locally grown produce to the school lunch menu, participating in farmers markets, and increasing multicultural awareness, $10,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to provide mentoring and incentives to disadvantaged students in Southeast Akron to help them excel in school and escape generational poverty, $5,250
Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $7,500
Summit Education Initiative, to support the Readiness Coalitions program, which convenes Summit County's early childhood education providers to align their efforts in preparing children for kindergarten, $30,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Dunbar Primary School in Tallmadge, $11,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the North Hill neighborhood, $10,500
World Relief Akron, for an English as a Second Language tutoring program for refugees, $5,500

2018 Education Grants

In 2018, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $531,800 to 29 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Children's Museum, to support an in-school field trip pilot program, which will offer hands-on learning experiences to six Head Start classrooms in Akron, $4,300
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth from underserved and at-risk families, $10,000
Akron Promise Inc., to help students at Kenmore-Garfield High School improve their ACT scores through workshops, practice tests, coaching and instruction, $1,500
Akron Public Schools, to train high school faculty in curriculum integration and collaborative team teaching for the new College & Career Academies model, $30,000
Akron-Summit County Public Library, to digitally preserve historic Akron video recordings, including oral histories, documentaries and other events, $11,000
Alchemy Inc., for storytelling and journaling sessions that help urban youth build character and a positive self-image by applying stories to their own experiences, $7,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, to support one-on-one mentoring services that pair an adult role model with a young person from a low-income or at-risk family, along with site-based after school programs and recruitment for community volunteers, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $72,750
Bright Star Books, to expand the Growing Young Readers and free book fair programs, which serve children from birth to 8 years old, providing access to reading and books, $6,000
Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child's first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $86,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $76,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which builds leadership skills in underserved girls at Akron Public Schools through challenging activities and community service projects, $10,000
Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, which connects students with global and multicultural people and issues, $15,000
Great Lakes Biomimicry, to create a biomimicry education ecosystem in Summit County by engaging educators and students in nature-inspired thinking, wildlife conservation and STEM fields, $7,500
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program for high-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $8,500
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs that teach students about money management, entrepreneurship and career planning, $10,250
Kent State University Foundation, to support a residential summer design program for students in Akron Public Schools' College & Career Academies, $15,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children in the Buchtel cluster for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $26,500
Project Learn of Summit County, to develop and implement a high school equivalency and college and career preparation course for adults without a diploma, $25,000
Proyecto Raices, to provide educational support for children from Latino and Hispanic families through activities that increase bilingual literacy, introduce STEM programs, and retain cultural traditions, $10,000
RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students by teaching them to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $3,000
The Salvation Army of Summit County, for the Learning Zone STEM program, which includes computer coding, 3-D printing and agriculture, among other activities, $6,000
Shanti Community Farms, to support Shanti Community Farms in providing the Farm to School Program for Akron Public Schools, $5,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, for the Academic Incentive for Mentees (AIM) program, which provides monetary incentives for disadvantaged youth in Southeast Akron, helping to build character and academic skills, along with forging community partnerships, $5,000
Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $7,500
Summit Education Initiative, to support regional early childhood education through Readiness Coalitions, which connect preschool educators, youth-serving community organizations and elementary schools, $30,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
The University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Ledgeview Elementary School in Nordonia, $10,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for high-risk, inner-city youth, $10,000

