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Since 2000, Akron Community Foundation has invested more than $9.5 million* in education programs all over Greater Akron to enrich our collective quality of life.

Nonprofits interested in applying for an Education cycle grant can review deadlines and other important information on our Competitive Grants page.

*Supplemented by donor-advised fund co-investment funding

2021 Education Grants

In 2021, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $574,383 to 34 nonprofit organizations:

  • The 2nd & 7 Foundation, to support the Tackle Illiteracy program, in which student-athletes from universities and high schools read and hand out free books to second grade students, $5,750
  • Akron Children's Museum, to produce a Virtual Mobile Museum in a Box, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $12,000
  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support a year-round, after-school soccer program for low-income families in Akron, $11,000
  • Akron Zoological Park, to reinforce 3rd-5th grade-level science concepts through a blended learning experience, $8,000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-on-one mentoring for children in Summit County, $12,500
  • Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support Scouting in Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley for economically disadvantaged youth, $5,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $68,000
  • Bridge the Village Incorporated, for the Learning Enrichment Project (LEP), which supports students facing learning and development struggles due to the pandemic, $4,000
  • Bright Star Books Inc., to accept, sort and redistribute thousands of donated books throughout Summit County, $7,750
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support early childhood home visits for residents of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, $96,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers & Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) Program, which trains and coaches teachers on how to incorporate social-emotional learning into the classroom, $80,250
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program in Akron Public Schools, which covers topics such as STEM, entrepreneurship and life skills, $10,250
  • Global Ties Akron, to support current and new global education, diversity and inclusion programs, and to adapt to a virtual delivery of programs, $15,000
  • Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee, to provide academic enrichment to middle and high school students who are struggling in school due to language insecurity, $5,000
  • Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education, to support financial education training for educators in Summit County, $10,000
  • The Improvement Movement, to support the “North Hill Kids College” program, an eight-week mock college experience that exposes children to the rewards of secondary education, $2,500
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to create comprehensive programming for the Akron Public Schools College and Career Academies, $10,000
  • Kent State University Foundation Inc., for an eight-week summer program that provides 10th and 11th grade students from Firestone Community Learning Center with college-level academic experience, $10,627
  • Law and Leadership Institute, to support the tuition-free college preparatory institute for at-risk high school students, $5,000
  • Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $2,500
  • LeniBug Foundation, for the Children & Books program, which provides age- and culturally appropriate books to children and students living in the Greater Akron area, $5,000
  • Limitless Ambition, to empower teen girls in Buchtel High School and STEM Middle School in Akron through enrichment programs, $5,000
  • National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment program offering STEM activities for local students in grades K-6, $10,000
  • Ohio State University Extension Summit County, for the Akron Grows project, which teaches third grade students and their families to grow their own vegetables, $5,694
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $23,000
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to provide English as a Second Language courses to employees in local manufacturing companies, $16,812
  • Proyecto RAICES, to support educational and cultural programs for Latinx, Hispanic and immigrant youth in Akron, $10,000
  • Shanti Community Farms, for a farm-to-school and landscaping training and tutoring program for students in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
  • South Akron Youth Mentorship, to support community collaboration efforts in education initiatives for at-risk youth, $5,750
  • Students With a Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $11,000
  • Summit Education Initiative, to support Readiness Coalitions that promote community collaboration and kindergarten readiness in Summit County, $31,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk high school youth in Summit County, $12,500
  • University of Akron Foundation, to support Summit County teachers in literacy assessment and instruction, $10,000
  • Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the Akron area, $12,500
  • YMCA, to support Early Care and Education programming and virtual learning opportunities for school-age children, $25,000
2020 Education Grants

