In 2020, Akron Community Foundation awarded $584,000* in competitive Health & Human Services cycle grants to programs that meet the basic needs of area residents, including those that address homelessness, food insecurity, domestic violence and more.
- A Kid Again Northern Ohio, to offer destination adventures for families of children with life-threatening illnesses, $5,500
- ACCESS, to provide services to women facing homelessness, including short-term secure housing, case management, health counseling and job readiness training, $21,500
- Akron Blind Center, to offer programs, resources and classes for blind and visually impaired individuals in Summit County, including Braille, computer literacy, physical fitness, crafts and volunteerism, $9,000
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support food distribution in Summit County, as well as the 2021 Feeding Kids Initiative, a backpack and after-school snack program for local children, $41,500
- Akron Children’s Hospital, to expand the Reach Out and Read program to focus on infants and children with autism, ADHD, developmental delays, anxiety, behavior problems, and spina bifida, $7,500
- American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties, to support disaster preparedness, response and recovery services in Summit County, $15,000
- Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support children and adults on the autism spectrum, $5,500
- Battered Women's Shelter, to support crisis intervention services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, $35,000
- Birthing Beautiful Communities, to address and improve the systemic and community structures that lead to poor birth outcomes through education, advocacy, support programs and community engagement, $3,500
- Bobby Tripodi Foundation, to provide specialized bereavement support groups and grief therapy for those in need, $1,000
- Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, to support mentoring and workforce development programs for former offenders in Summit County to help eliminate barriers that lead to recidivism, $10,000
- Caring Hands Charity, to provide hot meals to venerable individuals living in Summit County, $2,500
- Catholic Charities of Summit County, to support the 2021 Emergency Assistance Program, which offers rent and utility assistance to residents in need, $15,000
- Celiac and Allergy Friendly Food Initiative, to support a food pantry serving allergy-friendly food to low-income families, $2,500
- Chair-ity, Inc, to provide furniture and household goods to young adults who have aged out of foster care systems in Summit County, $7,500
- Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide clothing for low-income students, $10,500
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to support training to mitigate unconscious bias towards patients living in generational poverty, $2,000
- Community Legal Aid Services, to support the HEAL project, a medical-legal partnership that represents patients and families when issues like education, housing and public benefits threaten their health, $25,000
- CORE Furniture Bank, to provide donated furniture to Summit County families in need, $9,000
- Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, to expand food access programs at Summit County farmers markets and help alleviate food insecurity due to increased needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, $12,500
- Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in underserved families, $3,500
- Empower Her Network, to provide support and empowerment for two Akron survivors of human trafficking, $6,000
- Family & Community Services, to address senior hunger in Summit County by providing home-delivered and congregate meals through the Mobile Meals program, $20,000
- Family Promise of Summit County, to help homeless families with children remain together and achieve lasting independence, $9,000
- First Glance Student Center, to support mentoring and outreach programs for at-risk teens in Kenmore, $8,500
- Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to provide bereavement items for families who have experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth at Akron-area hospitals, $3,000
- Freedom House for Women, to decrease addiction and homelessness in Summit County women by providing substance abuse treatment, recovery housing, and support services, $8,000
- Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a physical activity-based youth development program that promotes confidence and healthy choices for girls in high-poverty neighborhoods throughout Summit County, $9,000
- Grace House Akron, to support access to end-of-life care for low- to moderate-income residents in Greater Akron, $6,500
- GriefCare Place, to provide free support group counseling and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $2,500
- Harmony House, to provide housing and supportive services to homeless youth in Summit County, $5,500
- IBH Addiction Recovery Center, to track the long-term, post-treatment success of clients who have completed the residential substance abuse treatment program, $10,000
- International Institute of Akron, to provide mental health services and case management for refugees and immigrants with significant barriers to economic and social stability, $15,000
- Jewish Family Service of Akron, to support the Happy, Healthy and At Home program, which offers case management, information referrals, counseling and other critical services for Summit County senior citizens, $10,000
- Let's Grow Akron, to provide affordable and locally grown healthy food for low-income residents in Greater Akron’s urban areas, $12,500
- NAMI Summit County, to provide basic household items to residents with serious mental illness who are transitioning from homelessness, group home living, or incarceration, $5,000
- Open Arms Adoptions, to support the Keeping Siblings Together by Adoption, community outreach and education program to increase the rate of sibling group adoptions, $6,000
- OPEN M, to support the organization’s free clinics and pharmacies for uninsured and underserved residents of Summit County, $18,000
- Pegasus Farm, to support rehabilitation, mental health services and additional therapy at the Military Family Center, $4,000
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to provide low-income women at the Akron Health Center with long-acting reversible contraception, $20,000
- Prevent Blindness Ohio, to provide vision care for at-risk individuals in Summit County, $7,500
- RAHAB Ministries, to support outreach, mentoring and safe housing for victims of human trafficking, $20,000
- Red Oak Behavioral Health, to expand its mental health programs through family therapy, $5,000
- Ronald McDonald House Akron, to provide a home away from home for families with children receiving care at Akron Children’s Hospital or nearby medical facilities, $10,000
- Second Chance Village, to lease a rest center to provide food, support and hygiene needs for unhoused adults in East Akron, $2,500
- Shelter Care, Inc., to support the Safe Landing Youth Shelter Program, providing immediate assistance to youth and families in a time of crisis to prevent involvement in the juvenile court system and youth homelessness, $3,500
- Stewart’s Caring Place, to offer support groups and educational programs for residents affected by cancer, $5,000
- Summit County Community Partnership, to support the Deterra Project, which reduces access to unused and expired opiates by providing drug deactivation pouches that safely neutralize prescription medicines, $10,000
- Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, to provide education, legal assistance, mentoring and other support services for fathers in Summit County who have previously been incarcerated or estranged from their children, $14,000
- United Disability Services, to provide employment services, including skills assessments and interview training, for Summit County residents with severe disabilities, $15,000
- United Way of Summit County, to help residents navigate health and social services available in Summit and Medina Counties through the 2-1-1 information and referral helpline, $15,000
- VANTAGE Aging, to help older adults remain in their homes by providing in-home assistance, including personal care, cleaning, grocery shopping and other critical services, $18,500
- Victim Assistance Program, to provide 24-hour support and advocacy for victims of crime and sudden trauma, $20,000
- Victory Gallop, to support therapeutic horseback riding programs for children with behavioral challenges and life-threatening illnesses, $6,000
- Whitehawk Ranch, to provide life-skills training to promote emotional resilience, heathy lifestyles and goal setting for homeless youth, $2,500
- Women's Auxiliary Board, Summit County Children Services, to promote safer sleeping conditions by providing beds for kids in the care of children’s services, $6,000
*Includes contributions through Akron Community Foundation's co-investment program, which enables donor-advised fundholders to review the board's competitive grant applications and support initiatives that align with their charitable interests.