Foundation Board Meets at White Rabbit, Awards Funding for First Grant Cycle

Foundation Board Meets at White Rabbit, Awards Funding for First Grant Cycle

by | Mar 24, 2022 | Announcements, Board, Grants

Barberton Community Foundation Logo

The Barberton Community Foundation Board of Directors held their second meeting of the year at White Rabbit Galleries.

The board discussed regular business and approved $119,220.86 for thirteen grants in the first grant cycle of the year: Education and Workforce & Economic Development.

The board approved a fund name change from the Esther Ryan Shoe Endowment Fund to the Magic City Kiwanis/Esther Ryan Shoe Endowment Fund. This change came after the Magic City Kiwanis agreed to partner with the Foundation and merge two funds under the Foundation’s management. Magic City Kiwanis will continue to host the annual Spaghetti Dinner.

Another fund change was for the Barberton Community Health Clinic Endowment Funds. At the direction of fund holder Donna Keim, the health clinic funds will transfer into a new scholarship called the Walter Ritzman Scholarship Fund. This change comes as the Health Clinic no longer exists to serve the community. The scholarship will provide support to Barberton students pursuing a pharmacy degree.

Grants Approved

The Foundation awarded thirteen grants totaling $119,220.86 in their first grant cycle of the year.

Child Guidance & Family Solutions received $10,000 for their program Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding program (TAPS) which improves kindergarten readiness and reduces preschool expulsion rates in four Barberton preschools annually. TAPS helps preschools focus on children’s social-emotional needs by providing trauma-informed approaches, classroom management techniques and embedded social-emotional models.

With the new Barberton Intermediate School beginning next year, The Foundation awarded $4,800 to Barberton City Schools for t-shirts to all the staff and students of Barberton Intermediate to support community and pride.

Tri-County JOG was awarded $26,500 for their program, Municipality Workforce Development for Barberton Youth, which share municipality employment opportunities with Barberton High School juniors.

The Akron-Barberton Community Workforce Development program, managed by SCORE Akron, received $5,000 to assist with their mentoring and educational workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Camp Invention, a popular summer program organized by the National Inventors Hall of Fame received $10,000 to provide financial support to Barberton students who would like to attend the program.

United Way of Summit & Medina received $5,000 for their Financial Empowerment Services programming provided to Barberton residents. The center estimates they will serve 75 residents through free financial empowerment programming, including financial coaching, tax preparation and banking assistance.

The Foundation supported JA programming through Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio with a $5,000 grant to provide support for JA’s K-12 programming which focuses on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness.

The International Soap Box Derby received $4,000 to continue their SBD Mini Car STEM program with Barberton City School elementary students and provide materials for middle school students’ gravity racing challenges.

Red Oak Behavioral Health received $13,000 for summer programming in partnership with Lake Anna YMCA.

Barberton City Schools Theatre Department received $20,000 to upgrade the theatre equipment. Currently the sound and lighting boards are failing. Upgrades will benefit both the school and community groups who use the theater.

Barberton City Schools eSports received $5,671.70 to purchase three additional computers for student players. The program has a waiting list for players and is fundraising for team jerseys.

The Foundation awarded two grants to Barberton City Schools for additional programs: $2,796.92 for their program Learning under the Lights, which is a summer reading and math event, and $7,452.25 for building a Magical Reading Nook at Barberton Primary School for students to read under the stairs in a cozy environment.

Other business:

The Foundation Board passed several policy updates out of the governance committee and welcomed Tiffany Peters to the Foundation staff as the new director of Finance. Tiffany started on Monday, March 14 and is joining the Foundation from serving in various financial roles with United Way of Summit and Medina Counties.

 

Foundation Board Approves Third Cycle Grants for Health and Wellness Programs

Foundation Board Approves Third Cycle Grants for Health and Wellness Programs

by | Dec 3, 2021 | Announcements, Grants

Foundation Board Approves Third Cycle Grants for Health and Wellness Programs

In their final meeting of the year, Barberton Community Foundation Board of Directors met at Barberton Public Library on Thursday, November 18, to approve $89,820.50 for ten grants in the third cycle for health and wellness programming. The board also approved the Foundation’s 2022 spending policy and selected 2022 officers: Jason Slater, Chair; Denny Liddle, Vice Chair; Jennifer Bidlingmyer, Treasurer; and Deb Shreiner, Secretary.