In 2020, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $603,550 to 34 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Children's Museum, to expand its in-school field trip program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $15,000
  • Akron Fossils & Science Center, to support the Super Science Saturday program, a monthly educational event for students in grades K-8, $1,000
  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support a year-round youth development and after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $10,000
  • Akron Municipal Court, to expand the "Have Gavel, Will Travel" program, which offers judicial education to elementary students in Summit County, $700
  • Akron Public Schools, to support its Summer Symposium professional development training for teachers, $25,000
  • Akron Public Schools, to support the hiring of a staff member who will work with area nonprofits to provide career exploration and service-learning opportunities for middle school students, $25,000 (off-cycle grant)
  • Alchemy Inc., to support its Developing Heroes program, which provides in-school group mentoring for urban adolescents in Akron, $12,500
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support one-on-one mentoring programs for children in low-income and at-risk families, $17,500
  • Boy Scouts of America Council, Great Trail Council, to support scouting within inner-city Akron, helping youths expand leadership skills, outdoor education, civic service, and character development, $7,500
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $75,000
  • Bright Star Books Inc., to accept, sort and redistribute thousands of donated books throughout Summit County, $5,500
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $76,000
  • First Congregational Church of Hudson, to establish The Children’s Center at Valley View, a high-quality satellite preschool for families living in the Valley View Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA), $10,000
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the Girl Scout Journey Program, a 20-week after-school leadership program covering topics such as STEM, financial literacy and healthy living, $10,800
  • Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community–Know Your World program, which teaches students about diverse global cultures through guest speakers and classroom projects, $10,000
  • Hattie Larlham Foundation, to offer pre-employment activities and education to high school students with intellectual and development disabilities, $8,500
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support the development of a three-year strategic plan for community engagement, sustainability and board progression, $10,000
  • Kent State University Foundation Inc., to support a residential-based college immersion summer program for 10th graders at Firestone High School, $18,500
  • Law and Leadership Institute, to support the tuition-free college preparatory institute for at-risk high school students, $5,000
  • Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment, to provide emotional intelligence and leadership programs for students in Summit County, $2,500
  • Lenibug Foundation, to provide culturally appropriate books to underserved children and students in Greater Akron, $3,750
  • MAPS Air Museum, to support U.S. history and STEM programs for Summit County students, including aviation-related activities and museum tours, $10,000
  • National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc., for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer enrichment program offering STEM activities for local students in grades K-6, $10,000
  • Power of the Pen, to support interscholastic creative writing workshops and tournaments for seventh- and eighth-grade students in Summit County, $5,800
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $21,000
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to support high school equivalency and college and career preparation courses for adults without diplomas in West Akron, $19,000
  • RePlay for Kids, to promote female-focused STEM education in Summit County public schools by teaching students to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $5,000
  • Shanti Community Farms, to support farm-to-school programs for Akron Public Schools students that includes harvesting crops, adding locally grown produce to the school lunch menu, participating in farmers markets, and increasing multicultural awareness; as well as the pilot Chick Farm to School Early Learning Program, which will challenge youth to use science, technology, engineering and math skills to investigate the life cycle of an embryonic chicken, $13,000
  • South Akron Youth Mentorship, to provide mentoring and incentives to disadvantaged students in southeast Akron to help them excel in school and escape generational poverty, $5,000
  • Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $10,000
  • Summit Education Initiative, to support the Readiness Coalitions program, which convenes Summit County’s early childhood education providers to align their efforts in preparing children for kindergarten, $30,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
  • University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Dunbar Primary School in Tallmadge, $12,500
  • Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the Akron area, $10,000
2019 Education Grants

