Akron Community Foundation distributes nearly $4 million in quarterly grants

Civic affairs grants include new media resource Signal Akron

Akron Community Foundation announced quarterly grants and distributions totaling $3,813,325 to benefit hundreds of nonprofits in our community. These grants were distributed through both board discretionary grant cycles, as well as from donor-advised, designated, agency endowment and scholarship funds.

A total of $615,500 was approved for 47 competitive civic affairs grants chosen by the foundation's Community Investment Committee. Included in this round of civic affairs awards is a $25,000 grant to Signal Ohio to help launch Signal Akron, a new local media resource that will create stories in different formats across multiple platforms. The Signal Akron website will be part of a larger network and will be free to access for residents, covering daily stories about topics like government, public safety, education, and local arts and culture. The Signal Akron award is part of a multi-year, $150,000 commitment from ACF.

"We are focused on community-based, local journalism that is nonpartisan and non-biased. We're going to start with community-generated stories, those that matter to the community," said Rita McNeil Danish, CEO of Signal Ohio. "ACF gave us a significant gift that will allow us to not only open up our newsroom but hire employees."

A $45,000 grant to the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will support the former Brandywine Golf Course project as well as provide operating support, while a $17,500 grant to Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance (Better Kenmore) will support the ongoing revitalization of the Kenmore community and the Kenmore Boulevard neighborhood business district.

Grants will support the following civic affairs programs:

Akron Cooperative Farms, to support urban farming, sustainable growing practices and education, and community building in North Hill and Greater Akron, $5,000
Akron Development Corporation, to support local Community Development Corporations (CDCs) through technical assistance and coaching, along with convening funders and other sector partners, $10,000
Akron Marathon, for support of the Akron Marathon Race Series, along with a health & 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, $6,000
Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, to provide financial assistance for children and adults with special needs to attend camp, $12,000
Akron Urban Agriculture, to support Akron Urban Farms, which provides education, marketing, training and volunteers for gardeners and urban farmers, $2,500
Akron Urban League, for operating support in areas of workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education in Summit County, $35,000
Big Love Network, to support Akron City Repair, creative placemaking projects that help residents better connect with their neighborhoods, $7,500
Business Volunteers Unlimited, to subsidize capacity-building services in Summit County that include consulting, IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and access) initiatives, and leadership training services, $7,500
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 juvenile court, $17,000
Cascade Locks Park Association, to support the design and implementation of several murals along the towpath trail at the Lock 15 Trailhead, $7,500
Community Life Collaborative, to support Bees, Bugs and Butterflies: How Pollinators Help the Cuyahoga Region Bloom exhibit, pollinator gardens and programs, $5,000
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, for operating support, and for the former Brandywine Golf Course, $45,000
ConxusNEO, to support a connected talent ecosystem and build a thriving workforce through work-based and experiential learning, employee-led activities and other initiatives, $20,000
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, for operating support, including relocation operations to Peninsula and a temporary maintenance shop, along with affordable programming for residents, educational field trips and maintenance of vintage rail equipment, $31,000
Downtown Akron Partnership, for operating support for downtown Akron planning, business attraction, residential occupancy, public space enhancement and economic development initiatives, $20,000
Dr. Bob's Home, for general support for the upkeep of Alcoholics Anonymous founder Dr. Bob's home, along with surrounding properties, $5,000
The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), to support Akron area small business owners through financing, workshops, events and training, $8,500
Fighting To Understand, to help develop the Dinner-and-a-Fight (Dialogue) through collaboration with other organizations, and expand use of digital democracy tools to form a disagreement-learning-community, $5,000
First Congregational Church of Hudson, to support the First Serve summer intern program, $10,000
Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve, for operating support, including programs, displays, guided hikes and restoration of the historic and natural features and educational resources, $5,000
First Tee - Greater Akron, to support the continuation of intern programming, $7,500
Fund for Our Economic Future of Northeast Ohio, for support of inclusive economic development, including relationship-building initiatives, tools and analysis, and other resources, $32,000
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, to support neighborhood revitalization initiatives, like Neighborhood Network, affordable new home construction and selling salvaged materials through ReStore retail outlets, $15,000
Heart to Heart Leadership, to support up to 10 leaders from diverse backgrounds to participate in the Purposeful Leadership Program, $8,500
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 community interest public media coverage and engagement in Summit County, $8,500
International Soap Box Derby, for operating support to continue Soap Box Derby races and educational programs, like STEM Team Competition and summer camps, $29,000
International Welcome Center, to support operations and programs assisting refugees/immigrants, like legal services, household items, life skills and transportation, $3,000
Jump On Board for Success, to support a job skills training and mentoring program for low-income girls and women ages 13-35, $5,750
Keep Akron Beautiful, to support litter removal, illegal dumping removal, and community cleanups in Akron, $15,000
Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, to support the ongoing revitalization of the Kenmore community and Akron's largest neighborhood business district, Kenmore Boulevard, $17,500
Leadership Akron, to support the Signature Class 41 Opening Retreat and the Junior Class 37 Philanthropy Day, $14,000
Legacies of Success Community Development Corporation, to support affordable homeownership in North Hill, $5,750
North Hill Community Development Corporation, for operating support, including support of entrepreneurial growth and creating sustainable public spaces, $17,500
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, to support the Akron Civic Commons, Summit Lake Environmental Stewardship program, $15,000
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, $13,500
Shanti Community Farms, to support Yard Corps Youth in outdoor maintenance work, career training and performance arts, $5,000
Signal Ohio, to support the launch of Signal Akron, a local newsroom serving Akron communities that is anchored in and reflective of residents' needs, $25,000
South Street Ministries, to support reentry and community engagement, $20,000
Summit Metro Parks Foundation, for community-responsive programming at the Summit Lake Nature Center, $12,500
Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners, to support the development and implementation of a new program and certificate for Summit County high school students, $2,500
Torchbearers, to support the Envisioning Waters Park Community Amphitheater Shelter program, $5,000
Truly Reaching You, to support successful reentry for men through employment skills training, $11,000
Well Community Development Corporation, to help support Career Development training courses to enable residents to participate in traditional job searches, along with peer-to-peer support and other activities, $17,500
Western Reserve Community Fund Inc., for operations, including restoring habitats, and creating healthy urban environments with greenspaces and natural areas, $5,000

About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 68 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $278 million with a growing family of more than 830 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 $227 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.