Grants

Jason Slater, Grants Committee Chair, shared that the Foundation had been able to connect fund holders with several grant partners this cycle. Josh Gordon, Board Chair, thanked Carrie Herman, Director of Community Impact, for connecting with those donors. “This creative approach allowed the Foundation to partner with our fund holders to better meet the needs of our grant partners and the needs of our community. This was a win-win for everyone.”

The Foundation awarded Coleman Health Services $20,000 for their Student Success Initiative. This program is a partnership between Coleman and Barberton City Schools to combat disengagement and disruptive classroom behavior in children through working to resolve emotional and relational conflicts. The program provides the tools and support a family needs to encourage their children at school, increase their attendance and academic performance overall.

Red Oak Behavioral Health was awarded $15,000 toward screening an IndieFLIX Education video series that focuses on topics such as anxiety, finding balance in the digital world, strategies to overcome cyber-bullying, exploring the impact of race and racism on mental health and how to move toward racial healing. Red Oak will coordinate the screenings and facilitate discussions of the films’ topics. This project partners with Barberton City School District and the Barberton Community Wellness Collaborative, a network of programs and agencies providing health and wellness services to Barberton schools students.

AxessPointe Community Health Center received $15,000 to support their Mobile Dental and Oral Health Clinic. The mobile unit will provide more equitable access to care by bringing medical and dental services to local neighborhoods in Barberton. Funds will be used to purchase a handheld x-ray machine and oral sensors.

The Foundation awarded Victim Assistance Program $14,820.50 for their Barberton Municipal Court Advocacy Program. Victim Assistance Program estimates that this funding will go toward services to 350 individuals in 2022. Services include crisis intervention, court advocacy, community resource referrals, safety and action planning, as well as victim rights education.

Countryside received $10,000 for their Food Access Program at the Barberton Farmers Market. This program provides tokens and vouchers to SNAP and WIC recipients and senior citizens, which can be used to purchase fruits and vegetables at the markets.

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank received $7,500 for their 2022 Barberton Direct Distribution Program which operates monthly at the Barberton Salvation Army to provide Barberton residents access to healthy food at no cost.

$2,500 was awarded to First Tee – Greater Akron for their program called Expanding Educational Life Skills Programming in Barberton. First Tee integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, including building self-confidence and resilience. Funding also supports their partnership with Lake Anna YMCA as a partner and location for programming.

$2,000 was awarded to Ben Curtis Family Foundation for their Birdie Bag program which provides bagged meals for Barberton students facing food insecurity. Ben Curtis Family Foundation has been providing Birdie Bags in Barberton since 2018. In 2022, they estimate they will serve 1,400-1,800 children on a monthly basis.

Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio received $1,500 for scholarships for Barberton participants, which provides scholarships for both Barberton Middle School and Barberton Elementary School programs. The program is offered to students in 3rd-8th grades and promotes social-emotional learning and mental well-being along with physical activity.

Greenleaf Family Center was awarded $1,500 for their Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program. This program will provide services to Barberton Middle School and Barberton High School students and school staff, and provide assistance with Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training for all Barberton City employees.

Spending Policy and a Message from the Director

With the final payment on Barberton High School’s construction made this year, the Foundation adopted a new spending policy to reflect changes to both the Foundation’s obligations and its goals moving forward.

“In 2022 we will continue to listen to the community,” said Suzanne Allen, Executive Director. “We are working with Heritage Ohio for a Downtown Assessment and we will contract with Management Resources Company for a city-wide needs assessment. We are excited to partner with the City, the Schools, and Summa Health – Barberton Campus on the needs assessment. These results will give us the ability to better measure the impact of our investments.”

The Foundation will increase funding for small grants, grant cycles and scholarships, while adding funding for Economic Development initiatives.

Josh Gordon said that while spending is increasing in these areas, overall, the spending percent will decrease. “We continue to stand by our duty as a board for responsible and strategic management of the Foundation’s corpus. With that in mind, we strive to balance the needs of the future with the impact we can make today. This spending policy will allow the Foundation to grow both the principal fund and increase our granting capacity in the future.”

