Akron Community Foundation awards $4.7 million in quarterly grants

Quarterly board discretionary grants support mental health, medical and wellness programs

Akron Community Foundation awarded $4.7 million in grants during its past quarter, with its board approving $812,750 in competitive health and human services grants during its most recent board meeting.

Among the nonprofits funded this quarter is Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, which was awarded a health and human services grant for $5,000 to help provide free and reduced-price medication for residents who are uninsured and lack the ability to obtain medicine. Last year, the nonprofit also launched a mobile pharmacy to help bring equitable health care access to the neighborhoods that need it most.

"Beacon is a safety net pharmacy, the only one in Northeast Ohio, and we take care of people that live at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines," said LaTrice Snodgrass, executive director of Beacon Charitable Pharmacy. "And now we have the ability to deliver medications and go to rural areas. We can dispense medications, and we can partner with other nonprofits here in Summit County by bringing our mobile unit, parking it in their parking lot, and taking care of patients."

In total, 82 organizations received funding during the Health & Human Services cycle, including a $3,500 grant to Patricia Ann Cargill Charities for its FEED program, which provides food to residents, along with wraparound services like financial literacy and nutrition classes.

"The root cause of hunger is what we're after," said Donte Cargill, executive director of Patricia Ann Cargill Charities. "Because if we are only feeding people, that's just sort of like a Band-Aid, right? So, we want to really get to the root causes of the food insecurity."

More than $50,000 of the health and human services funding was contributed by the Charles E. and Mary K. Booth Family Fund, the Dawley Family Fund, the DiLullo Family Fund, the Friebert Family Fund, the Mark Hilkert Fund, the Juve Family Fund, the Sandra F. Selby Fund, and two anonymous fundholders through the community foundation's grant co-investment program, which enables donor-advised fundholders to review the board's competitive grant applications and support initiatives that align with their charitable interests.

Grants will support the following health and human services programs:

