Vernon L. Odom Fund Grant History

In 2023, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $10,000 to 11 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support an after-school soccer program for low-income families in Akron, $1,000
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Zeta Theta Omega Chapter, to support "Perfecting Our Pearls," a youth leadership program that will provide young women from minority backgrounds with education and mentorship, while improving their self-esteem, $1,000
• Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, to support social-emotional learning for Akron Public Schools students through a ballroom dance residency program, $500
• Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to increase representation of volunteer coaches from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds by providing stipends to remove child care and transportation barriers, $1,000
• Law and Leadership Institute, to support a tuition-free, four-year college preparatory program for promising high school students who are at risk of not graduating high school or attending college, $1,000
• Limitless Ambition, to support a mother-daughter brunch event that will help Summit County mothers strengthen their relationship with their teenage daughters, $1,000
• South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support a series of fine arts workshops that empower students in Southeast Akron to express themselves through creativity, overcome challenging tasks, and collaborate with their peers, $500
• South Street Ministries, to support an after-school enrichment program that provides literacy and life skills training for elementary school students in the Summit Lake and South Akron neighborhoods, $1,000
• Summit Artspace, to support the installation of "Black Spaces: Defying Social Constructs," an exhibition by local artist Crystal Miller that explores the Black experience through an Afrofuturistic lens, $1,000
• University of Akron Foundation, to establish the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. at Buchtel CLC to encourage academic excellence, college readiness and an interest in STEM careers among Black students, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, to strengthen families by providing a six-week fatherhood mentoring program at no cost to absent and recently incarcerated fathers, $1,000

In 2022, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $9,300 to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Civic Theatre, to support four free public performances of the Millennial Theatre Project’s Say It Loud, $500
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support an after-school soccer program for low-income families in Akron, $1,000
• Akron Soul Train, for an artist-in-residence program featuring poet and performer Latecia Delores Wilson, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, to fund fatherhood education programs that provide low-income, single fathers with the tools needed to become active, positive role models in their children's lives, $1,000
• Good Samaritan Hunger Center, to alleviate food insecurity in the North Hill community, $900
• Law and Leadership Institute, to support a tuition-free, four-year college preparatory program for promising high school students who are at risk of not graduating high school or attending college, $1,000
• Limitless Ambition, to equip parents from low-income families with the tools needed to empower teens to thrive, $1,000
• South Street Ministries, to assist and empower Black women to overcome obstacles to their re-entry in the community, $900
• University of Akron Foundation, to support workshops through the National Society of Black Engineers that introduce Black middle school students to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, to strengthen families by providing a six-week fatherhood mentoring program at no cost to approximately 90 low-income fathers, $1,000

In 2021, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $14,500 to 16 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Community Service Center and Urban League, to distribute vaccine safety information to Black residents in Summit County, $1,000
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Akron Soul Train, to support an artist-in-residence program that amplifies the voice of an artist from an underrepresented demographic, $500
• Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture (CATAC), to support HOME, a civic engagement initiative that shares the stories of West Hill residents through theater performances, $1,000
• Chair-ity Inc., to provide furniture and household items to Summit County youth who have aged out of the foster care system, $750
• Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, to support the BREAK Dance and BREAK Dance @ Home residencies, which offer virtual "brain break" curricula for students in Akron Public Schools, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, to support fatherhood education programs that equip low-income, single fathers in Summit County to remain active in their children's lives, $1,000
• First Tee of Akron, for the 2021 Putting with Police event, which aims to build trust between law enforcement officers and the southwest Akron community through an informal golf competition and outreach activities, $500
• Law and Leadership Institute, to support a tuition-free college preparatory program for promising high school students in Summit County who are at risk of not graduating high school or attending college, $1,000
• Limitless Ambition, to supply girls in the Summit County foster care system with "Dream Kits" filled with self-guided curriculum workbooks, positive affirmation cards, personal hygiene products and more, $1,000
• National Center for Choreography, to support "inCOPnegro," a dance project that illuminates the complexities of being a person of color working in Akron's criminal justice system, $1,000
• South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support a hip-hop music camp that empowers teens living in Southeast Akron to use their voice to become change agents in their community, $1,000
• South Street Ministries, to provide re-entry and recovery support for Black residents, $1,000
• Summit Metro Parks, to support the creation and installation of a Sojourner Truth statue in Akron celebrating the women's suffrage centennial and Sojourner Truth's pivotal role in attaining voting equality for all women, $1,000
• Victory Gallop, to provide therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for children with special needs and life-threatening illnesses, $750
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, $1,000