2017 Education Grants

In 2017, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $518,750 to 29 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth from underserved and at-risk families, $10,000
Alchemy Inc., for storytelling and journaling sessions that help urban youth build character and a positive self-image by applying stories to their own experiences, $5,000
Arc of Ohio, to provide advocacy and inclusion programs for students with developmental disabilities in Summit County, $10,000
Asian Services in Action, Inc., to support the READY Program, which prepares immigrant and refugee children ages 0 to 6 for successful entry into kindergarten with culturally and linguistically appropriate education, $10,00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for one-on-one mentoring that pairs adult role models with children ages 6 to 24 from low-income families, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs for local children, including homework help, hot meals and activities surrounding health, art and other topics, $72,500
Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which promotes parents as their children's first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,500
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support to teachers, students and families to increase the social/emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $75,000
College Now Greater Cleveland Inc., for college and career advising services for students at two Akron high schools, including financial aid counseling and transition-to-college services, $20,000
Crown Point Ecology Center, to support the Farm and Food Immersion Experience, a summer pilot program that helps high school students in Summit County explore careers in the agriculture and food industries, $7,500
Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support programs that empower Summit County youth to combat bias, bigotry and racism, $3,750
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey project, which provides programming to underserved girls in second through fifth grade, offering interactive lessons and badges, $8,000
Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, which connects students with global and multicultural people and issues, $7,500
Great Lakes Biomimicry, to create a biomimicry education ecosystem in Summit County, engaging educators and students in nature-inspired thinking, wildlife conservation and STEM fields, $10,000
Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, a home-based, kindergarten readiness program for 3- and 4-year-olds, $15,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program that is tailored for high-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about earning, spending and sharing money, as well as career planning, teamwork and communication, $10,000
Lenibug Foundation, to purchase and distribute books to children living in poverty in the Greater Akron area, $9,500
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children in the Buchtel cluster for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $27,500
Project Learn of Summit County, to help job seekers secure and maintain employment through hands-on workshops that build skills in interviewing, communication, customer service and problem solving, $20,000
Proyecto Raices, to provide educational support to children of Latino and Hispanic families through activities that increase bilingual literacy, introduce STEM programs, and retain cultural traditions, $10,000
RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students by teaching them to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $3,000
Summit County Family & Children First Council, for First Things First, a countywide program that screens children ages 0 to 5 to help identify and refer needed early intervention services, $9,000
Summit Education Initiative, to support regional early childhood education through Readiness Coalitions, which connect preschool educators, youth-serving community organizations and elementary schools, $17,500
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to more than 300 high-risk Summit County youth ages 16 to 24, $10,000
United Way of Summit County, for Students With A Goal (SWAG), an after-school mentoring program for students ages 11 to 18 in the Summit Lake neighborhood that provides learning, leadership and life skills, $10,000
University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Ledgeview Elementary School in the Nordonia school district, $10,000
Urban Vision, for the Set On Success (S.O.S.) after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for high-risk, inner-city youth, $7,500
Veggie U, for indoor classroom gardens for third-graders and students with special needs in Akron Public Schools, $10,000

2016 Education Grants

In 2016, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $578,900 to 31 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $7,500
Akron Public Schools in partnership with College Now, for college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and college transition services for students through school- and community-based programs, $20,000
Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
Asian Services in Action, Inc., for the Ready Program, which helps prepare children 0-4 years old, for whom English is a second language, to successfully enter kindergarten, $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for the Community Mentoring Program, which pairs a child age 6-24 who is in need of support with an adult volunteer who helps provide academic, social, educational and life-skills activities, $12,500
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, for the 2016 Pathfinder program, which brings the benefits of scouting to youth from disadvantaged or low-income areas, $7,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to support after-school and summer programming that focuses on building good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $77,500
Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children's first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $92,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which teaches child care providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $75,000
First Things First, for a developmental screening process and referrals to intervention services within the home visiting network, $10,000
Friends of Metro Parks, for the 2015-16 Outside Is In program, which helps sixth, seventh and tenth graders connect with nature, $9,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which provides girls who do not participate in Girl Scouts with age-appropriate activity books that lead them through a number of important topics, including community engagement, healthy living, financial literacy, the arts, outdoor experiences and environmental awareness, $9,000
Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children's educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child's first teacher, $17,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer enrichment programs for Akron Public Schools students who are at risk of academic failure to teach them about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $10,000
International Institute of Akron, for the creation of the Center for Inquiring Minds, which will engage middle school youth, especially those learning the English language, in public speaking, critical listening, research, argumentation, and refutation skills, $15,000
Jefferson Center, to teach local students about civic journalism, particularly teaching them how to gather information and report on the 2016 election, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $12,500
Law and Leadership Institute, for the 2016 Akron Law and Leadership Institute, a tuition-free, four-year college preparatory program for promising high school students who are at risk of not graduation high school or attending college, $1,000
Lenibug Foundation, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $8,500
Miller Avenue United Church of Christ, for the Students With a Goal program, which provides marginalized students with a safe place to go after school and offers academic intervention, enrichment activities and leadership training, $7,500
Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to implement blended learning programs that customize the learning experience for students at Findley Community Learning Center, $25,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $27,500
Project Learn of Summit County, for the Career Pathways Initiative, which helps GED students identify and complete individual career plans that focus on competencies and skills, $20,000
Proyecto Raices, to sustain Hispanic cultural heritage and encourage STEM learning through computer programming and math and science activities for low-income Hispanic children, $10,000
RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students through workshops where they will adapt electronic toys by creating an external switch, so children with disabilities can play with the toy, $2,400
South Akron Youth Mentorship, for the Academic Incentive for Mentees program, which provides mentor relationships to disadvantaged children to help them succeed educationally, $2,500
Summit Education Initiative, to help out-of-school program providers align their metrics, measurement tools and programming with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-24, $10,000
University of Akron Foundation, to provide literacy coaching to Summit County teachers who work with struggling readers, $10,000
Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000