In 2019, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $544,231 to 28 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Children’s Museum, to expand its in-school field trip program, which brings interactive learning experiences to Head Start classrooms throughout Akron, $8,600
  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth, $10,000
  • Alchemy Inc., to support its in-school group mentoring program, which uses storytelling and mythology to empower urban adolescents in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties, to support a one-on-one mentoring program for children in low-income and at-risk families, $12,500
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $79,500
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,500
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $75,000
  • The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support diversity and inclusion programming in Summit County schools, $7,500
  • Dreams Academy, to support a mentoring program for African-American male youth that builds problem solving, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills, $5,500
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support an after-school program for underserved girls in Akron Public Schools that builds leadership skills through community service projects and hands-on educational activities, $12,500
  • Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community–Know Your World program, which teaches students about diverse global cultures through guest speakers and classroom projects, $15,000
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program for at-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $8,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, to support financial literacy programming for students in Akron Public Schools that builds work readiness and entrepreneurial skills, $10,000
  • Kent State University Foundation, to support a residential summer program featuring campus tours and educational projects for students in Akron Public Schools' College and Career Academies, $16,000
  • Lenibug Foundation, to provide books for local children living in poverty, $8,000
  • MAPS Air Museum, to support U.S. history and STEM programs for Summit County students, including aviation-related activities and museum tours, $20,000
  • Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to provide summer internships for first-generation, underrepresented Akron Public Schools graduates who have been accepted to the University of Akron, $11,350
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $25,500
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to develop an advanced course for English language learners that prepares them for careers in health care, hospitality and entrepreneurial development, $20,531
  • RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education in Summit County public schools by teaching students to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $5,000
  • Shanti Community Farms, to support a farm-to-school program for students in the North Hill neighborhood that includes harvesting crops, adding locally grown produce to the school lunch menu, participating in farmers markets, and increasing multicultural awareness, $10,000
  • South Akron Youth Mentorship, to provide mentoring and incentives to disadvantaged students in Southeast Akron to help them excel in school and escape generational poverty, $5,250
  • Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $7,500
  • Summit Education Initiative, to support the Readiness Coalitions program, which convenes Summit County’s early childhood education providers to align their efforts in preparing children for kindergarten, $30,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
  • University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Dunbar Primary School in Tallmadge, $11,000
  • Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for at-risk youth in the North Hill neighborhood, $10,500
  • World Relief Akron, for an English as a Second Language tutoring program for refugees, $5,500
2018 Education Grants

In 2018, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $531,800 to 29 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Children’s Museum, to support an in-school field trip pilot program, which will offer hands-on learning experiences to six Head Start classrooms in Akron, $4,300
  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth from underserved and at-risk families, $10,000
  • Akron Promise Inc., to help students at Kenmore-Garfield High School improve their ACT scores through workshops, practice tests, coaching and instruction, $1,500
  • Akron Public Schools, to train high school faculty in curriculum integration and collaborative team teaching for the new College & Career Academies model, $30,000
  • Akron-Summit County Public Library, to digitally preserve historic Akron video recordings, including oral histories, documentaries and other events, $11,000
  • Alchemy Inc., for storytelling and journaling sessions that help urban youth build character and a positive self-image by applying stories to their own experiences, $7,500
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, to support one-on-one mentoring services that pair an adult role model with a young person from a low-income or at-risk family, along with site-based after school programs and recruitment for community volunteers, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programming for underserved youth, including homework help, hot meals and enrichment activities, $72,750
  • Bright Star Books, to expand the Growing Young Readers and free book fair programs, which serve children from birth to 8 years old, providing access to reading and books, $6,000
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which equips parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $86,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support for teachers, students and families to increase the social and emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $76,000
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which builds leadership skills in underserved girls at Akron Public Schools through challenging activities and community service projects, $10,000
  • Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, which connects students with global and multicultural people and issues, $15,000
  • Great Lakes Biomimicry, to create a biomimicry education ecosystem in Summit County by engaging educators and students in nature-inspired thinking, wildlife conservation and STEM fields, $7,500
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program for high-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $8,500
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs that teach students about money management, entrepreneurship and career planning, $10,250
  • Kent State University Foundation, to support a residential summer design program for students in Akron Public Schools’ College & Career Academies, $15,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children in the Buchtel cluster for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $26,500
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to develop and implement a high school equivalency and college and career preparation course for adults without a diploma, $25,000
  • Proyecto Raices, to provide educational support for children from Latino and Hispanic families through activities that increase bilingual literacy, introduce STEM programs, and retain cultural traditions, $10,000
  • RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students by teaching them to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $3,000
  • The Salvation Army of Summit County, for the Learning Zone STEM program, which includes computer coding, 3-D printing and agriculture, among other activities, $6,000
  • Shanti Community Farms, to support Shanti Community Farms in providing the Farm to School Program for Akron Public Schools, $5,000
  • South Akron Youth Mentorship, for the Academic Incentive for Mentees (AIM) program, which provides monetary incentives for disadvantaged youth in Southeast Akron, helping to build character and academic skills, along with forging community partnerships, $5,000
  • Students With A Goal, to support an after-school mentoring program for students in the Summit Lake neighborhood that teaches leadership and life skills, $7,500
  • Summit Education Initiative, to support regional early childhood education through Readiness Coalitions, which connect preschool educators, youth-serving community organizations and elementary schools, $30,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs for at-risk youth in Summit County, $12,500
  • The University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Ledgeview Elementary School in Nordonia, $10,000
  • Urban Vision, for the Set On Success after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for high-risk, inner-city youth, $10,000
2017 Education Grants

