GAR Foundation President Robert Briggs announced that the Foundation’s Distribution Committee approved $1,568,551 in grants at its second quarter meeting of 2010. Grants were awarded to support programs and operations at 40 nonprofit organizations and included outright and challenge grants.

In announcing the awards, Mr. Briggs noted GAR’s long-standing commitment to education as evidenced by grants to the Salvation Army of Summit County to support the Learning Zone, a comprehensive, community-based education program for children ages 2 to 14, and to Greenleaf Family Center to continue and expand the early literacy-parent training program known as SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids). Funds will serve 100 children and their families in the next academic year.

The total also included $295,665 in small grants awarded through the Foundation’s annual Educator Initiative Grants (EIG) program. The EIG program, now in its seventh year, awards grants of $5,000-$15,000 to teams of local educators who propose innovative instructional techniques designed to address academic deficiencies and raise classroom achievement. This year, GAR awarded 37 grants to educators from 12 Summit County public school districts (Akron, Barberton, Copley-Fairlawn, Coventry, Hudson, Manchester, Mogadore, Nordonia Hills, Norton, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge, and Woodridge) as well as from several parochial, independent and community schools in the county. Briggs stated, “EIG puts grant funds into the hands of creative teachers who partner with their fellow teachers and administrators to improve educational outcomes in Summit County.”

Recognizing the growing need for basic health and social services in a weak economy, the Foundation made operating grants to the Akron Community Service Center & Urban League, Pregnancy Care of Summit County and Faith in Action-Interfaith Caregivers. GAR also continued its interest in the arts and arts education as demonstrated by awards to the Akron Art Museum, Children’s Concert Society of Akron, Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet and GroundWorks Dancetheater. A grant to the Musical Arts Association will provide operating funds for the 2010 Blossom Festival.

View the full list of organizations receiving grant awards (PDF) at the May meeting.