2015 Education Grants

In 2015, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $582,000 to 28 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Area YMCA, to provide after-school programs that help at-risk young women decrease participation in high-risk activities, $2,500
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $5,000
Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
Akron Public Schools, for college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and college transition services for students through school- and community-based programs, $20,000
Alchemy Inc., for a series of monthly workshops that help young men develop a sense of purpose in life, grow through social and emotional learning, and successfully function as members of their family, school and community, $5,000
Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for the Community Mentoring Program, which pairs a child age 6-18 who is in need of support with an adult volunteer who helps provide academic, social, educational and life-skills activities, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth that focus on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles, $70,000
Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children's first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $85,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which teaches child care providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $65,000
Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, for the #morethanastereotype program, which teaches high school students to look past stereotypes and understand the real person, $2,500
First Book, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $7,500
Friends of Metro Parks, for the 2014-15 Outside Is In program, which helps nearly 700 sixth-graders connect with nature, $7,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which provides girls who do not participate in Girl Scouts with age-appropriate activity books that lead them through a number of important topics, including community engagement, healthy living, financial literacy, the arts, outdoor experiences and environmental awareness, $7,500
Great Lakes Biomimicry, to support biomimicry-inspired curriculum, which is the design and production of materials and systems that are modeled on biological processes, at the National Inventors Hall of Fame School Center for STEM Learning, $7,500
Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children's educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child's first teacher, $10,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for the after-school program to help students at risk of failing their classes improve their academic performance, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $10,000
Military Aviation Preservation Society, to offer Summit County high school history classes free trips to MAPS Air Museum, $7,500
Miller Avenue United Church of Christ, for the Students With a Goal program, which provides marginalized students with a safe place to go after school and offers academic intervention, enrichment activities and leadership training, $15,000
Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to implement blended learning programs that customize the learning experience for each student in select Greater Akron schools, $25,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $25,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to increase technology integration in its literacy and GED preparation courses, $20,000
St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, to support the Proyecto Raices program for low-income Hispanic children in Greater Akron, which focuses on sustaining Hispanic cultural heritage and encouraging STEM learning through computer programming and math and science activities, $7,500
Summit Education Initiative, to help out-of-school program providers align their metrics, measurement tools and programming with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-24, $10,000
University of Akron Foundation, for the 2015 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, which encourages students to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering and medical science fields, $5,000
Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000

2014 Education Grants

In 2014, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $502,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $5,000
Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
Akron Public Schools, to contract with the expertise of the College Now program to supplement and improve existing college readiness programs, creating a stronger infrastructure to support at-risk students entering post-secondary education, $25,000
Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, which helps prepare children 0-4 years old, for whom English is a second language, to successfully enter kindergarten, $12,500
Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, to encourage students in grades 7-12 to explore higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine through the Austen BioInnovation Academy, $20,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to support after-school and summer programming that focuses on building good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $70,000
Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children's first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $95,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding program which teaches childcare providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $65,000
Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, for Dancing Wheels, a physically integrated dance company, to perform "The Story of You: Understanding Disability" in Akron schools during Disability Awareness Month, $2,500
First Book, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $7,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for a high-adventure, physically demanding Challenge Course at Camp Ledgewood that will include ropes courses, ziplines and climbing walls, $15,000
Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children's educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child's first teacher, $15,000
Hattie Larlham Community Services, for vocational training for adults with developmental disabilities to help them secure employment and become financially self-sufficient, $20,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for the More than Money program, which teaches third- through fifth-grade students in Akron Public Schools about earning, spending, sharing and saving money, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $25,000
Project Learn of Summit County, to recruit and train volunteers for the GED and English as a Second Language classrooms to help improve outcomes on the new and more rigorous GED test, $20,000
Summit County Family & Children First Council, to enhance the First Things First community developmental screening project by incentivizing day cares to recruit parents to complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaires for their children, $20,000
Summit Education Initiative, to create consistent measurement tools for out-of-school providers to align their outcomes with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-21, $10,000
University of Akron Foundation, for the 2014 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair that encourages students to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering and medical science fields, $5,000
Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000

