GAR Awards $1,117,310 to Community Nonprofits
The Distribution Committee of GAR Foundation awarded $1,152,310 to 31 community organizations at its May 8, 2014 meeting with the largest grant supporting early childhood education initiatives at Greenleaf Family Center.
SPARK: Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids, a program of Greenleaf was awarded $140,000 to continue providing kindergarten readiness services for three – and- four year old children. SPARK addresses the child’s educational, developmental, and social-emotional needs, while empowering parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher.
Through comprehensive in-home visits and group sessions, SPARK works in collaboration with the families, Akron Public Schools, and the community to maintain positive academic outcomes throughout the fifth grade.
“SPARK outcomes continue to be impressive as evidenced by the statistically significant staying-power of academic advances made by SPARK children through the fifth grade,” said Kirstin Toth, senior vice president at GAR.
GAR continued its investment in education by awarding The Salvation Army of Summit County $100,000 for The Learning Zone program. “In addition to high-quality preschool and wrap-around programming for school-age children, The Learning Zone actively adapts to meet the needs of the families it serves,” said Brittany Grimes Zaehringer, senior program officer at GAR.
The Learning Zone incorporates a preschool with before- and after- school programming, cognitive and physical developmental screenings, music and art lessons, and family nights designed to surround a child’s family with resources needed to succeed in life.
The following organizations also received grant awards at the May 8, 2014 GAR Foundation Distribution Committee meeting:
| Actors’ Summit | $20,000 | For operations in the 15thanniversary season |
| Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank | $50,000* | For operations |
| Apollo’s Fire, The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra | $15,000 | For operations in the 20thAnniversary Concert season in 2014-15 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve | $85,000 | For operations of after-school and summer youth development |
| Children’s Concert Society | $17,500 | For the Concert Hall Series and school outreach |
| Community Hall Foundation | $25,000 | For fiscal sponsorship for the Arts & Culture Landscape |
| Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park | $25,350 | For urban outreach programs: Junior Ranger day camp; Survivor Camp; Counselor in Training |
| Cultural Data Project | $10,000 | For Cultural Data Project training |
| Emmanuel Christian Academy | $30,000 | For an extended day pilot program and professional development |
| First Glance Student Center, Inc. | $25,000 | For operations |
| Greater Akron Musical Association, Inc. | $105,000 | For operations |
| Greenleaf Family Center | $140,000 | For SPARK in 2014-15 |
| GroundWorks Dance Theater | $20,000 | For the 2014-15 season |
| He Brought Us Out Ministries | $20,000 | For operations of North Hill Community House |
| Interfaith Caregivers | $15,000 | For operations |
| Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio | $35,000* | For K-12 programs in Summit County |
| Keep Akron Beautiful | $22,000 | For operations |
| Mobile Meals, Inc. Foundation | $55,000 | For operations |
| Musical Arts Association | $100,000 | For the 2014 Blossom Music Festival |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Ohio Buckeye Chapter | $5,000 | For operations |
| Philanthropy Ohio | $5,000 | For operations |
| Senior Independence of Akron / Canton | $15,000 | For the Adult Day Care Center |
| Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Ohio, Inc. | $5,000 | For recruitment and training services |
| Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens | $30,000* | For operations |
| Summit Christian School | $22,000 | For professional development of new learning standards |
| The Hiram House Camp | $20,460 | For the Summer Campership Fund |
| The Salvation Army Summit County Area Services | $100,000 | For the Learning Zone |
| Tuesday Musical Association | $40,000 | For operations |
| Urban Vision | $30,000 | For the Set on Success Afterschool Program |
| Victim Assistance Program | $25,000 | For operations |
| Western Reserve Historical Society | $40,000 | For educational programming at Hale Farm & Village |
*The award consists in part or entirely in the form of a challenge grant.