A Kid Again Northern Ohio, to maintain adventure programming for Summit County families, providing children with life-threatening conditions and their families with visits to the Cleveland/Akron zoos, Cedar Point, Akron RubberDucks games and more, $5,000
ACCESS, for emergency shelter for women and women with children experiencing homelessness, $22,250
Akron Blind Center, to offer programs, resources and classes for people who are blind and visually impaired in Summit County, including Braille, computer literacy, physical fitness, crafts and volunteerism, $10,000
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support the Venarge Family Food Pantry and Summit County Direct Distribution Program, which will distribute more than 900,000 pounds of food through four hunger relief partners who serve as a lifeline in their communities, $46,000
Akron Children's Hospital, to support a firearm lockbox pilot program to help reduce gun violence and unintentional injury in Summit County, $8,000
American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, to support disaster cycle services in Summit County, including preparedness classes, disaster response and recovery assistance, $17,500
ARC Recovery Services, to support individuals in early recovery from substance use disorder, $7,500
Assuage HER, to help create a safe space for women's mental health and wellness, with a particular focus on women of color, $2,500
Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support social and recreational opportunities that decrease feelings of isolation for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, $5,000
AxessPointe Community Health Centers, to support a new joint initiative addressing hunger among seniors and individuals with disabilities in Summit County, while integrating community health workers to tackle social determinants of health, $35,000
Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, to expand access to medications, vaccinations, and pharmaceutical education to Summit County, $5,000
Ben Curtis Family Foundation, to address the food insecurity of children and families in Summit County by distributing Birdie Bags, which contain nonperishable meals and snacks, at local schools, $5,500
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, to support programs like residential recovery, mentoring and workforce development for former offenders in Summit County, helping to remove barriers that lead to recidivism, $13,000
Buddy Up For Life, to support a pickleball clinic for individuals 12 and over who have Down Syndrome, $1,500
Canine Companions, to match and support service dog and facility dog teams in Summit County, $3,000
Carve Your Own Path, for inclusive, trauma-responsive counseling services for individuals who are marginalized and have low incomes, $5,000
Catholic Charities of Summit County, to support emergency assistance services, like medical bills, home repairs, medical supplies, phone bills and other basic needs, $18,500
Celiac and Allergy Friendly Food Initiative, to support a food pantry that serves allergy-friendly food to families with low incomes, $5,000
Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide school-appropriate clothing for students in need, $11,750
Community Legal Aid Services, to support the HEAL medical-legal partnership work in Summit County, helping families whose legal needs have adverse effects on their health, $25,000
Community Support Services, for holiday backpacks for clients that include basic needs essentials, $1,500
CORE Furniture Bank, for operating support, including the transport and handling of donated furniture for families in need in Summit County, $10,000
Crown Point Ecology Center, to support increased fresh produce and vegetable plant donations to the community by training farm crew members and purchasing farm supplies, $10,000
Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in need, $4,000
Empowered Network, to support Akron trafficking survivors on paths to fiscal independence, $6,500
Family Promise of Summit County, for the Survive to Thrive program, which provides homes for families facing homelessness, $15,000
Flying Horse Farms, to support programming costs for campers from Summit County, offering activities like a high ropes course, zip lines, fishing, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts and a "Campitheater" for children who face severe medical conditions, $2,500
Forever Amber Acres Animal Sanctuary, to support the further expansion of health initiatives for veterans in Summit County, $2,000
Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to provide grief support, comfort and remembrance items for Summit County families who experience the loss of a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, $4,000
Freedom House for Women, to decrease the barriers of addiction and homelessness by providing substance abuse treatment, recovery housing and supportive services to women in Summit County, $10,000
Friends in Tents, to support Summit County outreach and mobile food distribution to homeless camps, $3,000
Girls On the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a physical activity-based youth development program for Summit County girls in high-poverty neighborhoods with an interactive curriculum that promotes confidence, character and contribution, $9,000
Good Neighbors Inc., to support the Good Neighbors Pantry with personal hygiene products, $5,000
Good Samaritan Hunger Center, to support healthy nutrition through grocery distribution, and to address food insecurity for children and families through a weekend kids bag program, $5,750
Grace House Akron, to support caregiving, housing, and basic needs for unhoused individuals with a terminal illness, $6,000
Greenleaf Family Center, to support the PEERS (Parent Education, Empowerment, Resources, Support) program and strategic planning, $10,000
GriefCare Place, for support groups and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $3,000
Guy's and Gal's Community Partnership, to support the Hoop for Coop adult and youth health fair and basketball sports clinics, $10,000
Harmony House, for general operating support to help youth who are homeless, $8,500
Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, to support crisis intervention services for domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking survivors in Summit County, $36,000
Hope Meadows Foundation, to provide equine-assisted counseling to residents in recovery from addiction alongside their peer support specialist, $6,000
H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to support the creation of a new full-time specialized mental health therapist position, $6,000
IBH Addiction Recovery, for support of residential addiction treatment, including case management, referrals and counseling, $10,000
International Institute of Akron, to support housing services for refugees and immigrants, $23,000
Jewish Family Service of Akron, to provide continued support for older adults and mental health services, $10,000
Jin Huo Community Inc., to bring Asian immigrant and refugee elders and youth together who are affected by social isolation and loneliness due to language and culture, $2,500
JoAnna House II Inc., to support Recovery is a Process with the JoAnna House II Inc. Ohio Recovery House level II single women, $5,000
Kent State University Foundation Inc., to support Black perinatal women in Summit County who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by providing a culturally appropriate intervention that reduces PTSD and race-related stress, $5,000
Let's Grow Akron, to create and support community food gardens in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food, $14,000
LINKS Community and Family Services, to support the LINKS Senior Connection Program, including meals, cognitive care, medical resources, and community activities, $12,500
Loads of Faith - a Laundry Love Ministry, to cover the cost of laundromat services for low/no income residents of Akron, $1,500
Love Akron, to support mental health and wellness and empower young adults to reduce violence across Greater Akron, $5,000
NAMI Summit County, to support the Reedy Housewarming Project, which provides basic household items for people with a serious mental illness who are transitioning to independent living, $7,500
NEOMED, to support the student-run free clinic to provide integrated health care services to Summit County residents who are uninsured or underinsured, emphasizing behavioral health services for underserved communities in Northeast Ohio, $16,500
North Coast Community Homes, to support the Akron/Summit County Residential Services Program, which provides home goods and skill development programs for individuals with disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness, $3,000
Open Arms Adoptions, to support the recruitment of Summit County individuals and families to adopt children from foster care, $6,000
OPEN M, to support free medical and dental services for uninsured residents of Greater Akron, $22,000
Patricia Ann Cargill Charities, to support the Feeding, Educating, Empowering, Deliverance (FEED) program serving low-income residents in Greater Akron, $3,500
Pegasus Farm, to support the Military and First Responders Center's equestrian program, $3,000
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to ensure stable access to affordable contraception for Akron patients in need, $25,000
Popeye's Boxing Gym LLC, to support Popeye's youth violence prevention program, $5,000
Portage Path Behavioral Heath, to support the Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) Treatment Program by enhancing substance-use treatment and mental health program services, and increasing access to those most in need, $10,000
Prevent Blindness Ohio, for the Vision Care Outreach Program, which offers vision screenings and access to eye care for Summit County residents in need, $8,000
Project Outrun, to empower and strengthen kids and their families as they battle life-threatening illnesses with the help of custom shoes plus signature swag, $5,000
RAHAB Ministries, to support the Akron Drop-In Home for sex trafficking survivors, $20,000
Red Oak Behavioral Health, to support non-billable, school-based mental health prevention and treatment services, $15,000
Restore Addiction Recovery, for support of substance use recovery, including case management services for residents in a long-term residential setting, $5,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, to support Summit County families staying at the Ronald McDonald Akron House, $10,750
St. Mary Parish, to support the annual winter coat and winter boot initiative, $1,000
Salvation Army of Summit County, for the Community Table Hot Meals Program, $5,000
Second Chance Village, for the Peer Support Clubhouse and Mobile Outreach for people facing homelessness, $3,000
Stewart's Caring Place, to increase awareness of no-cost cancer support services in communities that experience cancer-related health disparities, $5,000
Summit County Community Partnership, to support the Deterra Project, which provides free medicine disposal bags and educational materials to help residents safely use, store and dispose of prescription medicine, $10,000
Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, to support free fatherhood classes and services through a community partnership, $15,500
Total Life Wellness, to support Total Life Wellness: Survivor Services, which includes safe housing and wraparound services, $5,000
Truth & Honor Inc., to support a recovery housing program for veterans, $2,500
United Disability Services, to support employment services like job exploration, skills assessment, interviewing and soft-skills training for Summit County residents with severe disabilities, $15,000
United Way of Summit & Medina, to support the 2-1-1 Information and Referral helpline for Summit County residents, $15,000
VANTAGE Aging, to support Home Wellness Solutions, which includes home care, Meals on Wheels, behavioral health, and other services to help older adults remain in their homes, $20,000
Victim Assistance Program, to assist individuals who have experienced crime or trauma through advocacy, education and support, $22,500
Victory Gallop, for operating support, including a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with behavioral challenges and life-threatening illnesses, $5,750
Women's Auxiliary Board, Summit County Children Services, to support the Beds for Kids Program, which aims to prevent rollover deaths by providing beds and cribs to families in need, $8,000

About Akron Community Foundation
For 69 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 $305 million with a growing family of nearly 900 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $254 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.