2013 Education Grants

In 2013, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $450,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, which teaches sixth-graders in Akron and Tallmadge schools about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
Akron Public Schools, for Destination College, which prepares high school students for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications and apply for financial aid, $15,000
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $10,000
Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together program, which increases disability awareness and acceptance among students in Summit County schools, $10,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
Big Brothers and Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties Inc., for community- and school-based mentoring programs for at-risk youth, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to build capacity and support after-school programming that encourages good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $70,000
Building for Tomorrow, to continue early education programs, special-needs assessments, comprehensive health services, and family support services for children under age 5 living in AMHA housing communities, $95,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which evaluates, cultivates and enhances the social and emotional well-being of children at child care centers in Summit County, $65,000
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $7,000
Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children's educational, developmental and social-emotional needs, including speech, language and mental health, $15,000
Hattie Larlham Community Services, to support a sustainable agriculture vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities, $20,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness camp for students and their parents in the Buchtel cluster of Akron Public Schools, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to prepare GED candidates to pass the current test and avoid restarting the testing process when a new version is released in 2014, $23,000
Research Education & Charitable Association for the Benefit of the Chefs & Farmers (Veggie U.), to purchase Earth to Table science kits, which teach fourth-graders in Akron Public Schools about sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, $10,000
Summit County Family & Children First Council, to implement a standardized developmental screening and referral process for all children ages birth to 5 in Summit County as part of the First Things First initiative, $25,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support the Dropout Recovery Program, which provides academic and employment support to Summit County youth who have dropped out of high school, $10,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $5,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron Ohio, to provide after-school programming that teaches life skills and healthy behaviors to at-risk teens, $7,500

2012 Education Grants

In 2012, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $490,000 to 24 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Council of Parent Teacher Associations, to support a leadership training program for parents, $15,000
Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $5,000
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $10,000
Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together program, which increases disability awareness and acceptance among students in Summit County schools, $10,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
Big Brothers and Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties Inc., for community- and school-based mentoring programs for at-risk youth, $10,000
BioInnovation Institute in Akron, for the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, a science fair that encourages middle and high school students to develop solutions to medical problems with the help of professional mentors, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs that encourage good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk teens, $70,000
Building for Tomorrow, to continue early education programs, special-needs assessments, comprehensive health services, and family support services for children under age 5 living in AMHA housing communities, $95,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which evaluates, cultivates and enhances the social and emotional well-being of children at child care centers in Summit County, $65,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $5,000
Family & Children First Council, to implement a standardized developmental screening and referral process for all children ages birth to 5 in Summit County as part of the First Things First initiative, $25,000
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $10,000
Hattie Larlham Foundation, to support a new housekeeping vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities, $20,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, a program that teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to students in after-school programs at the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and various Akron Afterschool locations, $10,000
Pastoral Counseling Service of Summit County, to provide social-emotional and behavioral counseling to elementary school students serving an out-of-school suspension, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness camp for students and their parents in the Buchtel cluster of Akron Public Schools, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to establish three new community classroom sites for adult literacy and GED programs, $20,000
Research Education & Charitable Association for the Benefit of the Chefs & Farmers (Veggie U.), to purchase Earth to Table science kits, which teach fourth-graders in Akron Public Schools about sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, $10,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, to provide computers to low-income families with young children, as well as local nonprofit agencies, $5,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support the Dropout Recovery Program, which provides academic and employment support to Summit County youth who have dropped out of high school, $10,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron Ohio, to provide after-school programming that teaches life skills and healthy behaviors to at-risk girls, $7,500

