Following months of an opiate epidemic that has permeated Summit County, Akron Community Foundation concentrated a portion of its competitive health and human services grant funding on programs focused on addiction prevention and recovery. Overall, the community foundation granted $512,800 to local health and human services programs chosen by the organization’s Community Investment Committee. The community foundation’s board approved these grants, as well as $1,565,943 in grants from 89 designated, donor-advised, agency endowment and scholarship funds, at its board meeting today.
One of the competitive health and human services grants will support Hidden in Plain Sight, an interactive program developed by the City of Akron Police Department to help parents identify signs of dangerous or illegal behavior in their children, particularly substance abuse. The program illustrates how everyday items such as deodorant and a computer mouse can be used as drug and alcohol paraphernalia.
“The crux of the program to me is to get the parents to talk to their kids, to open a dialogue about what’s going on, what they’re aware of, what they’re exposed to,” said Officer Laurie Natko of the Akron Police Department. She explained that children are less at risk when parents are willing to discuss these topics.
The Akron Police Department’s ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ program, which helps parents identify risky behavior in children, was one of a number of programs that recently received health and human services grants from Akron Community Foundation. (Photo: Chris Miller)
Other organizations receiving funding for addiction-related programs include IBH Addiction Recovery Center, to track the post-treatment success of its clients, and Freedom House for Women Inc., to provide substance abuse treatment, recovery housing and supportive services. Additional health and human services grants will fund a needs assessment of Akron’s refugee community and support programs that assist the homeless population.
Donor-advised fundholders recommended an additional $107,500 for health and human services programs through the community foundation’s grant co-investment program. The program enables fundholders to review the board’s competitive grant applications and, if they choose, to fund grants that align with their charitable interests. Their funding joins that of the following field-of-interest and unrestricted funds, which were created by charitable residents to support emerging needs in our community: Adam Fund, Jean S. and Thomas J. Amer Fund, Betty R. Axline Fund, Board of Directors Annual Giving Fund, Dick and Chris Chenoweth Fund, Community Fund, Decker Endowment Fund for Families, Charles C. and Dorathea S. Dilley Fund, Gala Fund, Lillian D. and Lincoln H. Gries Fund, Vivienne S. and Russell R. Johnstone Family Fund, Arthur Kelly Fund, John S. Knight Fund, William C. Krisher Fund, Maggie & Jerry Lippman Tikkun Olam “Repair the World” Fund, Pat and Alan Ockene Fund, Polsky Fund, Helen S. Robertson Fund, James G. Robertson Fund, Roush Memorial Fund, Sanatorium Contingent Fund, Schrank Family Fund, Shaw Foundation Fund, Richard W. & Charlotte E. Staiger Fund, Ronald L. Stiles Fund, William Wallace Fund and William C. and Betty J. Zekan Fund.
Their grants will support the following 46 health and human services programs:
ACCESS Inc., to provide services to women facing homelessness, including short-term secure housing, case management, health counseling and job readiness training, $35,000
Akron Area YMCA, to teach water safety and swimming skills to fourth-grade Akron Public Schools students who lack the resources and financial means to take lessons, $15,000
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to support food distribution to area pantries, along with after-school snacks for children, implementation of the PantryTrak software system and a food delivery trailer for pantry partners, $50,000
Akron Children’s Hospital, to support a needs assessment for refugees in Summit County that identifies risk factors and barriers to health care, as well as ways to connect them with resources across systems and agencies, $10,000
American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties, to support disaster cycle services in Summit County, including preparedness classes, disaster response and recovery assistance, $20,000
Battered Women’s Shelter, to support crisis intervention services for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence, $35,000
Better Health Partnership, for a professional learning summit with health agencies, academic institutions, employers and service organizations aimed at improving the health of children with obesity and diabetes in Summit County, $5,000
Bridges Summit County, to expand the Getting Ahead program, which offers community outreach tools, workshops and organizational education for residents facing generational poverty, $25,000
Catholic Charities Community Services of Summit County, to support the 2017 Emergency Assistance program, which offers rent and utility assistance to residents in need, $15,000
Christ Child Society of Akron, to provide school-appropriate clothing to low-income students, $15,000
City of Akron Police Department, to support the Hidden in Plain Sight program, which uses an interactive model to educate parents about the signs of dangerous or illegal behavior in children, $5,000
Community Legal Aid Services Inc., to support education-related assistance for Project HEAL, a medical-legal partnership that represents patients and families when issues like education, housing and public benefits threaten their health, $10,000
Community Pregnancy Center, to support the Strong Start program, which provides cribs, car seats and formula to families in financial need, $3,000
Community Support Services, to support improved physical health outcomes for people diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness through holistic health programs, $8,000
