Akron Community Foundation awards $4.4 million in grants

Board approves $650,000 in civic affairs grants

Akron Community Foundation's board of directors distributed $4.4 million in quarterly grants and distributions and recently approved 61 competitive civic affairs grants totaling $650,000 that were chosen by the foundation's Community Investment Committee. Projects funded range from neighborhood development and environmental stewardship efforts to voter registration, mentorship and leadership programs, among others.

Included in this round of civic affairs awards is a $15,000 grant to the International Soap Box Derby to support programs like the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby, its marquee event, along with racing programs and hands-on STEM learning, field trips, camps, and engineering experiences for students. The Soap Box Derby serves around 7,500 people per year through its programs.

While STEM learning as it pertains to gravity racing is important, "This is leadership development in the form of gravity racing," said Dennis VanFossen, president and CEO of the International Soap Box Derby and a former Soap Box Derby world champion. "It's not necessarily just about the racing aspect of it, but what you really get to see, you get to see future champions, future champions as engineers, doctors, lawyers, grant funders, the leaders of tomorrow."

While Akron is a hotbed for Derby racing, the Soap Box Derby has 70 racetracks across the country, along with gravity racing tracks internationally in Japan and Canada.

Another civic affairs grantee this quarter is Bounce Innovation Hub, which will receive $10,000 to help continue building the Spark Akron Entrepreneurial Framework. This program will help provide the proper tools at the right time for local entrepreneurs at various stages of their idea development.

"For several years we've been coordinating the Spark network, but it's time to take it a step further," said Jessica Sublett, president and CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub. "The whole system is designed to ensure that we really understand where an entrepreneur is at in their own business journey, and then which resources within that network are the right resources for that time."

The civic affairs funding is one of four major grant cycles supported by the foundation's Community Fund each year.

Grants will support the following civic affairs programs:

Akron Cooperative Farms, to support urban farming, sustainable growing practices, and education, as well as social entrepreneurship and community building opportunities for resettled residents in North Hill and Greater Akron, $5,000
Akron Marathon, to support the Akron Marathon Race Series, along with a health and wellness initiative for Summit County businesses and organizations, $10,000
Akron Parks Collaborative, to support Friends of Parks groups and their work in planning programming and beautification for neighborhood parks, $8,000
Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, to support Rotary Camp's century-long mission of providing inclusive, therapeutic camp experiences for children and adults with developmental, physical, and mental health disabilities, $12,500
Akron Urban League, for operating support, including advocacy, education, entrepreneurship, anti-recidivism, workforce development and youth violence programming for residents of Akron and Summit County, $30,000
Better Kenmore Community Development Corporation, to support the ongoing revitalization of the Kenmore community and Kenmore Boulevard, $17,500
Big Love Network, to help residents better connect with their neighborhoods through initiatives that enhance community engagement, help improve air quality, reduce neighborhood pollution, expand the tree canopy, and promote urban farming, $7,500
Bounce Innovation Hub, to support implementation of the Spark Akron Entrepreneur Navigation and Ecosystem Coordination Framework, which provides capacity-building tools for local entrepreneurs, $10,000
Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support career exploration and workforce development opportunities for Greater Akron and Summit County youth through the Exploring program, $11,000
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, for programs like residential recovery, mentoring and workforce development for former offenders in Summit County, which help remove barriers that lead to recidivism, $13,000
Business Volunteers Unlimited, to strengthen Summit County nonprofits through expert consulting, leadership training, and strategic capacity-building services that enhance long-term impact and sustainability, $8,000
Candid, to support nonprofits in Summit County with free access to fundraising, nonprofit management, and capacity-building materials and services, $5,000
CASA Board Volunteer Association, for operating support, including recruiting, screening, training, and supporting community volunteers who serve as advocates for abused and neglected children involved in the juvenile court system, $16,000
Cascade Locks Park Association, to help preserve canal history, activate cultural assets, and leverage public spaces to strengthen community connections throughout Cascade Valley, $7,500
CitiReach (formerly Akron Dream Center), to support the expansion of the Reach Groups program, which seeks to mentor at risk boys and girls of families in the Wilbeth Arlington Homes and Rosemary Boulevard neighborhoods, $5,000
Community Life Collaborative, to support native tree plantings throughout Akron in neighborhoods with low tree canopy, along with providing education about caring for the trees, $3,500
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, for operating support, which includes educational programs, community partnerships, and public events, $45,000
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, for operating support, including affordable programming for residents taking train rides, and maintenance of vintage rail equipment, $30,000
Downtown Akron Partnership, for operating support for downtown Akron business attraction, residential occupancy, public space enhancement and economic development initiatives, $20,000
Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership Inc., to support the small business community, elevate downtown Cuyahoga Falls resources, and provide enhanced marketing support for downtown Cuyahoga Falls businesses, $5,000
Dr. Bob's Home, to support educational programming, visitor engagement, and preservation efforts at the historic birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, $7,500
The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), to support business development, financial literacy and affordable capital access for aspiring entrepreneurs, $4,000
First Congregational Church of Hudson, to support expanded outreach, programming, and partnerships in the North Hill neighborhood, $10,000
First Tee - Greater Akron, for the continuation of intern programming to assist with setup and logistics for a program that integrates golf with a life skills curriculum, $7,500
Freedom Righteous Organizing Collaborative, to support leadership development and civic education for Black residents across Summit County, $5,000
Friends of Metro Parks, for operating support, including programs that increase accessibility and connect community members with nature, $5,000
Fund for Our Economic Future of Northeast Ohio, to help reduce income disparities, create job opportunities and promote green economy development through multi-sector collaboration, $10,000
Goodyear Heights Community Development Corporation, to help support the Goodyear Heights neighborhood through placemaking events, local business support, and beautification, among other efforts, $1,500
Guys and Gals Community Partnership Inc., for operational support, including programming for youth and adults to strengthen community development and engagement, $11,500
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, to support neighborhood revitalization through the construction of affordable housing in Summit County, $13,000
Heart to Heart Leadership Inc., for general operating support, including providing scholarships for leaders from diverse backgrounds to participate in the Purposeful Leadership Program, $7,500
Humane Society of Summit County, for animal intake care, vaccination, testing and microchipping of Summit County's rescued cats and dogs, $20,000
Ideastream Public Media, to support the production and distribution of in-depth, community-centered news and programming that informs and engages Summit County residents across multiple public media platforms, $10,000
International Soap Box Derby, to support and sustain the All-American racing program, STEM education programs and community events, $15,000
Keep Akron Beautiful, to support litter removal, illegal dumping removal and community cleanups in Akron, $15,000
Leadership Akron, for the Signature Program 44 Opening Retreat and Junior Leadership Akron (JLA) Class 40 Philanthropy Project, $17,500
League of Women Voters of the Akron Area Education Fund, to increase voter engagement in Summit County, especially in targeted areas of unengaged but eligible voters, $2,500
Legacies of Success Community Development Corporation, to support affordable homeownership in North Hill by rehabilitating a distressed property for a family facing barriers to owning a home, $6,000
Let's Grow Akron Inc., for operating support, including teaching residents how to grow, prepare, and preserve their own food, along with managing the Summit Lake Farmers Market, $12,500
Lippman School, to support the expansion of Plant Talking to Portage Lakes Kiwanis Tower and Center Towers, connecting students and elders through plant stories and hands-on activities for intergenerational learning, $5,000
Love Akron, to support the Locker Room Experience mentorship program, which meets twice a month and helps students create solutions for problems facing their peers, along with an annual leadership symposium, $5,000
MORTAR, to connect historically marginalized entrepreneurs in Summit County with access to the resources needed to start and run successful businesses, $2,500
Non Stop Growth, to strengthen capacity as a resident-led convener advancing community safety and economic mobility in Summit County, $2,500
North Hill Community Development Corporation, for operating support, including economic development, arts and culture programming, and programs that address critical needs in housing, entrepreneurship, and intergenerational leadership in the North Hill neighborhood, $17,500
Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates, to register and support voters in the Summit County jail and reentry community, $1,000
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, to support Akron Civic Commons' Summit Lake Environmental Stewardship program, which engages local students and other community members in cleanup and guided canal trips to encourage environmental responsibility, $15,000
People Feeding People, to support a mobile program that delivers tenant rights education and civic engagement resources directly to renters through neighborhood-based outreach and grocery distribution sites, $5,000
Progressive Alliance Community Development Corporation Inc., to foster workforce development and promote the growth of microenterprises in the West Hill community, $5,000
Proyecto Raices, to support greater civic and leadership engagement by Latinos in Greater Akron, $10,000
Safety Forces Support Center, for mental health counseling and peer support services for first responders in Summit County, $10,000
SCORE, to provide counseling and workshops for small businesses and startups in Greater Akron, $10,000
Shanti Community Farms, Inc., to support urban farming, promote sustainable growing practices, and provide education and entrepreneurial opportunities for students and immigrant families, $7,500
Signal Ohio, to support Signal Akron, a nonprofit newsroom serving Akron communities that is anchored in and reflective of residents' needs, $25,000
South Street Ministries, for reentry and community engagement initiatives, $19,000
Summit Metro Parks Foundation, to build capacity for programming, providing increased and better park amenities, including trails, and new and different avenues for donors to engage with their park district, $12,500
Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners, to support watershed restoration, environmental education, and community stewardship in Summit County, $3,500
Torchbearers, for operating support of leadership and development programming, $4,000
Truly Reaching You, to support successful reentry for men through employment skills training, $12,000
Trust for Public Land, to protect and conserve land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come in Summit County, $5,000
The Well CDC, to support a holistic approach to community and economic development in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood, $17,500
Western Reserve Land Conservancy, for operational support, including restoring habitats and creating healthy urban environments with green spaces and natural areas, $5,000

About Akron Community Foundation
For more than 70 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of more than $367 million with a growing family of more than 930 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded $283 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.