September Grant Highlights

← Back to Blog October 9, 2019 by Grantmaking, Nonprofit, Strengthening Cleveland
a group of children walking through the woods
Photo: Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

We’re excited to share a few highlights from our recent grants to organizations serving residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. These September grants focus on arts and science education, as well as placemaking and community engagement.

Arts & Science Education

  • $50,000 to Starting Point to support the Art of Me program with Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools. The Art of Me program uses writing and film to foster leadership, advocacy and self-expression in youth in underserved communities. Our grant will allow at least 1,000 students to engage in the curriculum and produce a film written by the students.
  • $50,000 to the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning to continue its youth arts education engagement in Glenville and customize programming to address evidence-based needs. Our grant will also assist the center in developing partnerships with schools and other organizations.
  • $20,000 to Drink Local Drink Tap to expand its Wavemaker program curriculum, with a focus on STEAM learning and alignment with Ohio’s science learning standards.
  • $22,500 to the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes to grow three programs that provide hands-on natural science experiences to Cleveland Metropolitan School District students. Our grant will also help assess opportunities to create a more inclusive work and learning environment at the Nature Center including diversity, equity and inclusion training for the board and staff.
  • $10,000 to Progress with Chess to provide introductory chess instruction to 600 Cleveland Metropolitan School District students. The weekly in-school program will work to give each child the opportunity to learn enough chess to reach the “rook” level.

Placemaking & Community Engagement

  • $15,000 to MidTown Cleveland for the Ward 7 mural project, which will commission 8-10 murals in the Hough neighborhood created by local artists focused on the area’s history, culture and important community leaders and events.
  •  $25,000 to Teach for America, Inc. to increase civic engagement opportunities for a network of teachers, alumni and Encore Cleveland members.
  • $50,000 to the Negro League Baseball Legends Hall of Fame to strengthen its presence as a museum and location for neighborhood connection, upgrade technology and materials related to exhibitions, and engage a full-time museum curator.