Is your group on the list? Akron Community Foundation awards $3.8 million in grants

Akron Community Foundation has awarded $3.8 million in quarterly grants to benefit local nonprofit groups.

Nearly 50 groups will receive funds for civic affairs programs:

Akron Cooperative Farms: $5,000 to support urban farming, sustainable growing practices and education, and community building in Greater Akron and North Hill.

Akron Development Corp.: $10,000 to support local community development corporations through technical assistance and coaching, along with convening funders and other sector partners.

Akron Marathon: $10,000 for support of the Akron Marathon Race Series, along with a health and wellness initiative for Summit County businesses and organizations.

Akron Parks Collaborative: $6,000 to support Friends of Parks groups and their work in planning programming and beautification for neighborhood parks.

Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs: $12,000 to provide financial assistance for children and adults with special needs to attend camp.

Akron Urban Agriculture: $2,500 to support Akron Urban Farms, which provides education, marketing, training and volunteers for gardeners and urban farmers.

Akron Urban League: $35,000 for operating support in areas of workforce development, entrepreneurship and education in Summit County.

Big Love Network: $7,500 to support Akron City Repair, creative placemaking projects that help residents better connect with their neighborhoods.

Business Volunteers Unlimited: $7,500 to subsidize capacity-building services in Summit County that include consulting, IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and access) initiatives, and leadership training services.

CASA Board Volunteer Association: $17,000 for operating support, including recruiting, screening, training and supporting community volunteers who serve as advocates for abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court.

Cascade Locks Park Association: $7,500 to support the design and implementation of several murals along the Towpath Trail at the Lock 15 Trailhead.

Community Life Collaborative: $5,000 to support “Bees, Bugs and Butterflies: How Pollinators Help the Cuyahoga Region Bloom” exhibit, pollinator gardens and programs.

Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park: $45,000 for operating support, and for the former Brandywine Golf Course.

ConxusNEO: $20,000 to support a connected talent ecosystem and build a thriving workforce through work-based and experiential learning, employee-led activities and other initiatives.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: $31,000 for operating support, including relocating operations to Peninsula and a temporary maintenance shop, along with affordable programming for residents, educational field trips and maintenance of vintage rail equipment.

Downtown Akron Partnership: $20,000 for operating support for downtown Akron planning, business attraction, residential occupancy, public space enhancement and economic development initiatives.

Dr. Bob’s Home: $5,000 for general support for the upkeep of Alcoholics Anonymous founder Dr. Bob's home, along with surrounding properties.

The Economic and Community Development Institute: $8,500 to support Akron area small-business owners through financing, workshops, events and training.

Fighting To Understand: $5,000 to help develop the Dinner-and-a-Fight (Dialogue) through collaboration with other organizations, and expand use of digital democracy tools to form a disagreement-learning community.

First Congregational Church of Hudson: $10,000 to support the First Serve summer intern program.

Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve: $5,000 for operating support, including programs, displays, guided hikes, restoration of historic and natural features, and educational resources.

First Tee of Greater Akron: $7,500 to support the continuation of intern programming.

Fund for Our Economic Future of Northeast Ohio: $32,000 for support of inclusive economic development, including relationship-building initiatives, tools and analysis, and other resources.

Habitat for Humanity of Summit County: $15,000 to support neighborhood revitalization initiatives, like Neighborhood Network; affordable new home construction; and selling salvaged materials through ReStore retail outlets.

Heart to Heart Leadership: $8,500 to support up to 10 leaders from diverse backgrounds to participate in the Purposeful Leadership Program.

Humane Society of Summit County: $20,000 for animal intake care, vaccination, testing and microchipping of Summit County’s rescued cats and dogs.

Ideastream Public Media: $8,500 to support community interest public media coverage and engagement in Summit County.

International Soap Box Derby: $29,000 for operating support to continue Soap Box Derby races and educational programs, like STEM Team Competition and summer camps.

International Welcome Center: $3,000 to support operations and programs assisting refugees/immigrants, like legal services, household items, life skills and transportation.

Jump On Board for Success: $5,750 to support a job skills training and mentoring program for low-income girls and women ages 13-35.

Keep Akron Beautiful: $15,000 to support litter removal, illegal dumping removal and community cleanups.

Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance: $17,500 to support the ongoing revitalization of the Kenmore community and Akron’s largest neighborhood business district, Kenmore Boulevard.

Leadership Akron: $14,000 to support the Signature Class 41 Opening Retreat and the Junior Class 37 Philanthropy Day.

Legacies of Success Community Development Corp.: $5,750 to support affordable homeownership in the North Hill neighborhood.

North Akron Community Development Corp.: $17,500 for operating support, including support of entrepreneurial growth and creating sustainable public spaces.

Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition: $15,000 to support the Akron Civic Commons, Summit Lake Environmental Stewardship program.

Safety Forces Support Center: $10,000 for mental health counseling and peer support services for first responders in Summit County.

SCORE: $13,500 to provide counseling and workshops for small businesses and startups in Greater Akron.

Shanti Community Farms: $5,000 to support Yard Corps Youth in outdoor maintenance work, career training and performance arts.

Signal Ohio: $25,000 to support the launch of Signal Akron, a local newsroom serving Akron communities that is anchored in and reflective of residents’ needs.

South Street Ministries: $20,000 to support reentry and community engagement.

Summit Metro Parks Foundation: $12,500 for community-responsive programming at the Summit Lake Nature Center.

Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners: $2,500 to support the development and implementation of a new program and certificate for Summit County high school students.

Torchbearers: $5,000 to support the Envisioning Waters Park Community Amphitheater Shelter program.

Truly Reaching You: $11,000 to support successful reentry for men through employment skills training.

Well Community Development Corp.: $17,500 to help support career development training courses to enable residents to participate in traditional job searches, along with peer-to-peer support and other activities.

Western Reserve Community Fund Inc.: $5,000 for operations, including restoring habitats, and creating healthy urban environments with greenspaces and natural areas.

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 nearly $260 million with a growing family of more than 810 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life.

For more information about Akron Community Foundation, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.akroncf.org.

More: Akron Community Foundation awards nearly $4 million in quarterly grants

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Community Foundation awards quarterly grants