In 2021, Akron Community Foundation awarded $676,050* 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, $5,250
- ACCESS, to provide services to women facing homelessness, including short-term secure housing, case management, health counseling and job readiness training, $20,000
- 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, $10,000
- Akron Municipal Court, to host a virtual "Mental Health for Moms Summit" which will address postpartum depression, $2,500
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support food distribution in Summit County, as well as the 2022 Feeding Kids Initiative, a backpack and after-school snack program for local children, $51,200
- Akron Children's Hospital, to provide specialty adaptive car seats to children with disabilities, $7,500
- American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties, to support disaster preparedness, response and recovery services in Summit County, $15,000
- Asian Services In Action, Inc. (ASIA), to support legal and advocacy services to immigrants subjected to any type of victimization, $15,000
- Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support children and adults on the autism spectrum, $5,000
- Battered Women's Shelter, to support crisis intervention services for domestic and/or sexual violence survivors, $35,000
- Ben Curtis Family Foundation, to address the food insecurity of children and families in Summit County, $2,500
- Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, to support addiction recovery, mentoring, and workforce development services in Summit County, $12,500
- Buddy Up For Life, to support tiered educational programs for children with Down syndrome through tennis and fitness activities, $2,000
- Catholic Charities of Summit County, to support the 2022 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
- Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide clothing for low-income students, $10,000
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to support improving social determinates of health for inpatients from surrounding zip codes, $11,500
- 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
- Crown Point Ecology Center, to support farmer and intern training and increase fresh produce and vegetable plant donations to the community, $7,500
- Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, to support and expand food access programs at Summit County farmers markets, $10,000
- Embracing Futures, to provide orthodontic treatment for children in under-resourced families, $4,250
- Empower Her Network, to provide financial independence education and programing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, $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, $8,700
- Forget-Me-Not Baskets, to provide bereavement items for families who have experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth at Akron-area hospitals, $4,000
- Freedom House for Women, to decrease addiction and homelessness in Summit County women by providing substance abuse treatment, recovery housing, and support services, $10,500
- 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, $9,250
- Grace House Akron, to support access to end-of-life care for low- to moderate-income residents in Greater Akron, $7,750
- GriefCare Place, to provide free support group counseling and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $4,000
- Guy's and Gal's Community Partnership, to provide free health screenings at Hoop for Coop basketball and recreation events, $10,000
- Hope Meadows Foundation, to provide mental health services through equine-assisted psychotherapy, $3,000
- IBH Addiction Recovery Center, to track the long-term, post-treatment success of clients who have completed the residential substance abuse treatment program, $12,000
- International Institute of Akron (IIA), to support comprehensive legal services for Afghan evacuees resettling to the Akron area, $16,200
- Jewish Family Service of Akron, to offer case management, information referrals, counseling and other critical services for older adults in Summit County, $10,000
- Let's Get Healthy Cleveland, to support education and outreach programs addressing cardiovascular health, opioid overdoses & vaping issues in Akron, $5,000
- Let's Grow Akron, to provide affordable and locally grown healthy food for low-income residents in Greater Akron’s urban areas, $11,000
- LINKS Community and Family Services, to support the Senior Connection Program, bridging the gap between community connections and services for aging adults, $10,750
- Love Akron, to connect, convene and collaborate with other Greater Akron organizations to help the community thrive, $10,000
- 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
- OhioGuidestone, to support trauma-focused mental health programming in Summit County, $5,000
- Open Arms Adoptions, to support Keeping Siblings Together by Adoption, a community outreach and education program to increase the rate of sibling group adoptions, $5,000
- OPEN M, to support the organization’s free clinics and pharmacies for uninsured and underserved residents of Summit County, $18,500
- Our Lady of the Wayside, to provide professional care, support and guidance for individuals with developmental disabilities, $1,000
- Pegasus Farm, to support rehabilitation, mental health services and additional therapy at the Military Family Center, $2,500
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to provide women at the Akron Health Center with long-acting reversible contraception, $20,500
- Prevent Blindness Ohio, to provide vision care for at-risk individuals in Summit County, $8,500
- RAHAB Ministries, to support outreach, mentoring and safe housing for victims of human trafficking, $20,000
- Red Oak Behavioral Health, to embed intentional efforts toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout its therapy services, $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
- Safe Harbor Norton, to offer non-sectarian recovery environment for men in recovery of all ages, $5,000
- Second Chance Village, to lease a rest center to provide food, support and hygiene needs for unhoused adults in East Akron, $3,250
- 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, $2,500
- Stewart’s Caring Place, to offer support groups and educational programs for residents affected by cancer, $6,000
- Summa Health, to determine if patients would benefit from a medical-legal partnership (MLP) with Community Legal Aid to address social determinants of health, $7,500
- 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, $15,750
- 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, $17,000
- 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, $21,700
- 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, $7,500
- Women Revived Ministries, to provide a safe and supportive space for human-trafficking survivors, $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.