In 2020, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $6,750 to eight nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, to support a ballroom dancing program for fifth graders at Forest Hill Community Learning Center that teaches teamwork, self-confidence and respect, $1,000
• Embrace Clinic & Care Center, to support a fatherhood mentoring program that equips fathers to connect with and care for their children, $500
• First Tee of Akron, for the 2020 Putting with Police event, which aims to build trust between law enforcement officers and the southwest Akron community through an informal golf competition and outreach activities, $750
• LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club, to support a mentoring program for third graders at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center that provides academic and social support for at-risk students, $1,000
• South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support a hip-hop music camp that empowers teens living in Southeast Akron to use their voice to become change agents in their community, $1,000
• Summit County Historical Society, to support a trolley tour during the University of Akron’s Rethinking Race forum featuring the city’s African American history and a hike to the John Brown Monument, $500
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, $1,000

In 2019, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $8,750 to nine nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Centenary United Methodist Church, to support a drama camp for at-risk youth in Akron’s Lane-Wooster neighborhood, $750
• Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, to support a ballroom dancing program for fifth-grade students at Leggett Community Learning Center that teaches teamwork, self-confidence and respect, $1,000
• Dreams Academy, to support a mentoring program for African-American male youth that builds problem solving, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills, $1,000
• Embrace Clinic & Care Center, to support a fatherhood mentoring program that equips fathers to connect with and care for their children, $1,000
• First Tee of Akron, for the 2019 Putting with Police event, which aims to build trust between law enforcement officers and the southwest Akron community through an informal golf competition and outreach activities, $1,000
• University of Akron Foundation, to support a workshop that introduces African-American middle school students to STEM fields, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, $1,000
• World Relief Akron, to support an English as a Second Language tutoring program for refugees, $1,000

In 2018, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $9,500 to 11 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Community Service Center and Urban League, to help children from low-income families attend the Akron Urban League Summer Enrichment Day Camp, which builds students’ skills in reading, math and the arts through educational programs and field trips, $1,000
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $500
• Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a running-based program for immigrant girls in the North Hill neighborhood that combines physical activity with discussions about self-confidence and healthy relationships, $400
• Law and Leadership Institute, for a college preparatory program that helps at-risk and minority youth graduate from high school, get accepted into college, and choose a professional career path, $1,000
• Moving Beyond Hope, to support a summer youth camp that teaches financial literacy skills to economically disadvantaged students in Greater Akron, $1,000
• OPEN M, to help people in poverty become economically self-sufficient through a financial literacy and job mentoring program, $1,000
• Red Flags National, to translate youth mental health awareness materials for Bhutanese families in Greater Akron, $700
• Summit County Councilman David Hamilton (FA: Akron Urban League), to support a summer enrichment camp for students at Buchtel Community Learning Center that builds academic, technical and leadership skills, $1,000
• University of Akron Foundation, to support a workshop that introduces African-American middle school students in Akron Public Schools to STEM-related careers, $1,000
• Victory Gallop, to provide therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for African-American children with special needs and life-threatening illnesses, $900
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, $500