In 2017, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $502,750 to 29 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, for an after-school soccer program for inner-city youth from underserved and at-risk families, $10,000
  • Alchemy Inc., for storytelling and journaling sessions that help urban youth build character and a positive self-image by applying stories to their own experiences, $5,000
  • Arc of Ohio, to provide advocacy and inclusion programs for students with developmental disabilities in Summit County, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action, Inc., to support the READY Program, which prepares immigrant and refugee children ages 0 to 6 for successful entry into kindergarten with culturally and linguistically appropriate education, $10,00
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for one-on-one mentoring that pairs adult role models with children ages 6 to 24 from low-income families, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs for local children, including homework help, hot meals and activities surrounding health, art and other topics, $72,500
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Early Childhood Initiative, which promotes parents as their children’s first and most important teacher, while also providing physical and behavioral health services, $90,500
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which offers training and on-site support to teachers, students and families to increase the social/emotional well-being of young children in preschool programs, $75,000
  • College Now Greater Cleveland Inc., for college and career advising services for students at two Akron high schools, including financial aid counseling and transition-to-college services, $20,000
  • Crown Point Ecology Center, to support the Farm and Food Immersion Experience, a summer pilot program that helps high school students in Summit County explore careers in the agriculture and food industries, $7,500
  • Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, to support programs that empower Summit County youth to combat bias, bigotry and racism, $3,750
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey project, which provides programming to underserved girls in second through fifth grade, offering interactive lessons and badges, $8,000
  • Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World program, which connects students with global and multicultural people and issues, $7,500
  • Great Lakes Biomimicry, to create a biomimicry education ecosystem in Summit County, engaging educators and students in nature-inspired thinking, wildlife conservation and STEM fields, $10,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center,  for the SPARK program, a home-based, kindergarten readiness program for 3- and 4-year-olds, $15,000
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for an after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program that is tailored for high-risk students in the North Hill neighborhood, $10,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about earning, spending and sharing money, as well as career planning, teamwork and communication, $10,000
  • Lenibug Foundation, to purchase and distribute books to children living in poverty in the Greater Akron area, $9,500
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten program, which prepares children in the Buchtel cluster for kindergarten through a summer academy, parent engagement activities, and family support services throughout the school year, $27,500
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to help job seekers secure and maintain employment through hands-on workshops that build skills in interviewing, communication, customer service and problem solving, $20,000
  • Proyecto Raices, to provide educational support to children of Latino and Hispanic families through activities that increase bilingual literacy, introduce STEM programs, and retain cultural traditions, $10,000
  • RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students by teaching them to adapt toys for children with disabilities, $3,000
  • Summit County Family & Children First Council, for First Things First, a countywide program that screens children ages 0 to 5 to help identify and refer needed early intervention services, $9,000
  • Summit Education Initiative, to support regional early childhood education through Readiness Coalitions, which connect preschool educators, youth-serving community organizations and elementary schools, $17,500
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to more than 300 high-risk Summit County youth ages 16 to 24, $10,000
  • United Way of Summit County, for Students With A Goal (SWAG), an after-school mentoring program for students ages 11 to 18 in the Summit Lake neighborhood that provides learning, leadership and life skills, $10,000
  • University of Akron Foundation, to support literacy coaching for teachers at Ledgeview Elementary School in the Nordonia school district, $10,000
  • Urban Vision, for the Set On Success (S.O.S.) after-school program, which provides academic support and life skills classes for high-risk, inner-city youth, $7,500
  • Veggie U, for indoor classroom gardens for third-graders andstudents with special needs in Akron Public Schools, $10,000
2016 Education Grants

