Akron Community Foundation distributes nearly $4 million in quarterly grants

Competitive grants include arts and culture programs in Summit County

Akron Community Foundation's board of directors recently announced grants totaling $3.8 million and approved $693,300 in arts and culture grants chosen by the foundation's Community Investment Committee.

This quarter's arts and culture funding included a $15,000 grant for Western Reserve PBS, which will help the organization strengthen its focus on local programming, like the popular Studio C music sessions, the Local Focus storytelling series, and Kids Script, which highlights student playwrights in Barberton who worked with professional actors to bring their plays to life. The community foundation grant comes at a critical time for Western Reserve PBS, as a potential cut in federal funds could affect $1.2 million in support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which represents about 22% of the local PBS budget.

"We see it as part of our mission to ensure that we're reflecting the stories and the art and culture that's being created by our communities," said Natalie Pillsbury, president and CEO of Western Reserve PBS.

Another arts and culture grant recipient was MooreDunsonCo, for the world premiere of "The Remember Balloons Live!," an expanded version of "The Remember Balloons" touring show, which blends dance, live music, and multimedia storytelling. Based on an award-winning children's book, the performance illustrates the impact of Alzheimer's disease on families and the importance of our memory as a culture and as individuals. The show will take place solely in Akron, but the performance will be broadcast on Western Reserve PBS.

"In the process of making (The Remember Balloons), me and Theron Brown, who's a composer of the show, were thinking a lot about, 'What if we had no touring constraints?' When you're on the national tour, the tour can only have so many people on it for budgetary reasons," said co-producer Dominic Moore-Dunson, who's also a choreographer and dancer. While the touring show is 50 minutes and features the characters of the son and grandfather, "The Remember Balloons Live!" will be a 90-minute show and will feature four performers, along with 20 live musicians on stage playing an original composition, he added.

Akron Community Foundation's board approved 62 arts and culture grants in total, including $17,000 for The Nightlight Cinema for operating support, as the nonprofit movie theater located in downtown Akron doubles its capacity, aiming to serve 40,000 visitors annually with a new 67-seat screen and a strong community focus in its programming.

Also contributing to arts and culture funding were the Charles E. and Mary K. Booth Family Fund, This Town is My Town Fund, and Hood Family Fund, who made grants to some of this quarter's applicants through the community foundation's co-investment program, which enables donor-advised fundholders to review the board's competitive grant applications and support initiatives that align with their charitable interests.

Grants will support the following arts and culture programs:

