GAR Foundation awarded $1,030,500 in grants to Akron organizations at its May grant distribution meeting. This round of funding included $150,000 in unsolicited relief grants to 17 nonprofit organizations immediately impacted by the pandemic.

This funding follows GAR’s initial $150,000 emergency response grant to the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund and a $28,000 grant to Goodwill Industries of Akron, Inc. to produce protective masks that will be distributed through a partnership with Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and Akron Public Schools.

“Although we are only just beginning to understand how the pandemic will reshape our nonprofit community, we know that many organizations have been on the front lines providing critical support to meet the basic needs of the families and individuals in Akron,” said Christine Mayer, president of GAR Foundation. “We are happy to be able to offer support to some of those organizations.”

GAR’s pandemic relief funding includes grants to organizations working to respond to a surge in demand in basic needs as a result of the current health crisis. Among the organizations who received support were the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Mobile Meals, ASIA, Inc. and the International Institute of Akron. A number of arts and cultural organizations also received relief grants.

As part of GAR’s regular quarterly grantmaking, local arts convener ArtsNow received a $125,000 grant for its work to advance and advocate for the arts and culture sector in Summit County. Notable work for the organization has been the significant effort behind the upcoming Akron Cultural Plan. Project Learn of Summit County was awarded $60,000 to provide literacy and learning programs for adults, and ConxusNEO was awarded $125,000 to advance its support of the workforce system.

Some of the organizations receiving support this quarter include:

• ACCESS, Inc., $140,000 for operating support over two years
• ArtsNow, $125,000 for operating
• ASIA, Inc., $45,000 for operating
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, $85,000 for operating for Akron branch
• Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, $5,000 for operating
• Community Legal Aid, $35,000 for operating
• ConxusNEO, $125,000 for operating
• Family & Community Services (Mobile Meals), $60,000 for operating
• Goodwill Industries of Akron, $28,000 for protective mask production
• Groundworks Dance Theater, $30,000 for operating
• Leadership Akron, $15,000 for operating
• Musical Arts Association, $25,000 for operating
• Project Learn of Summit County, $60,000 for operating
• South Street Ministries, $35,000 for operating
• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, $30,000 for operating
• Students with a Goal, $30,000 for operating
• Western Reserve Historical Society, $35,000 for operating support for Hale Farm & Village

For more information contact Dina Younis, [email protected]

GAR Foundation

GAR Foundation was established in 1967 by Galen Roush, co-founder and chief executive officer of Roadway Express, and his wife Ruth Roush. GAR Foundation’s mission is to help Akron become smarter, stronger, and more vibrant.

Header photo courtesy of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank on Facebook.