2011 Education Grants

In 2011, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $469,000 to 26 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
Akron International Friendship, to support a pilot project that teaches sixth-graders in Akron, Tallmadge and Revere schools about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, to continue and expand education programs, special-needs assessments, comprehensive health services and family support services for children under age 5 living in AMHA housing communities, $95,000
Alchemy Inc., for Myth, Muses & Scribes, a collaboration with Kent State University that uses myth to teach writing skills to urban adolescent males, $7,500
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $12,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together program, which increases disability awareness and acceptance among students in Summit County schools, $10,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
Beacon Journal Charity Fund Inc., to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $5,000
BioInnovation Institute in Akron, for the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, a science fair that encourages middle and high school students to develop solutions to medical problems with the help of professional mentors, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs that encourage good character, physical health and academic success among teens at the Eller Club in southeast Akron, $35,000
Charisma Community Connections, to help unemployed and underemployed fathers find jobs in the green industry by providing them with energy efficiency training and certification, $20,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which evaluates, supports and enhances the social and emotional well-being of children at child care centers in Summit County, $50,000
Family & Children First Council, to plan and implement a developmental screening and referral process for all children ages birth to 5 in Summit County, $25,000
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $7,500
Hattie Larlham Foundation, to support a gardening employment program for adults with developmental disabilities at Crown Point Ecology Center, $20,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer programming that teaches academic and life skills to low-income youth in Akron, $7,500
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, a program that teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to students in after-school programs at the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and various Akron Afterschool locations, $10,000
Old Trail School, to support a summer enrichment program for Akron Public elementary school students that combines academic classwork with outdoor recreational learning in conjunction with Old Trail's summer camp, $15,000
Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, for the Teens Talking to Teens program, which promotes healthy lifestyles and responsible choices among adolescents in Akron, $15,000
Project GRAD Akron, for a kindergarten readiness summer camp for 50 students and their parents in the Akron Public Schools Buchtel cluster, $22,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to reduce the number of students waiting for classroom GED instruction by providing appropriate distance-learning and accelerated GED preparation options, $20,000
The Research Education & Charitable Association for the Benefit of the Chefs & Farmers (Veggie U.), to purchase Earth to Table science kits, which teach fourth-graders in Akron Public Schools about sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support the Dropout Recovery Program, which provides academic and employment support to Summit County youth who have dropped out of high school, $10,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron, to provide after-school programming that teaches social skills and healthy behaviors to at-risk girls, many of whom are referred from juvenile court, $7,500

2010 Education Grants

In 2010, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $384,500 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

Alliance for Healthy Youth, for youth development programming, $7,500
Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
Akron General Medical Center, for Healthcare in Progress, a career education program for students of color and their parents, $7,500
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, to continue early childhood development programs in AMHA communities, $95,000
Alchemy Inc., for the Myth, Muses & Scribes collaborative with Kent State University's National Writing Program, $7,500
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $12,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $10,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the READY program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
Beacon Journal Charity Fund Inc., to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $7,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for the Eller Club, $30,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, $50,000
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $5,000
Fund For Our Economic Future, to increase Akron Community Foundation's support to $100,000 for Phase III, $50,000
Good Neighbors Inc., to purchase food, $10,000
Hattie Larlham Foundation, to provide vocational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities at the Doggie Day Care & Boarding site, $20,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer programming, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $7,500
Project GRAD Akron, for a literacy program for elementary students, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to support the transition of GED students to college, $20,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, for the AIM HIGH computer refurbishing program, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron, to provide after-school programming for at-risk girls and female juvenile offenders, $10,000

2009 Education Grants

In 2009, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $441,000 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, for the Born Learning program, $30,000
Akron Summit Community Action Inc., to add TeachSmart Learning Systems to the Head Start program, $17,000
Akron-Summit County Public Library, for an Early Childhood Resources Center, $35,000
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $12,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $15,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for a kindergarten readiness program for preschool Burmese refugees who are not proficient in English, $15,000
Beacon Journal Charity Fund Inc., to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for the Eller Club, $25,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., to support child behavior specialists in preschools, $50,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $10,000
CYO and Community Services Inc., for the after-school Youth Enrichment Program, $7,500
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer programming at the North Hill Community House, $10,000
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $15,000
Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, for the Teens Talking to Teens program, $10,000
Project All Reading Children Inc., for tutoring services and a summer program to improve phonemic awareness in young children, $15,000
Project GRAD Akron, for literacy coaching at four Akron public elementary schools, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for the Transition to College Initiative, $15,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, for Aim High, which provides refurbished computers to low-income students, $12,000
Summit County Family & Children First Council, to implement a Child Find Coordination Project for families and children in Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority communities, $65,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
Young Men's Christian Association of Akron, to provide after-school programming for at-risk girls and female juvenile offenders, $10,000