In 2017, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $11,500 to 15 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Community Service Center and Urban League, to help children from low-income families attend the Akron Urban League Summer Enrichment Day Camp, which builds students’ skills in reading, math and the arts through educational programs and field trips, $1,000
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Alchemy Inc., to support mentoring-based workshops for urban adolescents that use storytelling to develop critical thinking skills and self-esteem in at-risk youth, $500
• Biostatistics and Research Awareness Initiatives Network Inc., to introduce minority students at Buchtel Community Learning Center to STEM-related careers through hands-on projects involving spatial statistics, data analysis, coding and geography, $1,000
• Crown Point Ecology Center, to introduce low-income, minority youth to organic farming and gardening through the 2017 Summer Farm & Science Camp, $500
• Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support diversity education programs in Summit County schools that empower students to combat bigotry and racism, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, to train men in Summit County to become mentors for at-risk fathers who are facing challenges with substance abuse, homelessness and behavioral issues, $500
• Global Ties Akron, to teach fifth- and sixth-grade students about religious diversity by bringing international speakers into the classroom, including refugees and immigrants living in Summit County, $1,000
• Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support entrepreneurship and job readiness programs for students at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• Law and Leadership Institute, for a college preparatory program that helps at-risk and minority youth graduate from high school, get accepted into college, and choose a professional career path, $1,000
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., to support community gardens and beautification sites in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food and green space, $500
• Proyecto Raices, to support programming for Hispanic children in Greater Akron that celebrates their cultural traditions while engaging them in educational and artistic activities, $500
• South Street Ministries, to support community engagement initiatives for residents in the Summit Lake neighborhood, $500
• University of Akron Foundation, to support a workshop that introduces African-American middle school students in Akron Public Schools to STEM-related careers, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, $500

In 2016, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $16,000 to 16 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Biostatistics and Research Awareness Initiatives Network Inc., to introduce minority students at Buchtel Community Learning Center to STEM-related careers during a trip to Harvard University, where students will shadow financial analysts, biostatisticians and other health science professionals, $1,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for an after-school program at the Odom Boulevard Branch Library that equips at-risk youth to succeed in the classroom and make healthy life choices, $1,000
• Buchtel Community Learning Center PTA, for the annual Black History Program and Taste of Culture event, which showcases African-American culture through food, music and student performances, $1,000
• Child Guidance & Family Solutions, to provide educational materials on bullying, depression and substance abuse to Spanish-speaking families in their native language, $1,000
• Crown Point Ecology Center, to introduce low-income, minority youth to organic farming and gardening through the 2016 Summer Farm & Science Camp, $1,000
• Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, for a ballroom dance residency program that fosters respect, tolerance and self-esteem among Akron Public Schools students, $1,000
• Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to encourage discussions about race relations in the classroom through film showings of "American Denial" in Akron-area middle and high schools, $1,000
• Fair Housing Contact Service, to purchase materials for home buyer education classes that teach money management skills to potential homeowners in order to reduce the rate of foreclosure in Summit County neighborhoods, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, for the "Developing into Dad Show," a video series that tells the stories of minority fathers in Summit County who have overcome challenges to build meaningful relationships with their children, $1,000
• Global Ties Akron, to teach fifth- and sixth-grade students in Summit County about religious diversity through the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, $1,000
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., to support community gardens and beautification sites in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food and green space, $1,000
• Rape Crisis Center, to translate sexual violence educational materials into languages most commonly spoken by Summit County minorities, including Spanish and Burmese, $1,000
• St. Hilary Church, for an after-school tutoring program for students at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• University of Akron Foundation, to support a workshop that will introduce African-American middle school students in Akron Public Schools to STEM-related careers, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, including help applying for employment and gaining visitation rights, $1,000

In 2015, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $13,000 to 13 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $1,000
• Battered Women’s Shelter, for diversity training seminars that will help staff at the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center better serve clients of all ethnic backgrounds, $1,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for at-risk youth at the Odom Boulevard Branch Library in Akron, $1,000
• Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for a parenting education program for Spanish-speaking parents of children with serious behavioral issues, $1,000
• Crown Point Ecology Center, to introduce low-income, minority youth to organic farming and gardening through the 2015 Summer Farm & Science Camp, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, for the Developing into Dad Show, a live video series that focuses on challenges faced by African-American fathers, including child support, custody and visitation, $1,000
• Greater Akron Musical Association, to help low-income, minority students attend the Gospel Meets Symphony concert, $1,000
• Law and Leadership Institute, for a college preparatory program in Akron and Barberton that helps at-risk and minority youth graduate from high school, get accepted into college, and choose a professional career path, $1,000
• Rape Crisis Center, to promote ethnic and racial harmony within the agency by recruiting additional minority volunteers, $1,000
• St. Hilary Church, for an after-school tutoring program for students at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• Urban Vision, for an incentive program that allows youth participants to purchase school supplies and holiday gifts with the "dollars" they’ve earned through good behavior, attendance and grades, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, including help applying for employment and gaining visitation rights, $1,000