Akron Art Museum, for general operating support, including exhibits, hands-on artmaking, community events and free performances, $51,200
Akron Civic Theatre, to support non-commercial arts programming and expand access to vibrant, community-centered experiences for all, $37,500
Akron Dream Center, to help expand the Creative Labs program, focusing on music production, dance, and a future print shop, serving local junior and senior high school students, $5,000
Akron Municipal Court, to support the installation of artwork to help create a calm and welcoming environment for visitors, particularly those facing mental health challenges and addiction, $2,500
Akron Soul Train, to offer multi-disciplinary, experimental artists the opportunity to expand their creative expressions through paid residencies, $8,500
Akron Symphonic Winds, to support free performances for the community, including concerts in the schools for area students, $6,500
Akron Symphony Orchestra, to support the Akron Symphony's youth music and community outreach programming during the 2025-2026 season, $18,200
Apollo's Fire, to support the 2025-26 Summit County concert series and Community Access Initiative, which aims to serve 4,500 people in Summit County through baroque concerts and educational initiatives, $12,500
Art Sparks, for Dynamite Duos, a peer-based inclusive dance and music curriculum for Akron Public Schools students with developmental disabilities, $12,000
ArtsNow, to help advance Summit County's arts and culture sector through events, partnerships and advocacy, and for the ArtsForward program, which provides grants to artists and projects that align with the Cultural Plan, $35,000
Assuage HER (FS: Summit Artspace), to support the Assuage Her Youth Initiative, a 10-week arts and entrepreneurship program empowering young women ages 14–19 through creative expression, confidence-building, and community connection, $1,200
Ballet Excel Ohio, to support the 2025-26 Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) program at Akron Public Schools (APS) and the Pre-professional Ballet Training Scholarship Program, which provides second graders with free in-school dance instruction with renowned choreographers, $7,000
Ballet Theatre of Ohio, for the Akron schools outreach program "Take me out to the Ballet," which includes students attending a performance of The Nutcracker, along with classroom educational activities, $7,000
Buchtel Community Learning Center PTA, to support the West Akron Community Parade and Juneteenth celebration, honoring a long-standing tradition while deepening community pride and historical awareness through arts, culture, and intergenerational connection, $1,500
The Bath Church, United Church of Christ, to attract new audiences for the Bath fall concert series, $3,000
Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, for operating support for the 2025-26 season at The Balch Street Theatre, including professional development, performances, and strategic planning, $12,500
Children's Concert Society of Akron, for the Akron Public Schools In-School Concert Series, which brings free live concert experiences of culturally diverse music to students in an informal, hands-on setting, $10,000
City of Akron, to support the 18th Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, a series of free outdoor dance performances in neighborhood parks, Lock 3 and the Akron Art Museum, $50,000
City of New Franklin Tudor House Commission, to help the Tudor House Commission provide free family-friendly events to the greater Portage Lakes communities of southern Summit County at the historic Tudor House, $3,000
Cleveland Ballet, to support immersive classroom-to-theater performance experiences and programming at the Akron Art Museum during the 2025-26 performance season, $7,000
Cleveland International Film Festival, to support Summit County student participation in CIFF's Youth Education Programs, including FilmSlam and FilmSlam Streams in-person and online educational programs for students in grades 5-12, $6,000
Cleveland Orchestra, to support the 2025 Blossom Music Festival, including 18 concerts of classical performances, family friendly movie nights and popular music, $18,000
 Crooked River Musical Arts, to support the promotion and performance of free relevant choral programs at no cost to the public, $3,000
Curated Storefront, to support public art programming that commissions and exhibits contemporary art by regional, national, and international artists to activate underused spaces in downtown Akron, $12,500
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, for operating expenses, including exhibits, events and workshops for artists and residents in the Cuyahoga Falls area, $7,500
Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus, to support the Cuyahoga Valley Children's Choir for children ages 8-12 who live in and around North Hill, $2,000
DANCECleveland, to support dance programming with visiting artists in Summit County, providing education at local schools and Firestone and Kenmore community centers, $10,000
Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, to teach ballroom dance to fifth- and eighth-grade students, $7,000
Empowering Queens, for The Art of Empowerment, a six-month creative healing program for single mothers in Akron, covering visual arts, writing, movement, and storytelling, $1,500
Friends of The Summit, to support The Summit FM, Akron's independent radio station, advancing music-driven wellness, education, and community connection through community-based programming and partnerships, $16,500
Hearts for Music Inc., to expand its services to Summit County, offering a music ensemble for people of all ages with special needs, $2,500
Highland Square Neighborhood Association, to support the PorchRokr live music and arts festival, $5,000
Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy (HALCA), to support culturally inclusive music and dance education that fosters creativity, connection, and well-being for youth and families in Akron's North Hill community, $8,000
Les Délices, to support Baroque-inspired concerts and educational outreach in Summit County and provide yearlong music mentorship for local students, $5,000
The Links Inc. Kent, OH Chapter, for a digital photography program designed to introduce Akron youth to career exploration, health, national and international social issues, $1,750
Magical Theatre Company, for operating support, including student matinees, touring programs, student scriptwriting and educational programs, $13,500
Makeshift Theatre, for a theater series featuring plays with themes of interest to older adults, $3,000
Master Singers Chorale of Northeast Ohio, for classical choral concerts in Summit County, $5,000
MooreDunsonCo, LLC, to support the world premiere of The Remember Balloons Live!, an intergenerational performance blending dance, live music, and multimedia storytelling, designed to engage families ranging from grandparents to children, $7,000
The Movement Project, to support a dance concert series and in-school residencies to connect Akron Public Schools students in grades 4–12 with professional dance opportunities which foster creativity and career readiness, $5,000
Music from The Western Reserve, to support the 43rd concert season which expands classical music's reach by featuring underrepresented artists and engaging more diverse and inclusive audiences, $2,500
National Center for Choreography, to support innovative dance residencies and programs that bring nationally recognized artists to Akron while deepening local engagement with dance as a transformative art form, $8,500
The Nightlight Cinema, to support Akron's only arthouse cinema as it expands access to independent film, deepens community partnerships, and creates an inclusive space for shared cultural experiences, $17,000
Ohio Contemporary Ballet, to support Akron artistic and outreach activities, including concerts and related education/community engagement, $8,500
OhioDance, to support community engagement for Summit County through educational resources, a four-day residency and documentation through the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection, $2,500
Open Tone Music, to support the 10th Annual Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, $6,000
Peninsula Foundation, to support Voices in the Valley arts programming, a nationally recognized concert series promoting traditional roots music through live performances of local, national and international touring artists, $6,500
Phoenix Performing Arts, to support a youth-led musical theater season that offers free, accessible performances and expands arts opportunities for local students and families, $2,000
Project RISE-Akron Public Schools, for the Arts Can Teach program, which provides live performing arts experiences for local families facing homelessness, $11,450
Rubber City Theatre, for operating support, including theatrical performances, youth programming and educational outreach, $6,500
Save the Music Foundation, to increase access to comprehensive school music education for elementary students in Akron Public Schools, $5,000
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, for 2025 general operating support, including exhibits and tours along with education, community events, and historic preservation, $35,000
Summit Artspace, to support education, art exhibits and programming, along with resources for local artists, including studio space and workshops, $25,000
Summit Choral Society, to provide musical training for children and adults, $16,000
Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, for general operating support, including educational programs and exhibits at the Perkins Stone Mansion, John Brown House and select areas in Summit County, $25,000
Trust Drum Circles, to support community-based programming, including free drumming lessons and immersive drum circles for at-risk youth and adults with disabilities, $2,500
Tuesday Musical Association, to support six concerts as well as related education and community engagement activities in the 2025-26 season, $17,500
Wandering Aesthetics, to support theatrical educational opportunities and youth performances during the 2025-26 season, $5,000
Western Reserve Historical Society, to support educational programs and general operating funds for Hale Farm and Village, $20,000
Western Reserve PBS, for arts and culture broadcast programming, including locally and nationally produced content, $15,000
Western Reserve Playhouse, to support the Western Reserve Playhouse's accessible MainStage show ticket prices for the 2025 season, $5,000
Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop (YEPAW), to support youth and families through a summer workshop, masterclasses in dance, photography, spoken word, visual art, step and drumline and other avenues, $20,000

About Akron Community Foundation
For 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 $305 million with a growing family of more than 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 $259 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.