In 2016, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $537,400 to 31 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $7,500
  • Akron Public Schools in partnership with College Now, for college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and college transition services for students through school- and community-based programs, $20,000
  • Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action, Inc., for the Ready Program, which helps prepare children 0-4 years old, for whom English is a second language, to successfully enter kindergarten, $10,000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for the Community Mentoring Program, which pairs a child age 6-24 who is in need of support with an adult volunteer who helps provide academic, social, educational and life-skills activities, $12,500
  • Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, for the 2016 Pathfinder program, which brings the benefits of scouting to youth from disadvantaged or low-income areas, $7,500
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to support after-school and summer programming that focuses on building good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $77,500
  • Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children’s first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $92,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which teaches child care providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $75,000
  • First Things First, for a developmental screening process and referrals to intervention services within the home visiting network, $10,000
  • Friends of Metro Parks, for the 2015-16 Outside Is In program, which helps sixth, seventh and tenth graders connect with nature, $9,000
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which provides girls who do not participate in Girl Scouts with age-appropriate activity books that lead them through a number of important topics, including community engagement, healthy living, financial literacy, the arts, outdoor experiences and environmental awareness, $9,000
  • Global Ties Akron, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center,  for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children’s educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child’s first teacher, $17,000
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer enrichment programs for Akron Public Schools students who are at risk of academic failure to teach them about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $10,000
  • International Institute of Akron, for the creation of the Center for Inquiring Minds, which will engage middle school youth, especially those learning the English language, in public speaking, critical listening, research, argumentation, and refutation skills, $15,000
  • Jefferson Center, to teach local students about civic journalism, particularly teaching them how to gather information and report on the 2016 election, $10,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $12,500
  • Law and Leadership Institute, for the 2016 Akron Law and Leadership Institute, a tuition-free, four-year college preparatory program for promising high school students who are at risk of not graduation high school or attending college, $1,000
  • Lenibug Foundation, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $8,500
  • Miller Avenue United Church of Christ, for the Students With a Goal program, which provides marginalized students with a safe place to go after school and offers academic intervention, enrichment activities and leadership training, $7,500
  • Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to implement blended learning programs that customize the learning experience for students at Findley Community Learning Center, $25,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $27,500
  • Project Learn of Summit County, for the Career Pathways Initiative, which helps GED students identify and complete individual career plans that focus on competencies and skills, $20,000
  • Proyecto Raices, to sustain Hispanic cultural heritage and encourage STEM learning through computer programming and math and science activities for low-income Hispanic children, $10,000
  • RePlay for Kids, to promote STEM education for Summit County public school students through workshops where they will adapt electronic toys by creating an external switch, so children with disabilities can play with the toy, $2,400
  • South Akron Youth Mentorship, for the Academic Incentive for Mentees program, which provides mentor relationships to disadvantaged children to help them succeed educationally, $2,500
  • Summit Education Initiative, to help out-of-school program providers align their metrics, measurement tools and programming with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-24, $10,000
  • University of Akron Foundation, to provide literacy coaching to Summit County teachers who work with struggling readers, $10,000
  • Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000
2015 Education Grants

In 2015, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $499,500 to 28 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Area YMCA, to provide after-school programs that help at-risk young women decrease participation in high-risk activities, $2,500
  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $5,000
  • Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
  • Akron Public Schools, for college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and college transition services for students through school- and community-based programs, $20,000
  • Alchemy Inc., for a series of monthly workshops that help young men develop a sense of purpose in life, grow through social and emotional learning, and successfully function as members of their family, school and community, $5,000
  • Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark County, for the Community Mentoring Program, which pairs a child age 6-18 who is in need of support with an adult volunteer who helps provide academic, social, educational and life-skills activities, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth that focus on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles, $70,000
  • Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children’s first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $85,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions, for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which teaches child care providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $65,000
  • Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, for the #morethanastereotype program, which teaches high school students to look past stereotypes and understand the real person, $2,500
  • First Book, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $7,500
  • Friends of Metro Parks, for the 2014-15 Outside Is In program, which helps nearly 700 sixth-graders connect with nature, $7,000
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for the Journey Program, which provides girls who do not participate in Girl Scouts with age-appropriate activity books that lead them through a number of important topics, including community engagement, healthy living, financial literacy, the arts, outdoor experiences and environmental awareness, $7,500
  • Great Lakes Biomimicry, to support biomimicry-inspired curriculum, which is the design and production of materials and systems that are modeled on biological processes, at the National Inventors Hall of Fame School Center for STEM Learning, $7,500
  • Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children’s educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child’s first teacher, $10,000
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for the after-school program to help students at risk of failing their classes improve their academic performance, $10,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for after-school programs in Akron Public Schools that teach students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, $10,000
  • Military Aviation Preservation Society, to offer Summit County high school history classes free trips to MAPS Air Museum, $7,500
  • Miller Avenue United Church of Christ, for the Students With a Goal program, which provides marginalized students with a safe place to go after school and offers academic intervention, enrichment activities and leadership training, $15,000
  • Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, to implement blended learning programs that customize the learning experience for each student in select Greater Akron schools, $25,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $25,000
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to increase technology integration in its literacy and GED preparation courses, $20,000
  • St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, to support the Proyecto Raices program for low-income Hispanic children in Greater Akron, which focuses on sustaining Hispanic cultural heritage and encouraging STEM learning through computer programming and math and science activities, $7,500
  • Summit Education Initiative, to help out-of-school program providers align their metrics, measurement tools and programming with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-24, $10,000
  • University of Akron Foundation, for the 2015 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, which encourages students to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering and medical science fields, $5,000
  • Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000
2014 Education Grants