In 2014, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,800 to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• 100 Black Men of Greater Akron Inc., for the 100 Leadership Academy, a mentoring program for minority youth that teaches financial literacy, self-respect and positive decision-making skills, $1,000
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for a year-round, after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $1,000
• Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $500
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, for fatherhood education classes that help non-custodial fathers be an active parent in their children’s lives, $900
• Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, Jewish Community Center of Akron, to mentor at-risk girls at Glover Community Learning Center by combining fitness training with discussions about personal values, respect and self-worth, $500
• Law and Leadership Institute, for a college preparatory program for students in Akron and Barberton that helps at-risk and minority youth graduate from high school, get accepted into college, and choose a professional career path, $1,000
• Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, for a mentoring program that helps young men from inner-city neighborhoods succeed in school, find employment and make healthy choices, $500
• Summit County Youth Employment for Success, for a money management workshop that equips at-risk teens to build a solid financial future through budgeting, saving and avoiding debt, $500
• Urban Vision, for an incentive program that allows youth participants to purchase school supplies and holiday gifts with the "dollars" they’ve earned through good behavior, attendance and grades, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, including help applying for employment and gaining visitation rights, $900

In 2013, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,500 to nine nonprofit organizations:

• Blessings in a Backpack (Akron), to provide backpacks of food for the weekend to students in need at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center and the Akron Digital Academy, $500
• Child Guidance & Family Solutions, to increase the independence of Spanish-speaking clients by translating therapy materials and health care forms into their native language, $1,000
• Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, for fatherhood education classes that help non-custodial fathers be an active parent in their children’s lives, $1,000
• Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, Jewish Community Center of Akron, to mentor at-risk girls at Glover Community Learning Center by combining fitness training with discussions about personal values, respect and self-worth, $1,000
• One Love Unity, Charisma Community Connections, for Teen Talk, a 12-week open forum that provides a safe space for at-risk adolescents to discuss issues ranging from peer pressure to family dysfunction, $1,000
• Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, for a mentoring program that helps young men from inner-city neighborhoods succeed in school, find employment and make healthy choices, $500
• Summit County Youth Employment for Success, to send at-risk teens to the University of Akron’s 2013 Black Male Summit, which addresses critical issues facing young African-American males, $500
• Urban Vision, for an incentive program that allows youth participants to purchase school supplies with the "dollars" they’ve earned through good behavior, attendance and grades, $1,000
• Williams Challenge, for a fatherhood education and mentoring program that gives at-risk and absent fathers the support they need to develop positive relationships with their children, including help applying for employment and transitioning from incarceration, $1,000

In 2012, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,500 to eight nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for the soccer program for Akron youth, $1,000
• Asian Services in Action Inc., to support an international festival for students in North Hill, $1,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for an after-school program in northwest Akron that focuses on academics, self-esteem and positive recreation, $500
• Gospel of Christ Ministries, for a tutoring and mentoring program for at-risk youth, $1,000
• Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, for a leadership program for young men from inner-city neighborhoods, $1,000
• Portage Path Community Learning Center, for Rolling Down Hill, a program that uses Soap Box Derby cars and robotic car kits to teach students about engineering and physics, $1,000
• St. Hilary Church, for the Seeds of Change after-school tutoring program at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• Urban Vision, for an incentive program that allows youth participants to purchase school supplies with the "dollars" they’ve earned through good behavior, attendance and grades, $1,000

