GAR Foundation Refines Approach to Education and Awards $1,641,305 to Area Nonprofits
AKRON, Ohio (May 15, 2013) — In its largest grant-making quarter of the year, GAR Foundation awarded $1,641,305 to 43 area nonprofits. The Foundation’s Distribution Committee also approved new priorities for Education grantmaking.
“Our grantmaking emphasis in this arena stems from a belief that a solid education opens doors throughout a person’s life,” President Christine Amer Mayer said of the Foundation’s realignment. “By aligning our funding priorities with Cradle to Career, we seek to help students capitalize on those opportunities.”
The Cradle to Career framework underscores the foundational purpose of education as preparation for college and career. The framework serves as a road map for schools and programs to ensure that their students are able to meet or exceed standards at critical educational transitions along the way. Schools and programs seeking educational funding from GAR will be asked in the coming year to identify their program attributes that support academic achievement along the pipeline and to measure their impact. GAR Foundation joins many local funders in adopting the Cradle to Career framework led by Summit Education Initiative. The Foundation will host discussions with education providers in the coming months to more fully discuss the Cradle to Career approach.
This quarter’s largest grant of $140,000 was awarded to Greenleaf Family Center for the expansion of SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Ensure Ready Kids) in Summit County. SPARK prepares children for kindergarten by addressing educational, developmental and social-emotional needs, while empowering parents and guardians to become their child’s first and most important teacher.
The Salvation Army received $100,000 for the Learning Zone. The program provides a high quality afterschool learning option for children who are at-risk. It serves over 100 families in the Akron and Barberton areas for children ages 18 months to 14 years.
Also during the May distribution meeting, $299,930 was awarded for 29 Educator Initiative Grants (EIG). The goal of the EIG Program is to support teacher-initiated, classroom-based projects and methods that demonstrably impact student academic achievement. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 are awarded to teams of educators from grades K-12.
The following organizations received grant awards at the May 9, 2013 GAR Foundation Distribution Committee meeting:
Organization Amount Purpose
|
Actors’ Summit |
$15,000 |
For general operations. |
|
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank* |
$20,000 |
For operations. |
|
Alchemy, Inc. |
$20,000 |
For operations. |
|
Apollo’s Fire |
$17,500 |
For Summit County performances. |
|
Arlington Christian Academy |
$12,500 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Archbishop Hoban High School |
$50,000 |
For the implementation of Read 180 and faculty professional development supporting the adoption of Ohio’s Learning Standards. |
|
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve |
$85,000 |
For general operating support for after-school programs. |
|
Children’s Concert Society of Akron |
$17,500 |
For the Concert Hall Series and after-school programming. |
|
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park |
$42,250 |
For the Seeds of Learning and Junior Rangers urban outreach programs. |
|
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy |
$10,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Emmanuel Christian Academy |
$15,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
First Glance Student Center, Inc. |
$25,000 |
For general operations. |
|
Greenleaf Family Center |
$140,000 |
For SPARK. |
|
GroundWorks Dance Theater |
$20,000 |
For performances and outreach. |
|
Hametown Christian Academy |
$5,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
He Brought Us Out Ministry |
$20,000 |
For operations of North Hill Community House. |
|
Hiram House |
$20,625 |
For camperships for children from Summit County. |
|
Interfaith Caregivers Program |
$15,000 |
For general operations. |
|
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio* |
$15,000 |
For operations in 2013-14 and for evaluations. |
|
Lawrence School |
$7,500 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
The Lippman School |
$5,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Lorain County Community College Foundation, GLBIO |
$25,000 |
For support of a University of Akron Ph.D. fellow working in the Akron Public Schools STEM Middle School and for operations. |
|
Mobile Meals, Inc. |
$55,000 |
For general operations. |
|
Musical Arts Association |
$100,000 |
For the 2013 Blossom Music Festival. |
|
North Akron Catholic School |
$15,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry |
$50,000 |
For general operations. |
|
Our Lady of the Elms School |
$5,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Philanthropy Ohio |
$5,000 |
For general operating support. |
|
Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs |
$10,000 |
For camperships. |
|
St. Mary Grade School |
$20,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
St. Paul School |
$7,500 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Stan Hywet Halls & Gardens* |
30,000 |
For annual campaign. |
|
Salvation Army |
$100,000 |
For the Learning Zone. |
|
Senior Independence |
$15,000 |
To support Adult Day Services in Akron. |
|
South Street Ministries, Inc. |
$25,000 |
For operations. |
|
Summit Christian School |
$6,000 |
For tuition assistance. |
|
Summit County Health District |
$50,000 |
To support the First Things First HealthChek data development system. |
|
Summit County Historical Society |
$25,000 |
For operations. |
|
United Disability Services |
$50,000 |
For the Vocational Rehabilitation Public Private Partnerships program. |
|
Urban Vision |
$30,000 |
For the Set on Success after-school program. |
|
Victim Assistance Program |
$25,000 |
For operations to match Victims of Crime Act funding. |
|
Western Reserve Historical Society |
$35,000 |
For educational programming at Hale Farm & Village. |
|
Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop |
$40,000 |
For operations. |
*The award consists in part or entirely in the form of a challenge grant.