In 2014, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $502,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to support year-round soccer programs for inner-city youth, $5,000
  • Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, in which diverse speakers teach students about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
  • Akron Public Schools, to contract with the expertise of the College Now program to supplement and improve existing college readiness programs, creating a stronger infrastructure to support at-risk students entering post-secondary education, $25,000
  • Arc of Summit and Portage Counties, for People Together, a program in Summit County schools that encourages understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities through presentations and simulations that mimic the experience of living with a disability, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, which helps prepare children 0-4 years old, for whom English is a second language, to successfully enter kindergarten, $12,500
  • Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, to encourage students in grades 7-12 to explore higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine through the Austen BioInnovation Academy, $20,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to support after-school and summer programming that focuses on building good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $70,000
  • Building for Tomorrow, to help parents be their children’s first and most important teacher through home visitation, outreach events, and physical and behavioral health services for families living in AMHA housing communities with children under age 5, $95,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding program which teaches childcare providers how to address children with behavioral issues and promote attachment, initiative and self-control in the classroom, $65,000
  • Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, for Dancing Wheels, a physically integrated dance company, to perform "The Story of You: Understanding Disability" in Akron schools during Disability Awareness Month, $2,500
  • First Book, to purchase new, age-appropriate books for children from birth to age 18 living in poverty, $7,000
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, for a high-adventure, physically demanding Challenge Course at Camp Ledgewood that will include ropes courses, ziplines and climbing walls, $15,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children’s educational, developmental and social-emotional needs and encourage parents to become their child’s first teacher, $15,000
  • Hattie Larlham Community Services, for vocational training for adults with developmental disabilities to help them secure employment and become financially self-sufficient, $20,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, for the More than Money program, which teaches third- through fifth-grade students in Akron Public Schools about earning, spending, sharing and saving money, $10,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the two-week Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness summer camp, $25,000
  • Project Learn of Summit County, to recruit and train volunteers for the GED and English as a Second Language classrooms to help improve outcomes on the new and more rigorous GED test, $20,000
  • Summit County Family & Children First Council, to enhance the First Things First community developmental screening project by incentivizing day cares to recruit parents to complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaires for their children, $20,000
  • Summit Education Initiative, to create consistent measurement tools for out-of-school providers to align their outcomes with the countywide Cradle to Career effort, $35,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, to provide school- and community-based dropout prevention and recovery programs to disadvantaged Summit County youth ages 16-21, $10,000
  • University of Akron Foundation, for the 2014 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair that encourages students to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering and medical science fields, $5,000
  • Veggie U, to teach third-graders in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits, $10,000
2013 Education Grants