In 2011, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $9,000 to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Community Service Center & Urban League, for the Elegant Evenings program for senior citizens, $830
• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for the soccer program for Akron youth, $1,000
• Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your World – Know Your Community cultural diversity program for sixth-grade students, $1,000
• Buchtel High School PTA, for the Annual Black History Program and Taste of Culture, which provides entertainment related to black history and a meal of cultural dishes, $420
• Good Neighbors Inc., to purchase food, $1,000
• Good Samaritan Hunger Center Inc., to supply eggs for the Bags for Kids program, which provides at-risk children with high-protein groceries, $1,000
• Gus Johnson Community Center Inc., for the Ready to Work Program, which prepares youth to succeed in the workplace, $750
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., for Harvest of Hope, a youth entrepreneurship farm and produce project, $1,000
• St. Hilary Church, for the Seeds of Change after-school tutoring program at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• Urban Vision, to support the Set on Success after-school music program, $1,000

In 2010, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $5,220 to six nonprofit organizations:

• Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, for the Color Line Project, a story collection program about the civil rights movement and its influence on racism and injustice, $1,000
• First Tee of Akron, to provide golf programs for youth at the Akron Urban League, Perkins Middle School and the National Inventors Hall of Fame School, $1,000
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., for Harvest of Hope, a youth entrepreneurship farm and produce project, $1,000
• St. Hilary Church, to support the Reading is Fun after-school program at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, $1,000
• Summit County Youth Employment for Success, for the YES Diversity Workshop, $720
• Urban Vision, to support Set on Success, a program that teaches English to Karen refugee students, $500

In 2009, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $8,500 to nine nonprofit organizations:

• Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Lucky Seniors program, $1,000
• Bondage Breakers Inc., for Project: Educate*Stimulate*Recreate, a camp activity for at-risk children with an incarcerated parent, $1,000
• Charisma Community Connections, for the Fathers Walk, which focuses on the importance of dads in the education process, $1,000
• The First Tee of Akron Inc., to support golf programs for youth at Akron Urban League and Perkins Middle School, $1,000
• He Brought Us Out Ministry, for the Halell Twirl Team, $500
• Inner-City Soccer Club, for summer soccer camps, $1,000
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., for Harvest of Hope, a youth entrepreneurship farm and produce project, $1,000
• Urban Vision, to support summer English as a Second Language classes, $1,000
• West Akron Track, for the ’09 track season, invitational and banquet, $1,000

In 2008, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,550 to nine nonprofit organizations:

• Asian Services in Action Inc., for the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP) Summer Program, $1,000
• Buchtel Neighborhood Group, for Community Day 2008, which creates awareness of the businesses and services available in the Buchtel High School neighborhood, $635
• Caring Communities of Summit County, for the One Night for Girls Only career exploration event, $635
• Copley High School, Copley-Fairlawn City School District, to provide character-building programs to at-risk freshman boys through Alchemy Inc., $500
• Good Samaritan Hunger Center Inc., to provide Pantry Bags for Children to clients age 17 and under, $1,000
• He Brought Us Out Ministry, for the Halell Twirl Team, $1,000
• International Institute of Akron Inc., for after-school tutoring for foreign-born high-school students, $1,000
• The Prison Ministry & Praise Team, for a camp outing for children of incarcerated parents, $1,000
• Summit County Youth Employment for Success (YES), for a diversity workshop for Summit County high-school students, $780

In 2007, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,330 to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• The Butch Reynolds Care for Kids Foundation, for the Butch Reynolds Recreation Relay Day, $500
• Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, for the Reach Out and Dance programs at Findley Academy and Case Elementary Schools, $500
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, to support youth boxing programs, $730
• Greenleaf Family Center, for the Students and Families Engaging Together For Youth program at Perkins Middle School, $900
• Inner-City Soccer Club, for the 2007 soccer season, $600
• Portage Path School of Technology, for the Boys Read and Play program for minority fifth-grade students, $1,000
• Project R.I.S.E., Akron Public Schools, for Lessons in Literacy and Cultural Transitions, a program for Hispanic families in shelters and transitional housing, $1,000
• The Ricky Powers Foundation, for the annual youth football camp, $600
• Saint Hilary Church, for the Seeds of Change after-school tutoring program at Margaret Park Elementary School, $1,000
• Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop, for the YEPAW summer workshop at the University of Akron, $500

