Stories: Grantee Stories

As a retired Akron police officer, John Bailey has seen his share of criminal activity. Much of this activity is the result of repeat offenders with tumultuous backgrounds, some stretching as far back as childhood.  Now, as a part-time deputy with the...

Pregnancy changes everything. That's what nearly 75 teenage girls in Kenmore are discovering as they navigate the challenges of motherhood with the help of Teen Moms. The program, which started with just a few girls meeting in the back of a funeral home, has...

It's 2 p.m. and Amanda is just waking up. She's been sleeping a lot lately – sometimes 12 or more hours a day – and she can't seem to find the energy to care for her young children. She knows she needs help, but it isn't until a home visitor from Akron...

Having active fathers in children's lives can make all the difference between success and failure for that child. And a new Fatherhood Initiative facilitated by Akron Community Foundation will combine the services of three prominent organizations to provide...

While families all over greater Akron gather around their fireplaces this holiday season, a chilling fact remains: Local women and children living in poverty are being displaced from their homes due to chemical dependency and substance abuse. Last year, Akron...

A few short years ago, Gabrielle Blackshear was a single mom struggling to support her family. Like many young women, she had poor credit and did not understand how to live on a budget or manage her finances. All of that changed, however, when she found...

Imagine waking up at 3 a.m. every day to get to work. This is a reality for many of the clients at H.M. Life Opportunity Services in Akron who have recently escaped homelessness and have no individual method of transportation. To get to work, these clients...

Sept. 11, 2007, is a day Akron resident Nikki Washington will never forget. It was on this day that Nikki took back her independence and walked through the doors of the Battered Women's Shelter with her five children. From the outside, Nikki looked like a...

Do you know where your next meal is coming from? For thousands of people in Summit County, the answer is no. Now more than ever, families need help putting food on the table, and Akron Community Foundation is stepping up to the plate through grants to...

Growing up as a young boy in a single-parent home, Donald Lykes lacked a strong father figure. Without a male role model, Lykes said he grew up not knowing how to be a father - or more accurately, a "dad" - and was unprepared for the responsibilities of...