In 2013, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $450,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron International Friendship, for the Know Your Community – Know Your World project, which teaches sixth-graders in Akron and Tallmadge schools about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
  • Akron Public Schools, for Destination College, which prepares high school students for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications and apply for financial aid, $15,000
  • All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $10,000
  • Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together program, which increases disability awareness and acceptance among students in Summit County schools, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
  • Big Brothers and Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties Inc., for community- and school-based mentoring programs for at-risk youth, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, to build capacity and support after-school programming that encourages good character, physical health and academic success in at-risk youth, $70,000
  • Building for Tomorrow, to continue early education programs, special-needs assessments, comprehensive health services, and family support services for children under age 5 living in AMHA housing communities, $95,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which evaluates, cultivates and enhances the social and emotional well-being of children at child care centers in Summit County, $65,000
  • First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $7,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center, for the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through home visitations that address children’s educational, developmental and social-emotional needs, including speech, language and mental health, $15,000
  • Hattie Larlham Community Services, to support a sustainable agriculture vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities, $20,000
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, which teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to third, fourth and fifth graders in Akron After School programs, $10,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for the Bridge to Kindergarten school readiness camp for students and their parents in the Buchtel cluster of Akron Public Schools, $25,000
  • Project LEARN of Summit County, to prepare GED candidates to pass the current test and avoid restarting the testing process when a new version is released in 2014, $23,000
  • Research Education & Charitable Association for the Benefit of the Chefs & Farmers (Veggie U.), to purchase Earth to Table science kits, which teach fourth-graders in Akron Public Schools about sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, $10,000
  • Summit County Family & Children First Council, to implement a standardized developmental screening and referral process for all children ages birth to 5 in Summit County as part of the First Things First initiative, $25,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, to support the Dropout Recovery Program, which provides academic and employment support to Summit County youth who have dropped out of high school, $10,000
  • Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $5,000
  • Young Men’s Christian Association of Akron Ohio, to provide after-school programming that teaches life skills and healthy behaviors to at-risk teens, $7,500
2012 Education Grants

In 2012, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $490,000 to 24 nonprofit organizations:

2011 Education Grants

In 2011, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $469,000 to 26 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Council on World Affairs Inc., for the Global Scholars program, which teaches Akron high school students critical thinking skills while they interact with foreign diplomats, $7,500
  • Akron International Friendship, to support a pilot project that teaches sixth-graders in Akron, Tallmadge and Revere schools about the importance of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, $5,000
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, to continue and expand education programs, special-needs assessments, comprehensive health services and family support services for children under age 5 living in AMHA housing communities, $95,000
  • Alchemy Inc., for Myth, Muses & Scribes, a collaboration with Kent State University that uses myth to teach writing skills to urban adolescent males, $7,500
  • All-Star Training Club, for the Summer Academic Sports Camp for children and young adults with disabilities, $12,000
  • The Arc of Summit & Portage Counties Inc., for the People Together program, which increases disability awareness and acceptance among students in Summit County schools, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action Inc., for the Ready Program, an early childhood development program for children in refugee families, $12,500
  • Beacon Journal Charity Fund Inc., to teach good oral health behaviors to third-grade students in Summit County, $5,000
  • BioInnovation Institute in Akron, for the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, a science fair that encourages middle and high school students to develop solutions to medical problems with the help of professional mentors, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for after-school and summer programs that encourage good character, physical health and academic success among teens at the Eller Club in southeast Akron, $35,000
  • Charisma Community Connections, to help unemployed and underemployed fathers find jobs in the green industry by providing them with energy efficiency training and certification, $20,000
  • Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for the Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding Program, which evaluates, supports and enhances the social and emotional well-being of children at child care centers in Summit County, $50,000
  • Family & Children First Council, to plan and implement a developmental screening and referral process for all children ages birth to 5 in Summit County, $25,000
  • First Book, to purchase books for children living in poverty, $7,500
  • Hattie Larlham Foundation, to support a gardening employment program for adults with developmental disabilities at Crown Point Ecology Center, $20,000
  • He Brought Us Out Ministry, for after-school and summer programming that teaches academic and life skills to low-income youth in Akron, $7,500
  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio Inc., for JA More Than Money, a program that teaches workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to students in after-school programs at the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and various Akron Afterschool locations, $10,000
  • Old Trail School, to support a summer enrichment program for Akron Public elementary school students that combines academic classwork with outdoor recreational learning in conjunction with Old Trail’s summer camp, $15,000
  • Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, for the Teens Talking to Teens program, which promotes healthy lifestyles and responsible choices among adolescents in Akron, $15,000
  • Project GRAD Akron, for a kindergarten readiness summer camp for 50 students and their parents in the Akron Public Schools Buchtel cluster, $22,000
  • Project LEARN of Summit County, to reduce the number of students waiting for classroom GED instruction by providing appropriate distance-learning and accelerated GED preparation options, $20,000
  • The Research Education & Charitable Association for the Benefit of the Chefs & Farmers (Veggie U.), to purchase Earth to Table science kits, which teach fourth-graders in Akron Public Schools about sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, $10,000
  • Summit Education Initiative, for Destination College, which prepares students at six local high schools for college by helping them improve their ACT scores, complete their applications, and apply for financial aid, $20,000
  • Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, to support the Dropout Recovery Program, which provides academic and employment support to Summit County youth who have dropped out of high school, $10,000
  • Twinsburg City School District, for the Project Star summer reading program, which aims to improve reading proficiency in elementary school students who are reading below grade level, $10,000
  • Young Men’s Christian Association of Akron, to provide after-school programming that teaches social skills and healthy behaviors to at-risk girls, many of whom are referred from juvenile court, $7,500
2010 Education Grants

