Grants Archives - Barberton Community Foundation

Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation Announces Second Quarter Grant Partners

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is pleased to announce the second quarter grant awards of 2020. The Foundation granted a total of $38,168 to five area nonprofit organizations serving Barberton and surrounding areas.

Embracing Futures, Inc. received $11,168 for their Orthodontic Care Program. This grant will fund the full cost of orthodontic care for two children. The program promises that children who complete treatment will receive straight and easy-to-care-for teeth, will have improved oral hygiene, and have increased confidence and self-esteem. Embracing Futures Inc. provides care for children with severe orthodontic problems who are growing up in economically disadvantaged families, and who have been turned down by Medicaid.

The Foundation awarded $10,000 to United Way of Summit County for their 2-1-1 Services for Barberton Residents program. 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, 24/7 information and referral helpline and website that helps residents find the health and social services they need. During 2019, 2-1-1 provided 3,863 referrals to Barberton residents including referrals for food, utility assistance, and housing.

Rape Crisis Center (RCC) was awarded $8,500 for their RCC Summit County Advocate program. Funding will support one full time advocate providing core services to survivors and co-survivors of sexual violence in Summit County. The RCC provides counseling, outreach, advocacy, education, and many other services to the community.

The Foundation awarded $5,000 to OPEN M for their Medical and Dental Clinic and Pharmacy. Funding will support the continued operations of this free clinic and pharmacy for uninsured, low income patients. Funding will also be used to purchase medical supplies, equipment, and medications needed to treat patients. OPEN M is located in Akron and is currently providing free telehealth visits.

Victory Gallop’s Rider Scholarships for Children with Special Needs program received $3,500. The program will support rider scholarships for children with special needs who are from economically challenged families. They will participate for 12 to 36 weeks and be in at least one horse show and be able to participate in a range of other activities offered by Victory Gallop, including indoor and outdoor riding, horse shows, barn days, fitness activities, an in-hospital equine visitation program, an Adopt-a-Horse program and other fun activities and parties for children and their families.

Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation is a private and independent philanthropic organization and awards grants on a quarterly basis. For the next grant cycle, proposals are due July 15, 2020. The Foundation asks any grant applicant to first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before submitting their application. More information about the LOI process is available online at www.barbertoncf.org/grants. For those nonprofits interested in applying to Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation, please download a grant application from www.barbertoncf.org/our-foundation/tuscora-park-health-wellness-foundation/ or contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact for Barberton Community Foundation, at 330-745-5995 or email her at cherman@barbertoncf.org. Proposals must promote health and wellness opportunities to the residents of Summit and contiguous counties.

Barberton Community Foundation Announces Second Quarter Grant Partners

Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to announce our second quarter grants of 2020 totaling $49,084 to five area nonprofits serving Barberton.

Coleman Professional Services received $20,000 for the Student Success Initiative which assists Barberton Middle and High School students who are struggling with excessive absenteeism or disruptive behavioral challenges at school. The program utilizes a three-prong approach. It recognizes that excessive absenteeism and disruptive school behavior are challenges that have unique origins for every student and that interventions are only effective if they are individualized and catered to the holistic needs of each student. This initiative expands on a successful Truancy Mediation program conducted at the middle school from September 2019 through February 2020.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio received $10,000 for a pilot program at Barberton Elementary West. The program provides after-school enrichment for students by focusing on three key outcome areas: academic success, character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. This program has been offered at the clubs in Akron with notable results including improvements to math and reading levels, attitudes toward school and higher education, likelihood of volunteering, willingness of students to stand up for what they think is right, attitudes toward alcohol and tobacco use, improved eating habits, and physical activity.

The Foundation granted $5,000 to Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center for their Services for Barberton Residents project. Stewart’s Caring Place provides comfort, care, and support, and promotes wellness and healing to anyone impacted by cancer. In 2019, 48 Barberton residents participated 97 times in programs and services including wig fittings, beauty services, integrative care services, legal consultations and support groups.

