Millennium Fund for Children now accepting grant proposals
The Millennium Fund for Children of Akron Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of local children. Qualified nonprofits are eligible to receive up to $2,000 in grants.
Established at the end of 1999, the Millennium Fund for Children is a permanent endowment created through a partnership between Akron Community Foundation and the Akron Beacon Journal with the goal of using small grants to make a big difference. Each year, a selection committee composed of fund donors recommends grants for children's programs throughout the Akron Beacon Journal/Beaconjournal.com's audience coverage area, which includes Summit, Portage, Medina, Stark, Wayne and Cuyahoga counties.
Last year, the Millennium Fund awarded 33 grants totaling $55,000 to support arts, education and health programs for local youth. Recent grants have provided supplies for the Akron Blind Center's backpack program, supported a kindergarten readiness program for immigrant and refugee children at Urban Vision Ministry, funded the creation of a healing garden at the Battered Women's Shelter, and more. For a complete list of grants awarded last year, visit akroncf.org/MillenniumGrants.
Grant requests should be submitted online by Sept. 1. A link to the application is available at akroncf.org/ApplyMillennium. Questions about the online application process should be directed to John Garofalo, vice president of community investment, at 330-436-5624 or jgarofalo@akroncf.org.
Businesses can commit to supporting local children by becoming a corporate sponsor of the Millennium Fund. Sponsorships are fully tax deductible and include special recognition in the fund's newsletter, press releases and other marketing materials. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, contact Deb Hoffman at 330-436-5614 or dhoffman@akroncf.org. Sponsorships must be received by Nov. 1 to be included in promotional materials.
About the Millennium Fund for Children
The Millennium Fund for Children is a permanent endowment that was founded in 1999 as a partnership between Akron Community Foundation and the Akron Beacon Journal. It supports arts, civic, education, and health and human services programs for children living in the Akron Beacon Journal/Beaconjournal.com's audience coverage area. Its mission is to make grants where even a small amount can make a difference. Since its establishment, the Millennium Fund has grown to more than $1.2 million and awarded nearly $950,000 in grants. Last year, contributions totaling nearly $40,000 from nearly 150 generous donors added to the fund. For more information, or to contribute to the Millennium Fund for Children, visit akroncf.org/Millennium or call 330-376-8522.
About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 68 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of more than $265 million with a growing family of more than 820 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded more than $223 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.