In 2010, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $384,500 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

2009 Education Grants

In 2009, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $441,000 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

2008 Education Grants

In 2008, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $403,501 to 30 nonprofit organizations:

2007 Education Grants

In 2007, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $274,852 to 23 nonprofit organizations:

2006 Education Grants

In 2006, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $339,613 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

2005 Education Grants

In 2005, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $270,250 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

2004 Education Grants

In 2004, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $370,367 to 22 nonprofit organizations:

2003 Education Grants

In 2003, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $254,879 to 20 nonprofit organizations:

2002 Education Grants

In 2002, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $193,815 to 14 nonprofit organizations:

2001 Education Grants

In 2001, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $210,690 to 18 nonprofit organizations:

2000 Education Grants

In 2000, Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $183,005 to 16 nonprofit organizations:

  • Akron Public Schools, to support the Multi-Sensory Room, an educational resource center designed to improve the educational experiences of students with disabilities at Barrett Academy, $10,016
  • BICEE Neighborhood Community Development, for an educational enrichment program for youth and adults in the Elizabeth Park/North Hill area, $10,000
  • Cascade Locks Park Association, for educational exhibits at the Mustill House, a historic preservation site at Lock 15 on the Ohio and Erie Canal, $30,000
  • City of Akron, Akron Health Department, to support rock wall and ropes challenge course experiences for adjudicated adolescents, $5,240
  • Heart to Heart Communications Inc., to support seminars that improve interpersonal and workplace communications in Summit County nonprofit organizations, $4,500
  • Jerome Lippman Jewish Community Day School, to support an urban environmental education and cooperative learning project for public and private school students, $9,374
  • Junior Achievement, to conduct a feasibility study for Exchange City Akron, which features a life-size replica of a working city that reinforces economic studies for fifth- and sixth-grade students, $10,000
  • Leadership Akron, for the annual orientation retreat, $14,000
  • National Conference for Community and Justice, to expand "It’s Your Move," a student-driven diversity and leadership training program, into additional Summit County schools, $12,500
  • Parent Coalition for Persons with Disabilities, to support the organization’s relocation as part of a strategic alliance of grassroots organizations serving people with disabilities, $20,000
  • Project LEARN of Summit County, for partial funding of a comprehensive student retention project to assist adult learners with motivation, planning, time-management and goal-setting skills, $10,000
  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul/Akron Council, to support the food pantry, homeless shelter and educational programs operated by the St. Bernard Conference in downtown Akron, $5,000
  • South Arlington United Methodist Church, for the Children of Promise program, which teaches conflict resolution skills to children ages 5-11, $3,000
  • Summit Christian School Inc., to support summer basketball and computer programs for youth in the North Hill area, $5,450
  • Summit County Children Services Board, for partial funding of an educational coordinator and technical support for Crouse Caring Community and Erie Island Caring Community, $10,000
  • University of Akron, to produce "Protecting and Nurturing the Children," a series of educational, counseling and mediation programs for children and parents in high-conflict custody cases, $23,925

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