Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund awards record $25,800 in annual grants to nonprofits serving women, children
Grants support the educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic and personal growth of local women and children.
The Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation awarded $25,800 in grants to nine nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of Medina County’s women and children. This year’s round of grants represents the largest amount awarded in a single year in the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund’s 23-year history. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $244,000 in grants to support local women and children.
Fund officials announced its 2021 grantees during the fund’s signature event, Seasons of Giving, which was hosted virtually on June 10.
This year’s funding includes a $4,131 grant to Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E, to support the Teen Performance Driving – Avoiding the Crash program to teach young drivers important skills to safely pilot a vehicle.
"These funds will give more Medina County teens the opportunity to become safer drivers by offering more classes throughout the year within our program," said Sharon Baker, co-founder and CEO of Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E. "It is our passion to provide better driver education to our teens and to give them the skills they need to become more educated drivers."
The Teen Performance Driving – Avoiding the Crash program, is a four-hour instructional school to help young drivers learn important skills to stay safe on the road. Driving skills taught through the program include proper hand and steering techniques, skid and crash avoidance, winter driving skills, and emergency braking techniques. Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E. also offers scholarships for teens interested in the program who are between 15 ½ - 19 years of age, hold a valid driver’s permit or license, and submit a class application.
Another grant of $2,500 was awarded to Jobs for Ohio's Graduates to provide appropriate work attire and basic needs for women and girls in Medina County.
"Receiving this grant validates the work we do, and have done, every day for more than 30 years in Medina County," said Chris Canova, executive director of Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates. "We really appreciate the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund’s support to improve the lives of local women and children."
Jobs for Ohio Graduates teaches its clients the skills, values, attitudes, and habits to become successful, contributing member of society. The organization works to support positive job rates and placement through middle school academic and career pathways, high school dropout prevention and education, employment resource centers, leadership and career development conferences, and more.
Other grants from the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund this year will support the educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic and personal growth of local women and children.
"We were thrilled to once again announce our grantees during our annual Seasons of Giving event, which was postposed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Amy Immel, advisory board chair of the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund. "These grantees deserve community-wide recognition for their important work. We’re proud to offer our support to these local nonprofits and fulfill our mission to improve the lives of women and children in Medina County."
The following is a full list of organizations receiving grants in 2021:
Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties, to help renovate its Medina County shelter and provide safe housing suites for victims and families of domestic abuse, $5,000
Discover Church, to provide food and essential household items through the helping hand pantry program, $1,000
Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide appropriate work attire and basic needs for women and girls in Medina County, $2,500
Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E, to support the Teen Performance Driving – Avoiding the Crash program to teach young drivers important skills to safely pilot a vehicle, $4,131
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support Medina County girls' engagement in outdoor recreation and camping, $3,669
OPEN-Bees, to provide professional advocacy services for exceptional children, who often find it challenging to navigate through school and extracurricular activities, $2,500
Project: LEARN of Medina County, to provide books and software for English as a second language students in Medina County, $2,000
Recovery Center of Medina County, to provide activities and programs for individuals recovering from addiction and their families, $2,500
Stewart’s Caring Place, to support cancer wellness services for Medina County women, $2,500