2008 Education Grants

In 2008, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $403,501 to 30 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Bar Association Foundation, for Street Law Junior, a law, democracy and human-rights program for fourth- and fifth-graders, $28,871
Akron Community Service Center and Urban League, for Akron Selected Skills Enrichment Training, $15,000
Akron Council on World Affairs, for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $15,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties, for the People Together disability awareness program, $15,000
Beacon Journal Charity Fund, to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $10,000
Because He Cares Ministries, for an after-school media program for urban youth, $10,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Summit County, for the Eller Club after-school and summer programs, $25,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, for the Impact and Aftercare Adolescent Substance Disorder Treatment Program, $10,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $10,000
CYO and Community Services, for after-school programming, $10,000
East Akron Community House Association, to expand the Education, Development and Guidance for Employment program into Kenmore High School, $15,000
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $10,000
Green Energy Ohio, for environmental outreach and education in Summit County, $5,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer programs, $10,000
Health Education Center of Akron, for human-growth and puberty education programs, $10,000
Junior Achievement of Akron Area, for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $15,000
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $13,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, for Camp Invention, a summer enrichment program for children, $10,000
Ohio Energy Project, to provide professional development to high school science teachers in Akron, $7,200
Partnership for America's Future, National Museum of Education, for Project Energy, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Invention for Akron, $15,000
Project All Reading Children, for a reading intervention and skills development program in northern Summit County, $17,930
Project LEARN of Summit County, for a workforce and economic development coordinator, $20,000
The Salvation Army, for the hot meals program, $10,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, for the AIM HIGH computer refurbishing program, $12,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
United Disability Services, for "Creativity Transcends," a Kaleidoscope artist exhibition at the Akron Art Museum, $15,000
University Circle Inc., for Math Connections, a distance-learning program for Summit County middle-schoolers, $10,000
Victim Assistance Program, to provide mental health counseling to crime victims, $22,000

2007 Education Grants

In 2007, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $274,852 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Bar Association Foundation, for Street Law Junior, a law, democracy and human-rights program for fourth- and fifth-graders, $11,540
Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
Akron General Medical Center, for Healthcare in Progress, a career education program for students of color and their parents, $10,325
Alchemy, for after-school and summer-camp programs for adolescent males attending Perkins Middle School, $15,000
All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $5,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $15,000
Asian Services in Action Inc., for the International Community Empowerment Project, a summer program providing academic guidance to immigrant and refugee students, $10,000
Beacon Journal Charity Fund, to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $8,000
Caring for Kids Inc., for monthly training and support groups for foster and adoptive families, $2,700
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $8,757
Community Hall Foundation Inc. - Akron Civic Theatre, for the Akron Reading Festival, $25,000
CYO and Community Services Inc., to provide after-school programs for at-risk children, $10,000
Esther Lewis Warburton Patient Education Initiative, for Take Charge of Your Health patient education materials, $5,800
First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $5,000
Health Education Center of Akron Inc., for human-growth and puberty education programs, $7,500
Junior Achievement of Akron Area Inc., for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $15,000
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $13,000
Leggett Elementary School, Akron Public Schools, for the 100 Book Challenge Project, $15,000
Ohio Energy Project, for the Youth Energy Education program, $7,730
Project GRAD Akron, for literacy coaches in Buchtel cluster elementary schools, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to create a technology-driven GED classroom for teens and young adults ages 16 to 24, $30,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, for the AIM HIGH computer refurbishing program, $12,000
Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000

2006 Education Grants

In 2006, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $339,613 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Bar Association Foundation, for Street Law Junior, a law, democracy and human-rights program for fourth- and fifth-graders, $11,540
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, for the capital campaign to secure a larger and more efficient facility, $100,000
Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $10,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for mobile technology teaching labs, $10,300
Christ United Methodist Church, for free computer training for adults, $1,580
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $4,568
Community Hall Foundation, Inc. – Akron Civic Theatre, for the Akron Reading Festival, $25,000
CYO and Community Services Inc., for the youth enrichment after-school program, $10,000
First Grace United Church of Christ, to support the Homework Club after-school program, $7,750
Green Local School District, for the Data Driven and Designed tutoring program, $10,000
HealthSpace Cleveland, for health education outreach programming to disadvantaged Summit County students, $7,500
Junior Achievement of Akron Area Inc., for after-school programming, $10,125
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $13,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a summer enrichment program for children, $10,000
Our Lady of the Elms School, for a women's leadership series, $10,000
Project All Reading Children Inc., for the Lifeline for Twinsburg Heights after-school reading program, $15,750
Project GRAD Akron, for the expansion of a literacy project in the Buchtel cluster, $25,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for the GED Fast Track program, $20,000
Summit County Workforce Policy Board, for capacity building and awareness at the new Job Center, $30,000

2005 Education Grants

In 2005, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $270,250 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $5,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $10,000
Battered Women's Shelter, for the community outreach program, $33,402
Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for an initiative that addresses the literacy strengths and needs of families, $20,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $3,160
Good Neighbors Inc., for emergency food assistance to those facing immediate hunger in the community, $25,000
Greenleaf Family Center, to provide anger management services to indigent individuals, $16,000
Hudson Library & Historical Society, for educational programming, $7,500
Ida B. Wells Community Academy Inc., for an after-school program, $10,000
Jacob and Clara Faber Community Enrichment and Education Foundation, for equipment for the Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Program, $10,000
Jewish Community Board of Akron Inc., for video conferencing equipment, $15,000
Junior Achievement of Akron Area Inc., for the Economics of Staying in School program, $10,000
Partnership for America's Future Inc., for a one-week Inventucation Academy for Akron Public Schools students, $15,000
Project All Reading Children Inc., for the Coach Your Child to Read Project for children in the Twinsburg Heights area, $13,417
Project GRAD Akron, for the implementation of "MOVE IT Math" for students in the Buchtel cluster, $15,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for the family literacy program, $19,000
Saint Joseph Parenting Center Inc., for program expenses, $11,500
Say Yes To Tennis, for the advanced tennis-training program, $11,271
Summit County Farm Bureau Mobile Learning Laboratory Project Inc., for youth educational programming, $10,000
Twinsburg City Schools, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000

2004 Education Grants

In 2004, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $370,367 to 22 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
Akron Public Schools, for African drum-making supplies for Stewart Elementary School, $7,419
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $15,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Summit County, for the Power Hour tutoring program, $15,000
Child Guidance Centers Inc., for family literacy programs, $20,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $3,760
Cuyahoga Falls City School District, for an AWS School Weather Net Program for use in seven Cuyahoga Falls elementary schools, $7,500
Fund For Our Economic Future, for a pooled grant-making initiative of area foundations to encourage economic development in Northeast Ohio, $100,000
Greater Cleveland Healthcare Association, to promote nursing careers in Summit County through job shadowing and a Web page, $12,088
Jacob and Clara Faber Community Enrichment and Education Foundation, for supplies, materials and textbooks for the Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Program, $15,000
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $12,600
National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a summer enrichment program for children, $10,000
Pastoral Counseling Service of Summit County, to support programs for middle school disadvantaged youth, $15,000
Project All Reading Children Inc., to support tutoring programs for Twinsburg Heights students, $10,000
Project GRAD Akron, to improve the academic achievement of students in the Buchtel cluster, $20,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for a part-time curriculum specialist, $12,000
Saint Joseph Parenting Center Inc., for relocation expenses to provide needed space, equipment and materials, $17,500
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Inc., for repairs to the Gate Lodge, $20,000
Summit County Educational Service Center, for "Assistive Technology in the Preschool Classroom," to benefit preschools in seven school districts, $10,000
Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, for educational programs, $20,000
Twinsburg City Schools, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
YWCA of Summit County, for the Challenging Racism workshop series for adults in collaboration with Coming Together, $10,000

2003 Education Grants

In 2003, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $254,879 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Bar Association Foundation, for Street Law Junior, a law, democracy and human-rights program for fourth- and fifth-graders, $20,000
Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $5,000
The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together disability awareness program, $15,000
Case-Barlow Farm, for general support of this historical farm, which provides educational and volunteer opportunities, $10,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $ 3,760
City of Akron Police Department, for the D.A.R.E. program for students of Akron Public Schools, $10,000
Cleveland Health Education Museum, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $15,000
Coming Together Project, to expand diversity educational programs, $15,000
Family Solutions, for computer education programs for low-income families, $17,000
Greater Cleveland Healthcare Association, to promote nursing careers in Summit County through job shadowing and a Web page, $15,207
Green Local School District, for the "Risking It All for At-Risk Kids" tutoring project, $8,300.00
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $14,000
National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a summer enrichment program for children, $10,000
Project All Reading Children Inc., to support tutoring programs for Twinsburg Heights students, $15,000
Summit County Farm Bureau Mobile Learning Laboratory Project Inc., for the Agriculture in the Classroom mobile learning lab program, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative, for Coming Together to Close the Achievement Gap, a community educational program, $10,000
Summit Education Initiative Education Leadership Roundtable, to support an initiative to improve the reading success of children, $15,000
Twinsburg City Schools, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
University of Akron Foundation, for a multimedia tutorial for caregivers and foster parents to promote child language development, $10,000
YWCA of Summit County, for sexual assault prevention and risk reduction outreach and education for women and children, $26,612

2002 Education Grants

In 2002, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $193,815 to 14 nonprofit organizations:

Citizens Policy Center, for environmental lessons for Akron Public School students, $5,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $10,802
Cleveland Health Education Museum, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $15,000
Community Drug Board Inc., for a truancy prevention pilot program for area schools, $24,830
Family Solutions, for computer and vocational educational services, $27,897
Heart to Heart Leadership, to support seminars that improve interpersonal and workplace communications in Summit County nonprofit organizations, $6,000
Hudson City School District, to support the Charles D. Miller Leadership Forum for school leaders, $1,000
Millennium Fund for Children of Akron Community Foundation, for grant-making, $10,000
The National Conference for Community and Justice Inc., for diversity programs in Summit County schools, $9,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for a health literacy program, $20,000
Summa Health System, for the Healthcare in Progress initiative, a collaborative effort to prepare students of color for health careers, $28,433
Summit Education Initiative, for a character-development conference for schools in Northeast Ohio, $13,085
Summit Portage Leader Institute, for leadership training for 48 Summit County high school girls, $12,786
Twinsburg City Schools, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000

2001 Education Grants

In 2001, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $210,690 to 18 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Bar Association Foundation, for Street Law Junior, a law, democracy and human-rights program for fourth- and fifth-graders, $15,000
Akron Regional Development Board Educational Fund, for the capital campaign, $25,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $7,430
Cleveland Health Education Museum, to provide free health and science programs to Akron Public Schools students, $15,000
Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, for the artists-in-residence program, $7,500
Family Solutions, to support the HUD Homebuyer Education and Learning Program, $6,000
Heart to Heart Leadership, to support seminars that improve interpersonal and workplace communications in Summit County nonprofit organizations, $7,000
Jerome Lippman Jewish Community Day School, for classroom material and staff support for Tikkun Village, $9,360
Kent State University Foundation Inc., to support Porthouse Theatre's community education/outreach program, $7,500
Law Enforcement Foundation Inc., for the D.A.R.E. officer training program in inner-city Akron, $2,900
Leadership Akron, to support the annual orientation retreat, $14,000
League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund - Hudson League, for the Leader Institute for Summit County high school girls, $5,000
Lighthouse Educational Development Corporation, for an intervention-based assessment pilot project, $10,000
Millennium Fund for Children of Akron Community Foundation, for grant-making, $10,000
Mustard Seed Development Center, for the Education Economic Initiative Program for low-income youth and adults, $15,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, to support the Learning Disabilities Project, $20,000
Summit Christian School Inc., for after-school programs for North Hill teens, $9,000
Young Women's Christian Association, for the Girl Power! program for six Akron middle schools, $25,000

2000 Education Grants

In 2000, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $183,005 to 16 nonprofit organizations:

Akron Public Schools, to support the Multi-Sensory Room, an educational resource center designed to improve the educational experiences of students with disabilities at Barrett Academy, $10,016
BICEE Neighborhood Community Development, for an educational enrichment program for youth and adults in the Elizabeth Park/North Hill area, $10,000
Cascade Locks Park Association, for educational exhibits at the Mustill House, a historic preservation site at Lock 15 on the Ohio and Erie Canal, $30,000
City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $5,240
Heart to Heart Leadership, to support seminars that improve interpersonal and workplace communications in Summit County nonprofit organizations, $4,500
Jerome Lippman Jewish Community Day School, to support an urban environmental education and cooperative learning project for public and private school students, $9,374
Junior Achievement, to conduct a feasibility study for Exchange City Akron, which features a life-size replica of a working city that reinforces economic studies for fifth- and sixth-grade students, $10,000
Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $14,000
National Conference for Community and Justice, to expand "It's Your Move," a student-driven diversity and leadership training program, into additional Summit County schools, $12,500
Parent Coalition for Persons with Disabilities, to support the organization's relocation as part of a strategic alliance of grassroots organizations serving people with disabilities, $20,000
Project LEARN of Summit County, for partial funding of a comprehensive student retention project to assist adult learners with motivation, planning, time-management and goal-setting skills, $10,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul/Akron Council, to support the food pantry, homeless shelter and educational programs operated by the St. Bernard Conference in downtown Akron, $5,000
South Arlington United Methodist Church, for the Children of Promise program, which teaches conflict resolution skills to children ages 5-11, $3,000
Summit Christian School Inc., to support summer basketball and computer programs for youth in the North Hill area, $5,450
Summit County Children Services Board, for partial funding of an educational coordinator and technical support for Crouse Caring Community and Erie Island Caring Community, $10,000
University of Akron, to produce "Protecting and Nurturing the Children," a series of educational, counseling and mediation programs for children and parents in high-conflict custody cases, $23,925

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