The Orthodontic Care Program organized by Embracing Futures, Inc. received $5,584 which will fund the full costs of orthodontic care for one child. The program promises that children who complete treatment will receive straight and easy-to-care-for teeth. Embracing Futures Inc. provides care for children with severe orthodontic problems who are growing up in economically disadvantaged families, and who have been turned down by Medicaid.

The Foundation awarded two separate projects for United Way of Summit County. 2-1-1 Information & Referral for Barberton Residents received $3,500. Funding will be used to support operating the 2-1-1 service, responding to at least 3,000 requests, and to secure at least 500 appointments for Barberton residents who are seeking emergency food. The Foundation also awarded $5,000 to Financial Empowerment Services for Barberton Residents. The program will support meaningful client progress in four areas: banking, credit establishment and management, increased savings and debt reduction. It will also give Barberton residents greater access to financial empowerment education and services. Due to COVID-19, anyone requiring services can visit https://www.uwsummit.org/FEC to schedule a phone call or virtual financial coaching.

Barberton Community Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis. Proposals are due July 1, 2020 for the next grant cycle. The Foundation asks any grant applicant to first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before submitting their application. More information about the LOI process is available online at www.barbertoncf.org/grants. If you are interested in applying for a grant from the Foundation, contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact, at 330-745-5995. Grant recipients must be a nonprofit and programs must benefit Barberton residents.

Youth Philanthropy Announces Grants

Youth Philanthropy is a Barberton High School student committee organized in partnership with Barberton Community Foundation. Every year, participating students award grants to nonprofits benefiting Barberton. Students work together as a grants committee, review grant proposals, develop questions for and interview grant applicants, then make grant award decisions. Youth Philanthropy receives $5,000 from Barberton Community Foundation each year for grant making. Students selected six nonprofit organizations to receive funding.

Barberton Area Community Ministries (BACM) received $1,470 for their program called Operation Reducing Senior Food Insecurities, which provides home delivered meals to seniors living in 44203 zip code.

Engineering the Future, a program at Barberton Elementary East, received $939.08 to purchase STEM enrichment carts for classroom use.

Soap Box Derby Club at Barberton High School received $938.33 to support food and transportation costs, and award plaques for students attending the Soap Box Derby Championship ceremony.

Students also funded Embrace Clinic & Care Center’s Safety First, Barberton Car Seats program for $705.06. This program provides convertible car seats to families in need.

Barberton Public Library received $539.98 for their program called VR for All @ Barberton Public Library. This grant funds the purchase of one virtual reality headset and case to be use by library patrons.

Students granted $407.55 to Ski Club at Barberton City Schools for transportation costs.

For their final meeting, students met on March 11 for a service day at BACM to pack 160 bags full of nonperishable food items for Operation Reducing Senior Food Insecurities.

Students pack bags of food for distribution at BACM

Barberton Community Foundation Announces 2020 First Quarter Grants

Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to announce our first quarter grants of 2020 totaling $27,192 to five area nonprofits serving Barberton.

Battered Women’s Shelter received $8,192 to fund the Barberton Domestic Violence Support Groups. The Battered Women’s Shelter leads the area in the prevention of domestic abuse by providing emergency shelter, advocacy, and education in an effort to break the cycle of abuse and promote peace in every family. Foundation funding supports three Barberton support groups throughout the year.

Victim Assistance Program, Inc. received $6,000 for their Barberton Victim Advocacy Program. Funding allows for a dedicated victim advocate at the Barberton courthouse to serve victims of crime and trauma. In 2019, the program served 240 residents. Victim Assistance provides crisis intervention, accompanies victims to court, and assists in safety planning.

The Foundation granted $5,000 to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. for their Camp Invention STEM Based Enrichment for Underserved Barberton Youth program. Camp Invention is a summer enrichment program for children grades K-6. Funding allows 22 underserved children to attended the camp. Students learn creative problem-solving, work readiness skills, and team building.

The Summit Bike Share, organized by the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, received $4,000 for the replacement, maintenance, storage, and equipment needs of the bicycles. Approximately 150 people used the bikes in Barberton last year.

The Foundation granted $4,000 to the International Soap Box Derby for their Soap Box Derby STEM Education Initiative. This grant will allow 350 Barberton students to participate in hands-on Soap Box Derby STEM activities.

Barberton Community Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis. Proposals are due April 1, 2020 for the next grant cycle. If you are interested in applying for a grant from the Foundation, contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact, at 330-745-5995. Grant recipients must be a nonprofit and programs must benefit Barberton residents.

New Emergency Response Fund

Barberton Community Foundation has established an Emergency Response Fund to provide financial assistance to nonprofits responding to the broader social impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community.
After Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement yesterday that all schools will close for three weeks, our community is asking an important question: how do we feed our children?

Many organizations are working to answer that question, including Barberton City Schools, where 77% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Superintendent Jeff Ramnytz stated that the schools will be organizing food drops at bus stops for families, and other organizations and businesses in town are stepping up as well.

“Barberton is made of resilient people who take care of their neighbors,” said Denny Liddle, Barberton Community Foundation’s board chair. “I am so proud and relieved that our city has an organization like the foundation that can respond quickly to meet our community where they are.”

How can you help? Click here to donate now.

If you are a nonprofit organization working to provide emergency food to insecure families, working in community health, or you are providing additional services needed to alleviate hardships suffered by Barberton residents, please reach out to us. Call us at (330)745-5995 or visit us at 460 W. Paige Ave. Or email our executive director Dr. Suzanne Allen, at sallen@barbertoncf.org.

Tuscora Park Announces First Grants of 2020

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is pleased to announce the first grant awards of 2020. The Foundation granted a total of $44,362 to 11 area nonprofit organizations serving Barberton.
Organizations include: The Ben Curtis Family Foundation, Lake Anna YMCA, Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center, Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry, Battered Women’s Shelter, Barberton Middle School, Ohio Guidestone, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Prevent Blindness (Northeast Ohio Chapter), and Embrace Clinic & Care Center.

Ben Curtis Family Foundation’s Birdie Bag program received a $10,000 grant to purchase food and to cover truck expenses. The Ben Curtis Family Foundation focuses on fighting food insecurity by providing children with food over long weekends. Birdie Bags consist of nine meals including snacks and toiletry items. The Barberton program currently provides 1,100 students with food each month.

Lake Anna YMCA received $5,000 for the continuation of their CATCH in Barberton Schools Latchkey Afterschool program. Proven to prevent childhood obesity, the Coordinated Approach to Child Heath (CATCH) is run at both elementary schools for kids in the afterschool latchkey program. The program includes an onsite food demonstration program. A copy of the recipe, produce used in the recipe, and healthy tips are sent home with each child.

Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy received $5,000 for their Farmers’ Market Food Access Expansion Project. This grant supports staffing at the Anna Dean Farmer’s Market to provide services, operate programs, and increase outreach for healthy food programs including SNAP and WIC. Barberton’s market was the highest performing for use of these healthy food programs.

The Cancer Health & Wellness Program at Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center received $5,000 to support programming needs. Stewart’s provides cancer support services to ensure access to care for those on a cancer journey. SCP served 1,700 people in 2019, and expect increased participation this year.

Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry has a mission to engage with formerly incarcerated men and women and to aid in their successful transition to the community. The Broken Chains Ministry Workforce Development & Lydia’s Home Recovery Program received $5,000 to support the purchase of a new van for use by the Lydia’s Home Recovery Program. Lydia’s Home is a six-bed opiate residential recovery program for women. It provides broad-based, structured recovery with a holistic continuum of care, including aftercare following graduation from the program.

Battered Women’s Shelter received $3,600 for their Child Safety Restraint Program. The program purchases car seats for domestic violence victims who are residing at the Battered Women’s Shelter and who are in need of safety seats for their children.

The “Calm to Avoid the Storm” project from Barberton Middle School received a grant for $3,326.11 to outfit a sensory room with equipment for students with special needs. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition in which a student is overwhelmed by daily activities. This project presents a solution by providing training for staff and creating a sensory room for students.

TPHWF granted Ohio Guidestone $3,000 to support their Summit County Barrier Busters Program. This program provides support for people in recovery with emergency financial needs. Ohio Guidestone is a behavioral health organization operating in 30+ Ohio counties. They provide substance abuse treatment and prevention, mental health interventions, child and family counseling, workforce development, and foster care.

TPHWF granted Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition $2,000 for the Summit Bike Share program. In 2019, a total of 450 people used the Summit Bike Share program, with nearly half of users in Barberton, Summit Lake, and Kenmore. Funding supports replacing bikes and bike maintenance at the sites. Bicycles are available from May 1 to November 15.

Prevent Blindness, Northeast Ohio Chapter received $1,200 for their Vision Care Outreach Program. Funding supports the staffing, education, training, supplies, and equipment to build and maintain a voluntary system of vision care. The program focuses on providing services to uninsured or medically disadvantaged children, adults and seniors.

TPHWF granted Embrace Clinic & Care Center $1,200 to purchase supplies for their Steadfast Fathers Educational Program. This program is a men’s group for local fathers and provides tools for creating good relationships with their children and others. The group meets weekly for six weeks, and teaches principles from the book Steadfast Fathers.

Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation is a private and independent philanthropic organization and awards grants on a quarterly basis. For the next grant cycle, proposals are due April 15, 2020. For those nonprofits interested in applying to Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation, please download a grant application from www.barbertoncf.org/our-foundation/tuscora-park-health-wellness-foundation/ or contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact for Barberton Community Foundation, at 330-745-5995. Proposals must promote health and wellness opportunities to the residents of Summit and contiguous counties.

Tuscora Park Announces Fourth Quarter Grant Partners

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is pleased to announce our fourth quarter grants totaling $32,000 to five area nonprofit organizations serving Barberton.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was awarded $7,500 for the 2020 Barberton Direct Distribution Program. In our region, one in seven individuals and nearly one in five children are food insecure. This distribution program places fresh produce, often the surplus products of Ohio farmers, into the hands of food-insecure families. The Foodbank uses partner agency sites such as the Barberton Salvation Army to reach more people in our community. On average the program serves 141 families with about 19,000 pounds of food every month.

Tuscora Park awarded $10,000 to Family Promise of Summit County’s Family Wellness Initiative. Family Promise assists families facing a housing crisis. Their mission is to help families with children stay together while they achieve sustainable independence. Families receive overnight shelter, transportation, meals, support, and case management services. Funding will provide general program support, as well as support for the purchase of hygiene products, clothing, toiletries, and more.

Girls on the Run received $5,000 for their “Healthy & Confident Barberton Girls” program. Funding will enable girls at Barberton East Elementary, Barberton West Elementary and Barberton Middle School to participate in Girls on the Run, which instills self-confidence and healthy behaviors. Girls on the Run is a national program.

Hattie Larlham’s Barberton Constant Companions Community Program was awarded $5,500. This program allows for adults with disabilities to spend weekdays at a hub for social, educational, volunteer, and recreational activities. Barberton is one of eight “Constant Companion” locations in northeast Ohio. Funding will support program activities, including community trips and outings in Barberton.

American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign was awarded $4,000. Funding will support the campaign, including fire safety walks to test alarms, install smoke detectors, home fire safety education and community outreach to inspire people to check smoke alarms and practice home evaluations. Funding will also support the “Pillowcase Project” program to kids in grades 3-5 in Barberton City Schools.

Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation is a private and independent philanthropic organization. Tuscora Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis. For the next grant cycle, proposals are due January 15, 2020. For those nonprofits interested in applying to Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation, please download a grant application from www.barbertoncf.org/our-foundation/tuscora-park-health-wellness-foundation/ or contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact for Barberton Community Foundation, at 330-745-5995. Proposals must promote health and wellness opportunities to the residents of Summit and contiguous counties.

Announcing our Fourth Quarter Grant Partners

Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to announce our fourth quarter grants totaling $48,375 to six area nonprofit organizations serving Barberton.

American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign was awarded $5,000. The campaign seeks to reduce the number of fires and fire-related injuries by educating people about the dangers of home fires, helping them prepare for a fire emergency, ensuring that homes have working smoke alarms, and providing assistance for those affected by a home fire. Foundation funding supports the installation of smoke alarms and hardware, literature, project supplies, and staff time for the “Pillowcase Project” which covers fire safety preparedness for Barberton City Schools students.

A Children’s Makerspace at Barberton Public Library was awarded $875. Makerspaces are places where people can learn, explore, and create with a variety of tools and materials. The Library’s makerspace will focus on providing elementary and middle school age children with a place to explore with art supplies, building materials, and computer programs. Kids will learn problem solving skills, use their imaginations, and work cooperatively.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was awarded $7,500 for the 2020 Barberton Direct Distribution Program. In our region, one in seven individuals and nearly one in five children are food insecure. This distribution program places fresh produce, often the surplus products of Ohio farmers, into the hands of food-insecure families. The Foodbank uses partner agency sites such as the Barberton Salvation Army to reach more people in our community. This grant will also allow for Barberton Area Community Ministries to secure a food program credit for the purchase of food from the Foodbank.

Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio was awarded $3,500 for the Junior Achievement Barberton City Schools program. Junior Achievement is a volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12^th grade program that fosters work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills in students. The program has engaged 580 students throughout the district with over 2500 contact hours by volunteers.

Magical Theatre Company’s P.A.C.T./Barberton (Performing Arts Can Teach) program was awarded $7,500. We know that engagement in the arts is proven to help students increase test scores, build self -awareness, promote creativity and literacy, and help meet common core standards. This program will provide 1,100 Barberton students (elementary and middle) with a free performance at Magical Theatre Company, including post-show discussions with the actors and technical team. Teachers are given a study guide with lesson plans that connect the classroom with the performance.

Barberton Public Library and Barberton City Schools partnered on an esports project called Expanding Our Horizons. This program was awarded $24,000. Barberton High School currently has an esports team. This grant will allow the school to purchase additional technology for the school team, and allow the Library to establish an esports program open to the general public. Esports is a relatively new program but it has been widely accepted as a team sport that creates an environment of competition, increasing student engagement and skill development. The Barberton esports team is currently competing with other school districts, and college scholarship opportunities for esports are growing.

Barberton Community Foundation partners with community stakeholders, donors, and charitable organizations to improve the quality of life for Barberton residents by maximizing the strategic impact of charitable contributions. Our mission is to strengthen the Barberton community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration, and creating a legacy of giving to do good.

Barberton Community Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis. For the next grant cycle, proposals are due January 2, 2020. For those nonprofits interested in applying to the Foundation, please download a grant application from www.barbertoncf.org or contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact, at 330-745-5995. Grant recipients must be a nonprofit and programs must benefit Barberton residents.

Announcing our Third Quarter Grant Partners

Congratulations to our 3rd quarter grant partners

Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to announce our third quarter grants totaling $89,584 to six area nonprofit organizations serving Barberton. Grants were awarded to:

Greenleaf Family Center’s Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program was awarded $3,000. This program provides presentations to middle and high school students, staff, and community members regarding mental health, depression and suicide. Their goal is to reduce stigma, help identify and respond to youth in distress, and teach students a help-seeking process for themselves and peers in need. It is an evidence-based program that has been proven successful.

Embrace Clinic & Care Center’s program “Strong Start: Barberton” was awarded $3,000. The Strong Start program works in collaboration with the Safe Kids program from Akron Children’s Hospital. The program provides material assistance, as well as educational and emotional support to families for the first year of a child’s life. Funding this program allows Barberton families currently on a waiting list to receive support.

AxessPointe Community Health Centers, Inc. was awarded $15,000 for the expansion of the Barberton Health Clinic. AxessPointe provides dental, medical, behavioral health, and women’s health services to Barberton residents. The expansion will provide additional dental, behavioral health, and medical services, as well as a 340b pharmacy.

Embracing Futures, Inc. received funding for their Orthodontic Care Program totaling $5,584.00. Embracing Futures is a nonprofit organization helping children with severe orthodontic problems. Serving southern Summit County, 95 children received care in 2018. Funding directly supports programming and services.

Child Guidance and Family Solutions received $8,000 to support their Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) program. This grant impacts the Foundation’s educational excellence focus area. The TAPS program provides coaching and professional development for early childhood educators. Educators learn how to incorporate social-emotional skills in the classroom, and how to support children as they learn to process and communicate emotions. The program has been successful in decreasing preschool expulsions. Child Guidance and Family Solutions currently supports four Barberton preschool centers, impacting 200 children and training 30 educators.

Barberton City Schools received $55,000 for playground improvements to provide safety and handicap accessibility at Barberton Preschool. We understand that play is an essential component of learning for young children. Barberton Preschool is a high-quality preschool program that works to get Barberton students ready for kindergarten. This grant provides rubberized flooring for the first phase of the play space.

Barberton Community Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis. For the next grant cycle, proposals are due October 1, 2019. For those nonprofits interested in applying to the Foundation, please download a grant application from www.barbertoncf.org or contact Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact, at 330-745-5995. Grant recipients must be a nonprofit and must benefit Barberton residents.

Foundation Fund Donates new boat to City of Barberton Fire Department

Barberton Fire Department was able to purchase a new boat thanks to a generous donation from the City of Barberton Safety Services Fund held by Danny Sanchez at Barberton Community Foundation.

Lt. Mike Beckman said the fire department desperately needed a boat like this. “It’s quick, versatile, and deployable which is important. We can fill it up using the air at the station or off the truck,” he said. The boat is made of a heavy durable material, and has many straps for places to hold onto. When not in use, it collapses to the size of a duffle bag for easy storage on a truck. The boat was built by Phoenix Safety Services in Ohio.

Lt. Beckman explained that the boat could be used in many instances, such as ice rescue, in the canal, or during a flood. “We have a larger metal boat, but we can’t use that in knee deep water. With this boat, we can walk beside it, or row it,” he explained.

During the June floods Lt. Beckman said they received multiple calls for rescue. “In flood situations, a boat like this is handy for multiple rescues as we work down a street. Even in shallow water, you can’t always see where you’re walking. You don’t know where a curb or hole could be. Now we can help elderly or disabled individuals get out of their homes more safely.”

Lt. Beckman continued, “This boat has made our job a lot easier, so thank you to the Foundation and Danny Sanchez with the Safety Services Fund for making this possible. We really appreciate it.”

Danny Sanchez, from Casa Del Ranchero, said he had the idea to start a fund because he wanted to give back. “Both the Barberton fire and police have been coming to our place for years. We just really wanted to give back and do something for them.” Danny typically hosts a golf tournament every year to support his fund. “It has done more and grown bigger than I ever thought it would. Everyone wanted to get involved.”

Photo- (L-R) Danny Sanchez, firefighter Chris DeFrange, firefighter Dominic Morbel, firefighter Richard Schwenning, Carrie Herman from Barberton Community Foundation, Lt. Mike Beckman, and Mayor Bill Judge

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