As published by Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com>
United Way of Summit County announced more than $4 million in grants Thursday for its two-year funding cycle, saying much of the money will be used to support its Bold Goals initiative.
“We know that achieving our Bold Goals is going to require close, constructive partnerships and significant investment in this community,” United Way board Chair Christine Amer Mayer said in a prepared statement. “That’s why we are committed to working with the best players in Greater Akron — who can leverage United Way funding to produce meaningful change in the lives of local children and families.”
To receive funding, applicants had to demonstrate how their programs would directly affect the measures targeted by United Way’s Bold Goals.
In all, 40 agencies will receive funding.
Bold Goal 1
The following agencies are receiving funding to support Bold Goal 1, which involves having 65 percent of Akron Public Schools third-graders reading at or above grade level:
• Akron Area YMCA Early Care & Education, Akron Area YMCA: $306,000
• Toddlers & Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS), Child Guidance & Family Solutions: $250,000
• The Learning Zone, the Salvation Army: $20,000
• The READY Program, Asian Services in Action (ASIA Inc.): $76,000
• AMHA, Early Childhood Initiative, Building for Tomorrow: $204,700
• LINKS Early Intervention Home Visitation Program, LINKS Community Family Services: $55,000
• South Street’s After School, South Street Ministries: $50,000
Bold Goal 2
The following agencies are receiving funding to support Bold Goal 2, which involves having 90 percent of Akron Public Schools high school students graduating in four years, with 60 percent college/career ready:
• Year-Round Youth Development/After School Soccer Program, Akron Inner City Soccer Club: $20,000
• Summer Enrichment Day Camp, Akron Urban League: $60,000
• Urban Youth Academy STEAM Program, Akron Urban League: $125,000
• International Community Empowerment Project, Asian Services in Action: $35,000
• Summer Environmental Education Academy–Akron, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park: $40,000
• School to Career Transitions Program, Jobs for Ohio Graduates (JOG): $75,000
• College and Career Central, Project GRAD Akron: $75,000
• Students With A Goal (SWAG), Students With A Goal: $65,000
Bold Goals 1 and 2
The following funding will support both goals:
• Building Great Futures for Akron’s Youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Reserve: $100,000
• Girl Scout Journey Program, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio: $50,000
• Learning Zone Afterschool and Summer Programming, the Salvation Army: $35,000
• Catch Kids Club (CKC), Akron Area YMCA: $88,500
• APS Innovation 365, National Inventors Hall of Fame: $170,000
• Kickin’ UP KidsSpace, Shaw Jewish Community Center: $28,700
• Set On Success (S.O.S.) Afterschool Enrichment, Urban Vision: $95,000
Bold Goal 3
The United Way previously has announced the opening of its first Financial Empowerment Center in Akron to help improve the financial literacy of 11,000 city residents.
Bold Goal 4
The goal involves reducing emergency room visits due to drug overdoses to 1,000.
• Mobile Ascent Solution, Catholic Charities: $82,235
• Barberton Emergency Department Medically Assisted Treatment Program, Summa Health: $80,000
• Technology-Enabled Transportation Program, Summa Health: $100,000
• The Deterra Project: Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse, Summit County Community Partnership: $50,000
• Summit County Opiate Task Force, County of Summit ADM Board: $35,000
• Rock and Recovery 2.0, Friends of 91.3 The Summit FM: $20,000
• Mobile Outreach Program, Summit County Combined General Health District: $50,592
• Recovery Coach Academy & Community Response Team, the Packard Institute Inc.: $100,000
Other awards
The 2018-2019 grant cycle also includes funding for the following basic needs programs:
• Emergency Shelter for Women & Children in Crisis, ACCESS Inc.: $75,000
• Self-Sufficiency Services, Asian Services in Action: $29,500
• Basic Needs Program, Battered Women’s Shelter: $110,000
• Basic Needs/Emergency Services, Catholic Charities of Summit County: $49,120
• Family Promise of Summit County, Family Promise of Summit County: $30,000
• Recovery Housing for Women, Legacy III: $44,500
• Education & Support, Stewart’s Caring Place: $15,000
• Goodwill Agency Bus Pass Assistance Program, Goodwill Industries: $10,000
• Safe Housing & Support Services for Individuals Reentering Community, Truly Reaching You: $25,000
• 24-Hour Crisis Response Program, Victim Assistance Program: $51,117
An additional eight nonprofit organizations received funding as backbone or APEX partners of United Way:
• Summit Education Initiative: $220,000
• ConxusNEO: $100,000
• Heart to Heart Communications: $65,000
• Leadership Akron: $40,000
• LeBron James Family Foundation: $25,000
• YMCA Neighborhood Leadership Institute: $15,000
• Summit County Fatherhood Initiative: $40,000
• Soap Box Derby: $15,000
The United Way said it also is investing $250,000 in iC.A.R.E. Mentoring, Imagination Library, Bridges Summit County, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and the city of Akron’s Bank On Rubber City.
“None of this would be possible without the incredible support we have received,” United Way President and CEO Jim Mullen said in a prepared statement. “People have been inspired to invest in the future of their community through the Bold Goals, and the result will be a better, more stable Summit County for everyone — from students working toward the careers of their dreams to families striving for the security of financial independence.”