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In 2024, Akron Community Foundation awarded $812,750* in competitive Health & Human Services cycle grants to 82 programs that meet the basic needs of area residents, including those that address mental health, substance use disorders, housing and more.

  • A Kid Again Northern Ohio, to maintain adventure programming for Summit County families, providing children with life-threatening conditions and their families with visits to the Cleveland/Akron zoos, Cedar Point, Akron RubberDucks games and more, $5,000
  • ACCESS, for emergency shelter for women and women with children experiencing homelessness, $22,250
  • Akron Blind Center, to offer programs, resources and classes for people who are blind and visually impaired in Summit County, including Braille, computer literacy, physical fitness, crafts and volunteerism, $10,000
  • Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support the Venarge Family Food Pantry and Summit County Direct Distribution Program, which will distribute more than 900,000 pounds of food through four hunger relief partners who serve as a lifeline in their communities, $46,000
  • Akron Children's Hospital, to support a firearm lockbox pilot program to help reduce gun violence and unintentional injury in Summit County, $8,000
  • American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, to support disaster cycle services in Summit County, including preparedness classes, disaster response and recovery assistance, $17,500
  • ARC Recovery Services, to support individuals in early recovery from substance use disorder, $7,500
  • Assuage HER, to help create a safe space for women's mental health and wellness, with a particular focus on women of color, $2,500
  • Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support social and recreational opportunities that decrease feelings of isolation for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, $5,000
  • AxessPointe Community Health Centers, to support a new joint initiative addressing hunger among seniors and individuals with disabilities in Summit County, while integrating community health workers to tackle social determinants of health, $35,000
  • Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, to expand access to medications, vaccinations, and pharmaceutical education to Summit County, $5,000
  • Ben Curtis Family Foundation, to address the food insecurity of children and families in Summit County by distributing Birdie Bags, which contain nonperishable meals and snacks, at local schools, $5,500
  • Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, to support programs like residential recovery, mentoring and workforce development for former offenders in Summit County, helping to remove barriers that lead to recidivism, $13,000
  • Buddy Up For Life, to support a pickleball clinic for individuals 12 and over who have Down Syndrome, $1,500
  • Canine Companions, to match and support service dog and facility dog teams in Summit County, $3,000
  • Carve Your Own Path, for inclusive, trauma-responsive counseling services for individuals who are marginalized and have low incomes, $5,000
  • Catholic Charities of Summit County, to support emergency assistance services, like medical bills, home repairs, medical supplies, phone bills and other basic needs, $18,500
  • Celiac and Allergy Friendly Food Initiative, to support a food pantry that serves allergy-friendly food to families with low incomes, $5,000
  • Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide school-appropriate clothing for students in need, $11,750
  • Community Legal Aid Services, to support the HEAL medical-legal partnership work in Summit County, helping families whose legal needs have adverse effects on their health, $25,000
  • Community Support Services, for holiday backpacks for clients that include basic needs essentials, $1,500
  • CORE Furniture Bank, for operating support, including the transport and handling of donated furniture for families in need in Summit County, $10,000
  • Crown Point Ecology Center, to support increased fresh produce and vegetable plant donations to the community by training farm crew members and purchasing farm supplies, $10,000
  • Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in need, $4,000
  • Empowered Network, to support Akron trafficking survivors on paths to fiscal independence, $6,500
  • Family Promise of Summit County, for the Survive to Thrive program, which provides homes for families facing homelessness, $15,000
  • Flying Horse Farms, to support programming costs for campers from Summit County, offering activities like a high ropes course, zip lines, fishing, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts and a "Campitheater" for children who face severe medical conditions, $2,500
  • Forever Amber Acres Animal Sanctuary, to support the further expansion of health initiatives for veterans in Summit County, $2,000
  • Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to provide grief support, comfort and remembrance items for Summit County families who experience the loss of a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, $4,000
  • Freedom House for Women, to decrease the barriers of addiction and homelessness by providing substance abuse treatment, recovery housing and supportive services to women in Summit County, $10,000
  • Friends in Tents, to support Summit County outreach and mobile food distribution to homeless camps, $3,000
  • Girls On the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a physical activity-based youth development program for Summit County girls in high-poverty neighborhoods with an interactive curriculum that promotes confidence, character and contribution, $9,000
  • Good Neighbors Inc., to support the Good Neighbors Pantry with personal hygiene products, $5,000
  • Good Samaritan Hunger Center, to support healthy nutrition through grocery distribution, and to address food insecurity for children and families through a weekend kids bag program, $5,750
  • Grace House Akron, to support caregiving, housing, and basic needs for unhoused individuals with a terminal illness, $6,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center, to support the PEERS (Parent Education, Empowerment, Resources, Support) program and strategic planning, $10,000
  • GriefCare Place, for support groups and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $3,000
  • Guy's and Gal's Community Partnership, to support the Hoop for Coop adult and youth health fair and basketball sports clinics, $10,000
  • Harmony House, for general operating support to help youth who are homeless, $8,500
  • Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, to support crisis intervention services for domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking survivors in Summit County, $36,000
  • Hope Meadows Foundation, to provide equine-assisted counseling to residents in recovery from addiction alongside their peer support specialist, $6,000
  • H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to support the creation of a new full-time specialized mental health therapist position, $6,000
  • IBH Addiction Recovery, for support of residential addiction treatment, including case management, referrals and counseling, $10,000
  • International Institute of Akron, to support housing services for refugees and immigrants, $23,000
  • Jewish Family Service of Akron, to provide continued support for older adults and mental health services, $10,000
  • Jin Huo Community Inc., to bring Asian immigrant and refugee elders and youth together who are affected by social isolation and loneliness due to language and culture, $2,500
  • JoAnna House II Inc., to support Recovery is a Process with the JoAnna House II Inc. Ohio Recovery House level II single women, $5,000
  • Kent State University Foundation Inc., to support Black perinatal women in Summit County who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by providing a culturally appropriate intervention that reduces PTSD and race-related stress, $5,000
  • Let's Grow Akron, to create and support community food gardens in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food, $14,000
  • LINKS Community and Family Services, to support the LINKS Senior Connection Program, including meals, cognitive care, medical resources, and community activities, $12,500
  • Loads of Faith - a Laundry Love Ministry, to cover the cost of laundromat services for low/no income residents of Akron, $1,500
  • Love Akron, to support mental health and wellness and empower young adults to reduce violence across Greater Akron, $5,000
  • NAMI Summit County, to support the Reedy Housewarming Project, which provides basic household items for people with a serious mental illness who are transitioning to independent living, $7,500
  • NEOMED, to support the student-run free clinic to provide integrated health care services to Summit County residents who are uninsured or underinsured, emphasizing behavioral health services for underserved communities in Northeast Ohio, $16,500
  • North Coast Community Homes, to support the Akron/Summit County Residential Services Program, which provides home goods and skill development programs for individuals with disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness, $3,000
  • Open Arms Adoptions, to support the recruitment of Summit County individuals and families to adopt children from foster care, $6,000
  • OPEN M, to support free medical and dental services for uninsured residents of Greater Akron, $22,000
  • Patricia Ann Cargill Charities, to support the Feeding, Educating, Empowering, Deliverance (FEED) program serving low-income residents in Greater Akron, $3,500
  • Pegasus Farm, to support the Military and First Responders Center's equestrian program, $3,000
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to ensure stable access to affordable contraception for Akron patients in need, $25,000
  • Popeye's Boxing Gym LLC, to support Popeye's youth violence prevention program, $5,000
  • Portage Path Behavioral Heath, to support the Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) Treatment Program by enhancing substance-use treatment and mental health program services, and increasing access to those most in need, $10,000
  • Prevent Blindness Ohio, for the Vision Care Outreach Program, which offers vision screenings and access to eye care for Summit County residents in need, $8,000
  • Project Outrun, to empower and strengthen kids and their families as they battle life-threatening illnesses with the help of custom shoes plus signature swag, $5,000
  • RAHAB Ministries, to support the Akron Drop-In Home for sex trafficking survivors, $20,000
  • Red Oak Behavioral Health, to support non-billable, school-based mental health prevention and treatment services, $15,000
  • Restore Addiction Recovery, for support of substance use recovery, including case management services for residents in a long-term residential setting, $5,000
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, to support Summit County families staying at the Ronald McDonald Akron House, $10,750
  • St. Mary Parish, to support the annual winter coat and winter boot initiative, $1,000
  • Salvation Army of Summit County, for the Community Table Hot Meals Program, $5,000
  • Second Chance Village, for the Peer Support Clubhouse and Mobile Outreach for people facing homelessness, $3,000
  • Stewart's Caring Place, to increase awareness of no-cost cancer support services in communities that experience cancer-related health disparities, $5,000
  • Summit County Community Partnership, to support the Deterra Project, which provides free medicine disposal bags and educational materials to help residents safely use, store and dispose of prescription medicine, $10,000
  • Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, to support free fatherhood classes and services through a community partnership, $15,500
  • Total Life Wellness, to support Total Life Wellness: Survivor Services, which includes safe housing and wraparound services, $5,000
  • Truth & Honor Inc., to support a recovery housing program for veterans, $2,500
  • United Disability Services, to support employment services like job exploration, skills assessment, interviewing and soft-skills training for Summit County residents with severe disabilities, $15,000
  • United Way of Summit & Medina, to support the 2-1-1 Information and Referral helpline for Summit County residents, $15,000
  • VANTAGE Aging, to support Home Wellness Solutions, which includes home care, Meals on Wheels, behavioral health, and other services to help older adults remain in their homes, $20,000
  • Victim Assistance Program, to assist individuals who have experienced crime or trauma through advocacy, education and support, $22,500
  • Victory Gallop, for operating support, including a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with behavioral challenges and life-threatening illnesses, $5,750
  • Women's Auxiliary Board, Summit County Children Services, to support the Beds for Kids Program, which aims to prevent rollover deaths by providing beds and cribs to families in need, $8,000

*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. 

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