GAR Foundation awards more than $2.25 million to local nonprofits

The GAR Foundation announced this week that it has awarded more than $2.25 million in grants to nonprofit groups in Greater Akron.

The foundation focused its support this quarter on inclusive economic and community development through a grant to the Fund For Our Economic Future and through multiple grants to neighborhood-serving organizations.

The Fund for Our Economic Future, which received a grant of $500,000 over three years, is designed to increase “economic growth and access to opportunity for the people of Northeast Ohio.”

“We continue to value our work with and support of The Fund as one of the best long-term investments we can make,” GAR Foundation President Christine Amer Mayer said in a prepared statement. “The Fund has been a thought leader in economic development and a critical partner in our local work with Elevate Greater Akron."

The foundation also made grants supporting economic and community development in Akron’s neighborhoods. Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, Progressive Alliance CDC, South Street Ministries and The Well CDC all received support.

“We believe that neighborhood-serving organizations provide an important ‘way in’ to economic and community development,” GAR Foundation Program Officer Bronlynn Thurman explained in a news release. “Our holistic support of economic development must include CDCs supporting neighborhoods, downtown development, and systems work at the regional level.”

The grant recipients selected at the May distribution meeting are:

ACCESS Inc., $160,000 for operations.
Akron Art Museum, $250,000 for operations.
ArtsNow, $125,000 for operations.
Akron Black Artist Guild (ArtsNow), $25,000 for operations.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, $85,000 for operations.
Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, $10,000 for operations.
Community Legal Aid Services, $70,000 for operations.
Community Support Services, $10,000 for homeless outreach center programming expansion.
Early Childhood Resource Center, $180,000 for early childhood workforce retention Program.
Emmanuel Christian Academy, $50,000 for 2022 Summer STEAM Academy.
Family & Community Services Inc., $65,000 for mobile meals.
FRONT Exhibition Co., $35,000 for FRONT International 2022 installations in Akron.
Fund for Our Economic Future, $500,000 for operations.
GroundWorks DanceTheater, $35,000 for operations.
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, $50,000 for programming in Akron Public Schools.
Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, $70,000 for operations.
Leadership Akron, $20,000 for operations.
Musical Arts Association, $100,000 for Blossom Music Festival.
NCCAkron, $30,000 for operations and professional development.
Ohio Debate Commission, $25,000 for 2022 general election debates for U.S. Senate and Ohio governor in Akron.
Progressive Alliance CDC, $30,000 for West Akron comprehensive planning process.
Project Learn of Summit County, $120,000 for operations.
South Street Ministries, $45,000 for operations.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, $30,000 for operations.
SWAG, $30,000 for operations.
The Well CDC, $30,000 for Akron Food Works.
VANTAGE Aging, $40,000 for Meals on Wheels.
Western Reserve Historical Society, $35,000 for Hale Farm & Village.