In 2022, Akron Community Foundation awarded $726,609* in competitive Health & Human Services cycle grants to 66 programs that meet the basic needs of area residents, including those that address homelessness, food insecurity, injury prevention and more.
- A Kid Again Northern Ohio, to support therapeutic recreation opportunities for families with children who have life-threatening conditions, $5,750
- ACCESS, to support the emergency shelter for unhoused women and children, $19,500
- Akron Blind Center, to offer programs, resources, and classes for the blind and visually impaired in Summit County, including braille, computer literacy, physical fitness, crafts, and volunteerism, $10,000
- Akron Children’s Hospital, to support child injury prevention through home safety kits for low-income families, $8,000
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support food distribution and hunger relief programs in Summit County, $46,000
- American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, to support disaster cycle services in Summit County, including preparedness classes, disaster response and recovery assistance, $15,000
- Asian Services In Action, Inc. (ASIA), to imbed mental health programming and activities within the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP) that serves immigrants and refugee youth, $17,500
- Autism Society of Greater Akron, to expand inclusive social and recreational opportunities for individuals with autism, $5,000
- AxessPointe Community Health Centers, to support health and wellness in individuals from marginalized communities throughout Summit County through medical care, education, and outreach, $12,000
- Battered Women's Shelter, to support crisis intervention services for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence, $37,500
- Ben Curtis Family Foundation, to address the food insecurity of children and families in Summit County by providing non-perishable meals and other items to local students, $2,500
- 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, $12,500
- Buddy Up For Life, to offer tennis, fitness, and summer camps for people with Down Syndrome, $2,000
- Canine Companions, to provide service dogs at no cost to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities in Summit County, $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, $17,500
- Celiac and Allergy Friendly Food Initiative, to support a food pantry that serves allergy-friendly food to low-income families, $3,000
- Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide school appropriate clothing to low-income students, $11,000
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to improve healthcare access for refugees in the North Hill neighborhood, including referrals, health screenings, and Medicaid enrollments, $10,750
- Community Legal Aid Services, to support Project HEAL, a medical-legal partnership that helps families whose legal needs have adverse effects on their health, $25,000
- CORE Furniture Bank, for operating support, like the transport and handling of donated furniture for families in need in Summit County, $9,000
- Crown Point Ecology Center, to support increased fresh produce and vegetable plant donations to the community with farm interns, $10,000
- Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in poor and working poor families, $4,000
- Empower Her Network, to help human trafficking survivors achieve fiscal independence, $13,000
- Family and Community Services, to address senior hunger in Summit County by providing home-delivered and congregate meals, $20,000
- Family Promise of Summit County, for the Survive to Thrive program, which helps families facing homelessness achieve sustainable homeownership, $10,000
- First Glance Student Center, to support mentoring and outreach programs for teens in Kenmore, $8,000
- Forever R Children, to assist children and their immediate families with basic food needs, $2,500
- Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to support Akron hospitals’ pregnancy bereavement program for families that experience a loss during pregnancy or childbirth, $5,000
- 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, $10,500
- Girls On the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a physical activity-based youth development program for Summit County girls in high poverty neighborhoods that integrates running with an interactive curriculum that promotes confidence, character, and contribution, $9,750
- Grace House Akron, to provide access to end-of-life care for low- to moderate-income residents in Greater Akron, $6,000
- Greenleaf Family Center, to expand the PEERS program to meet the growing need for support by parents of children challenged with mental health and other complex needs, $11,000
- 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, to provide case management, independent living skills development, legal support, financial literacy, and employment and career advancement for young people ages 18-26 facing homelessness, $8,250
- H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to provide support programming for young people whose families are living in the organization’s permanent supportive housing while transitioning out of homelessness, $6,000
- Hope United, to support families grieving the loss of a loved one to overdose or addiction, $5,000
- International Institute of Akron, to support an extended social services program for refugees and immigrants, $21,000
- IBH Addiction Recovery, for support of addiction treatment, including case management, referrals, and counseling, $10,000
- Jewish Family Service of Akron, to support general operations for older adult and mental health services in Akron, $10,000
- Let's Grow Akron, for operating support, including access to healthy food, for low-income residents, neighborhood farmers markets, community gardens, and educational programs, $12,500
- LINKS Community and Family Services, to support the LINKS Senior Connection Program, including meals, cognitive care, medical resources, and community activities, $12,500
- The Mode, to provide addiction treatment programs such as intensive outpatient, individual sessions, family education and support, and partial hospitalization, $5,000
- NAMI Summit County, to support the Reedy Housewarming Project, which provides new, basic household items for people with serious mental illness who are transitioning to independent living, $5,000
- Open Arms Adoptions, to support adoption of infants and children with special needs, along with the Keeping Siblings Together program, $7,000
- OPEN M, to support free medical and dental services for uninsured residents of Greater Akron, $23,000
- Pegasus Farm, to support the Military Family Center Equestrian Program, $2,500
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to support long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) for low-income women at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio’s Akron Health Center, $23,000
- Popeye's Boxing Gym, to promote the sport of boxing by providing opportunities to underprivileged children, adults, and families, $3,000
- Prevent Blindness Ohio, for the Vision Care Outreach Program, which offers vision screenings and access to eye care for high-risk individuals in Summit County, $8,000
- Project Outrun, to provide custom shoes and apparel that empower and strengthen children and their families as they battle life threatening illnesses, $5,000
- RAHAB Ministries, for intervention services for victims of human trafficking, $20,000
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, to support Summit County families staying together and near their hospitalized children, $10,000
- Safe Families for Children Alliance, to help reduce the number of children in foster care in Summit County by mentoring parents and helping families in crisis, $5,000
- Sarah's House, to support the continuation of Senior Community Circles, a program that allows the older adult population to gather for guest speakers, social interaction, and activities, $2,500
- Second Chance Village, to support mobile services for local people facing homelessness, $2,500
- South Street Ministries, for Summit County outreach, $4,000
- Stewart’s Caring Place, to create awareness of free support services available to individuals and families impacted by cancer in low-income, minority, refugee, and LGBTQ+ communities, $5,000
- Summit County Community Partnership, to support the Deterra Project, providing free medicine disposal bags and educational materials to help residents safely use, store, and dispose of unused prescription medicine, $10,359
- Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, to support free fatherhood classes and services through a community partnership, $15,000
- 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, for support of Home Wellness Solutions, which includes home care, Meals on Wheels, behavioral health, and other services to help older adults remain in their homes, $21,000
- Victim Assistance Program, to assist individuals who are victimized by crime, and those who have experienced trauma, through advocacy, education, and support, $20,000
- Victory Gallop, to support a therapeutic horseback riding program for children ages 3 through 18 who face behavioral challenges and illness, $6,250
- Women Revived Ministries, to support the Total Life Wellness program, which provides mentorship, professional development, and coaching for survivors of human trafficking, $3,000
- Women's Auxiliary Board, Summit County Children Services, to support the Beds for Kids Program, which aims to help prevent rollover deaths by giving out beds and cribs to at-risk children, $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.