CORE Furniture Bank, to collect used furniture and donate it to families in need in Summit County, $8,000
Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, to build capacity during staffing transitions, and to provide “carrot cash,” a matching fresh food incentive for users of SNAP benefits, $20,000
Easter Seals Northern Ohio, to support a continuum of care for individuals with disabilities in Summit County, including a collaboration with the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board to provide a new Adult Day program, $7,500
Embracing Futures Inc., to provide orthodontic treatment for needy children who have been turned down by Medicaid, $5,300
Evant Inc., for a day services program for people with developmental disabilities that includes life skills training, help with social interaction and opportunities for community integration, $7,500
Family Promise of Summit County Inc., to help homeless children and their families achieve sustainable independence while remaining together, using an integrated network of partners and services, $7,500
First Glance Student Center Inc., for the Teen Moms/Young Moms program, which mentors at-risk young moms and dads who lack basic parenting skills, $10,000
Flashes of Hope, to provide professional photography services for children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, $3,000
Freedom House for Women Inc., to decrease addiction and homelessness in Summit County women by providing substance abuse treatment, recovery housing and supportive services, $13,000
Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a physical activity-based youth development program for Summit County girls with an interactive curriculum that promotes confidence, character and contribution, $7,500
GriefCare Place, for support groups and other programs for residents grieving the loss of a loved one, $2,500
IBH Addiction Recovery Center, to track the 90-day and two-year post-treatment success of clients who have completed the residential substance abuse treatment program, $10,000
Info Line Inc., for the 2-1-1 information and referral line that helps residents navigate the health and social services available in Summit County through an up-to-date database of providers, $20,000
Jewish Community Center of Akron, for Kickin’ Up KidSpace, which promotes healthy lifestyle choices for school-age children using homework help, snacks and activities, $2,500
Jewish Family Service of Akron Ohio, to provide counseling, care management, outreach and education to low-income seniors who live in subsidized apartment buildings throughout Summit County, $5,000
L.I.N.K.S. Community & Family Services, for the Senior Connection Program, which includes twice-monthly lunch events, education, home visits and repairs aimed at keeping seniors living independently, $10,000
Mature Services Inc., to provide in-home services, such as personal care, cleaning, grocery shopping and errands, for low-income individuals over 60 years old who have health challenges or lack family and community support, $15,000
Mobile Meals Inc., to operate nine dining centers and encourage independent living by providing home-delivered meals and supplements to low-income children, elderly and disabled residents in Summit County, $35,000
Mustard Seed Development Center, to provide counseling and legal assistance to low-income residents facing foreclosure and property tax delinquency in Summit County, $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
North Coast Community Homes, to support home accessibility, mobility and safety for older adults in Summit County through the installation of items like safety grab bars, $7,500
OhioGuidestone, to furnish a play therapy room in the agency’s Summit County office for children who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect, $5,000
OPEN M, to support a comprehensive free medical clinic and pharmacy for the community’s working poor and uninsured, $25,000
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to provide low-income women at the Akron Health Center with long-acting reversible contraception, $20,000
Prevent Blindness Ohio, to use early identification to reduce the incidence of unnecessary vision loss and provide donated eye care to medically disadvantaged children and adults in Summit County, $7,500
Shelter Care Inc., for capital improvements at three locations of the Shelter Home program, a long-term residential program for youth who struggle with abuse, neglect or mental health concerns, $10,000
Stewart’s Caring Place, to offer support groups and educational programs for residents affected by cancer, $15,000
Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, for the Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, which offers education, legal assistance, mentoring and other support services for fathers in Summit County who have previously been incarcerated or estranged from their children, $20,000
United Disability Services, to provide employment services, including job exploration, skills assessment, interviewing and soft-skills training, for Summit County residents with severe disabilities, $15,000
Victim Assistance Program, to provide 24-hour support and advocacy for victims of crime and sudden trauma, $25,000
Victory Gallop Inc., to support a therapeutic horseback riding program for 3- to 18-year-olds who face behavioral challenges and life-threatening illnesses, $5,000
Women’s Auxiliary Board of the Summit County Children’s Home, to promote safer sleeping conditions by providing beds to children of families receiving services, $10,000
Celebrating 61 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. As of Sept. 30, 2016, it is a philanthropic endowment of more than $190 million with a growing family of 550 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 $135 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 www.akroncf.org.
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