We’re thrilled to announce $5.4 million in August grants to organizations serving residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. Here are just a few highlights supporting youth development, neighborhood revitalization and vulnerable populations:

Youth Development:

• $10,000 to Daily Dose of Reading (DDR) to adapt “Play & Learn” curriculum for use in early childcare settings and to pilot implementation in Head Start classrooms. DDR works to improve literacy in children by empowering families through reading and language. Our grant will allow DDR to adapt and implement the program for the Early Head Start model serving children under three years old.
• $45,000 to the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio for school-based youth diversity programming. The Diversity Center, founded in 1927, is dedicated to eliminating bias, bigotry and racism in America through education, mediation and advocacy. This grant supports efforts to meet demands and increase capacity for youth programming, which the organization implements for over 10,000 students across seven counties in 118 schools.
• $3,500 to Ursuline College for “Sew Me a Story,” a juried literary competition for high school students, whose submissions will be inspired by and based on the theme of quilt-making by local elders. Our support supplies the monetary awards to the youth selected as winners of a writing competition inspired by the traditional quilts, and other related costs.

Neighborhood Revitalization:

• $165,000 to Gordon Square Arts District, which leverages vibrant arts and culture to spark economic growth, attract jobs and residents, and build collaborations on the near west side of Cleveland. Our support will help expand the number of artists in the Gordon Square Artist Network, as well as launch a series on financial literacy and budgeting, public speaking, media, and other tools tailored for working artists, and new wayfinding signage to better connect different areas of the neighborhood.
• $60,000 to Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp., to restore the historic Atlas Furniture Building in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood. The renovation should result in new commercial space, accessible community space, and an anchored Community Development office, as well as contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the West 25^th– Pearl Road corridor.

Support for Vulnerable Populations:

• $200,000 to HELP Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit service provider for people with developmental disabilities throughout Northeast Ohio, to support new Vocational Training Center programming in Lakewood. Our grant will help create a Path to Employment model offering a range of vocational training and employment services for those with disabilities, including career exploration, job-seeking skills training, job placement and coaching.
• $60,000 to Passages, Inc., dedicated to high-risk families with an emphasis on those re-entering society. Passages offers workforce development trainings, father and child retreats, family retreats, legal assistance, child support guidance, and other services to help strengthen families. Our grant will support the addition of a project manager role for the Building Futures program, a pre-apprenticeship that equips participants with skills across the construction trades. Additionally, our support helps to hire a human resources consultant to build a strong and competitive work environment for staff.
• $125,000 to the Salvation Army (Greater Cleveland Chapter), a religious and social service organization with a mission to meet human needs without discrimination. Our grant supports a new dedicated residence as well as services for survivors of human trafficking. The new residence opened in July 2018, and will launch wrap-around services for residents and survivors and engage partners to provide a full range of culturally competent support.
• $80,000 to Jordan Community Resource Center, a community nonprofit that provides housing, training and resources for re-entry, opioid addiction and sex trafficking. This grant follows grants from 2107, 2016, 2015 and 2014 toward workforce development programs. Our current grant supports its Recovery Housing Program staffing, program evaluation and a grant writing consultant to help bridge gaps due to cuts in federal funding.

These are just a few of our August grants. Follow our grantmaking throughout the year by subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter!