Akron, Ohio (Nov 22, 2016) – At its final quarterly meeting of the year, GAR Foundation announced $648,000 in funding to Summit County community organizations. This quarter’s distribution brings the Foundation’s total contributions to community organizations to just over $6.1 million this year.

This quarter’s largest grant in the amount of $195,000 was awarded to Summit Education Initiative to advance its work in improving student outcomes by better aligning resources and efforts along the Cradle to Career Continuum.

“We’re extremely confident in the work of this high-quality backbone organization,” said Christine Mayer, president of GAR Foundation. “SEI enhances all local education efforts, by sharing its data for constructive purposes and by providing recognized thought leadership.”

Other awards include support to the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center, the Women’s Network, and Asia, Inc.

This quarter’s grants include a $153,000 investment in arts and culture programs in Summit County, including $70,000 to the Akron Civic Theatre. Awards were also granted to several Knight Arts Challenge winners, including the Akron Art Museum for the Akron Art Library, and Gum Dip Theater for the Nepali Applause project, a multidisciplinary performance that illustrates the rich history of the Nepali-American population in North Hill.

The organizations receiving support this quarter include:

• Akron Art Museum, $15,000 for the Akron Art Library
• Akron Civic Theatre, $70,000, for operations
• Asia, Inc., $50,000, for the International Community Empowerment Project
• Ballet Excel Ohio, $20,000, for the Reach Out and Dance program
• Battered Women’s Shelter, $50,000, for operations of the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center
• Friends of Metro Parks, $5,000, for operations
• Great Lakes Biomimicry, $40,000, for STEM professional development in Akron Public Schools
• Great Lakes Theater, $15,000, for educational programming in Summit County
• Gum-Dip Theatre, $3,000, for the Nepali Applause project. Fiscal sponsor: Miami Foundation
• Haven of Rest Ministries, Inc., $25,000, for operations
• Invent Now, $50,000, for Camp Invention in Akron Public Schools
• Mature Services Inc., $50,000, for Homecare Services
• Summit Education Initiative, $195,000, for operations
• The Foundation Center, $10,000, for operations
• Tuesday Musical Association, $30,000, for operations
• Women’s Network, $20,000, for operations

For more information, contact Dina Younis at [email protected] or 330.572.2809.

GAR Foundation

GAR Foundation was established in 1967 by Galen and Ruth Roush. Galen was the co-founder and chief executive officer of Roadway Express. GAR Foundation invests in Greater Akron to promote quality of life, education, and economic opportunities for its people, in a culturally vibrant community. Visit www.garfoundation.org for more information.

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Photo of Akron Public Schools students courtesy of Summit Education Initiative.