In 2006, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $5,930 to seven nonprofit organizations:

• The Butch Reynolds Care for Kids Foundation, for the Butch Reynolds Recreation Relay Day, $825
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, to replace the gym’s heavy bag and to buy hand wraps and T-shirts for athletes, $685
• Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition Inc., to support Captain Nye’s Fishing Derby for inner-city elementary school children, $750
• The Prison Ministry & Praise Team, to support Project Intact, $1,000
• The Ricky Powers Foundation, for the Ricky Powers Youth Football Clinic, $1,000
• Summit County Youth Employment for Success, to support the Cultural Heritage Mural Project, $670
• West Akron Track, to support the 2006 season for athletes ages 6 to 18, $1,000

In 2005, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,452 to eight nonprofit organizations:

• Asian Services in Action Inc., for scholarships for high-risk youth to attend International Community Empowerment Project's summer camp, $500
• The Butch Reynolds Care for Kids Foundation, for the Butch Reynolds Recreation Relay Day, $1,000
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, for an exercise bike and a group outing to an Akron Aeros game, $952
• The Greater Akron Laos Association For Kids, for the Laos Cultural Heritage Program, $1,000
• Making Education Reform Imperative Today Inc., for the Super S.T.A.R.S. program at Crouse Elementary School to improve fourth-grade proficiency test scores, $1,000
• Project All Reading Children Inc., for Summertime Focus, which provides math and reading opportunities for Twinsburg Heights children during the summer, $1,000
• Summit Lake Neighborhood Association, for a summer basketball clinic for middle school youth, $1,000
• Urban Vision, for the after-school program that serves Elizabeth Park children, $1,000

In 2004, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $5,295 to six nonprofit organizations:

• Black Law Enforcement Officers Association, for the 4th annual "Hugs and Gloves" project, providing hats and gloves to needy children, $500
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, for uniforms, $795
• Making Education Reform Imperative Today Inc., for the Super S.T.A.R.S. program at Portage Path Elementary School to improve proficiency test scores, $1,000
• PIECE of the Rock Instruction, for the Children of Promise Parents' School/Home Resource Pac for unwed parents, $1,000
• The Greater Akron Laos Association For Kids, for cultural heritage activities and classes for children, $1,000
• Urban Vision, for the after-school care program, providing homework assistance and activities to youth in Elizabeth Park, $1,000

In 2003, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $6,610 to 11 nonprofit organizations:

• Asian Services in Action Inc., for scholarships to International Community Empowerment's summer camp at Riedinger Miller School, $500
• Buchtel Youth Wrestling Team, for headgear for the 2003-2004 wrestling season, $800
• Essex Elementary School, Akron Public Schools, to provide students participating in the city-wide track meet with T-shirts, $250
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, for the annual boxing tournament, "Friday Night at the Fights," $500
• Inner-City Soccer Club, for a weeklong soccer and physical fitness camp, $855
• International Institute of Akron Inc., for the Akron Mon Organization's dance and music cultural project for refugees, $500
• The Plisken Family Relations and Health Intervention Center, for health equipment to be used in screenings and/or workshops, $500
• Project All Reading Children Inc., for summer enrichment and wildlife study programs for African-American students in Twinsburg Heights, $825
• Saint Hilary Church, for the Seeds of Change after-school tutoring program at Margaret Park Elementary School, $880
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hilary Church, for the Aim High program, which provides needy children with computers, $500
• Victory Gallop Inc., for at-risk students from McEbright and Leggett elementary schools to participate in Project Walk/Trot, $500

In 2002, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,200 to 11 nonprofit organizations:

• Because He Cares, for the Child Enrichment Saturday Program for Spring Hill children, $500
• The Butch Reynolds Care for Kids Foundation, for the Butch Reynolds Recreation Relay Day, $500
• Caring Communities of Summit County, for "Show What You Know" educational materials to prepare third- and fourth-grade students for the Ohio Proficiency Test, $500
• Essex Elementary School, Akron Public Schools, for jump ropes and the Heartbeats Jump Rope Assembly, $460
• Gavrilo Princep Sports Society, for the youth soccer program, $850
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, for boxing gloves, $940
• Inner-City Soccer Club, for general support, $850
• International Institute of Akron Inc., for the Children's Summer Program, $800
• North High School, Akron Public Schools, for "Honest Talk," a freshman mentoring program, $500
• Victory Gallop Inc., for Project Walk/Trot, which provides therapeutic horseback riding for at-risk youth, $500
• Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, for the "Feeding the Needy" ministry, $800

In 2001, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $8,200 to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• Access Inc., for the Kids are Tomorrow's Strength program, $500
• The Butch Reynolds Care for Kids Foundation, for the Butch Reynolds Recreation Relay Day, $1,000
• Caring Communities of Summit County, for safety and conflict resolution workshops as part of the summer enrichment series, $1,000
• Coming Together Project, for the Unity Walk, which brings together multicultural participants, $1,000
• International Institute of Akron Inc., to support the "Women's Night Out" program for immigrant and refugee women, $1,000
• Islamic Society of Akron, for the annual summer club for Muslim youth, $1,000
• Jerusalem Baptist Church, for the mentoring program's lap-quilt project, $500
• North American Indian Cultural Center, to purchase arts and crafts materials for the American Indian Youth Awareness project, $500
• St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, for the Proyecto Raices Summer Achievement camp, $1,000
• South Arlington United Methodist Church, to purchase dictionaries for the P.I.E.C.E. tutoring program, $700

In 2000, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $6,490 to seven nonprofit organizations:

• The Akron African-American Cultural Association, for the annual African-American Festival and Parade, $1,000
• American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties, for the African-American HIV/AIDS Fundamentals Instructor course, $500
• Coming Together Project, to support the newsletter, $1,000
• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, to purchase uniforms, $990
• Inner-City Soccer Club, to purchase soccer apparel and equipment, $1,000
• NWA Hawks Pee Wee Football Booster Club, to support the football and cheerleading programs, $1,000
• Priscilla's Lost and Found, for the women's mentoring program weekend conference, $1,000

In 1999, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $7,683 to eight nonprofit organizations:

• Delta Research & Educational Foundation, for field trips for girls in the Delta Academy, $1,000
• Gavrilo Princep Sports Society, to support the soccer program for refugee children, $850
• Good Samaritan Hunger Center Inc., to purchase soup bowls, $1,153
• Gus Johnson Community Center, to purchase a computer, $1,000
• Karate for Kids, to support the karate program for refugee children, $1,000
• NWA Hawks Pee Wee Football Booster Club, to purchase football equipment and cheerleading uniforms, $1,000
• South Rangers Athletic Association Inc., for football and cheerleading activities for low-income youth, $480
• Tierra Y Esperanza Para La Comunidad Humana Organizada, to support the Akron-area Hispanic Service Directory, $1,200

In 1998, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded grants totaling $5,939 to nine nonprofit organizations:

• Akron Children's Hospital, for the PATHS tutoring program, $280
• Akron Summit Community Action Inc., to support the Perkins Middle School tutoring program, $500
• Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation of Akron, to support a golf program for low-income youth, $450
• Arlington Church of God Inc., to support the Performing Arts Program and EVE Program, $1,745
• City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support the Buchtel Cluster Astronomy Club, $864
• International Institute of Akron, for the International Women's Association Festival, $500
• St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, for the Hispanic Cultural Arts Summer School, $500
• Summit County Children Services, to support the Crouse Caring Community Tree for the picnic area, $600
• Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, to support the Boy Scouts summer camping program, $500

In 1996, the Vernon L. Odom Fund awarded its first grant of $1,000 to one nonprofit organization:

• The Akron African-American Cultural Association, for the 17th annual African-American Festival and Parade, $1,000