Suzanne concluded the evening by thanking the board and staff for an exceptional year. “A special thank you to Kim Miller for her service to this organization. Kim retires this week as our office manager for the past two years. We are so grateful to her for her hard work, and we wish her well.”

Karie Sattler joined the Foundation as incoming office manager in September.

With the announcement of this last 2021 grant cycle, Barberton Community Foundation has awarded $240,200 through its three grants cycles: Education, Workforce and Economic Development; Arts and Community; and Health and Wellness.

Foundation Board Approves Second Cycle Grants for Arts and Community Programs

Foundation Board Approves Second Cycle Grants for Arts and Community Programs

by | Jul 21, 2021 | Announcements, Grants

Barberton Community Foundation Logo

The Barberton Community Foundation Board of Directors met at the Active Adult Center on Thursday, July 15 to approve $63,179.50 for six grants in the second cycle for arts and community programming. The board also discussed several upcoming events, contracting with Heritage Ohio, and other business.

Grants:

City of Barberton was awarded $20,000 for the Foundation Fields lighting upgrade. This grant supports the installation of exterior LED lighting retrofit upgrades for all four fields at the Foundation Fields complex.

The Foundation awarded $15,000 to the City of Barberton Parks and Recreation Department for operating support including: programming, youth camps, summer concerts, the Mum Fest, and park maintenance.

Habitat for Humanity received $15,000 from the Foundation for their program called: Barberton New Home Build. Habitat builds homes for low-to-moderate income families and offers 30-year, zero interest mortgages.

Magical Theatre Company was awarded $5,500 for operating support to sustain the organization through the ongoing pandemic.

The Barberton High School Art Department was awarded $4,179.50 to purchase and integrate iPads in the creation of artwork. This will help students learn the creative applications many professionals use.

The Foundation granted $3,500 to United Way of Summit & Medina for their 2-1-1 program. The 2-1-1 Information and Referral hotline is a free, confidential 24/7 information helpline that helps residents with find health and social services, food pantries, and more.

Two motions for changes to funds:

The Board approved two motions regarding funds held at the Foundation. First, there are several funds established by Barberton Summa Hospital: the Barberton Alumni Physician Now and Forever Funds and the Barberton Alumni Physician Scholarship Fund. The Foundation approved, at the recommendation of Dr. Michael Hughes (fund advisor), to consolidate these funds in order to grow the Barberton Alumni Physician Scholarship Fund for Barberton students.

Second, the Foundation approved that the Barberton Salvation Army Now and Forever Fund, which uses funds raised from the Labor Day event, expand its purpose statement to: “the purpose of the Fund shall be to support local nonprofit organizations that contribute to the overall health and well-being of the citizens of Barberton by services to the underserved population.” This change was made at the recommendation of Denny Liddle, who is the fund advisor and originator.

Events:

The Foundation has contracted with Heritage Ohio, which will be conducting an introductory event in the fall. The Foundation is also planning donor and board events, has partnered with Magical Theatre for Tuscany on Tusc, and is planning their Annual Dinner for November 4. Tickets will go on sale in the fall.

If you want to learn more about the Foundation, visit our website at barbertoncf.org or please give us a call at 330-745-5995.

Ray E. Leach, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund

Ray E. Leach, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund

by | May 25, 2021 | Announcements, Grants

Ray E. Leach, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund

Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to welcome the Leach Family to the Foundation with the announcement of the Ray E. Leach, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. Tina, Kathy, Mike, and Ray have decided to honor their father (and Brianna her grandfather), with a scholarship that will benefit a Barberton student pursuing a trade school or technical education.

Ray Sr. was a self-made man who was always helping others. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to follow their passion and do what they do best. This scholarship is designed to remember Ray Sr. in his belief of a brighter future, to further students’ talents and help them financially, no matter their passion.

If you would like to support the Ray E. Leach, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, there are several ways to make a donation.

You can give Barberton Community Foundation a call at 330-745-5995 or send a check by mail to 460 W. Paige Ave. Barberton, OH 44203. Be sure to mention the Ray Leach Sr. Scholarship as your designation.

Donate Online

In May 2021, the Leach Family awarded their first scholarship to Skylar Ramsey, which coincided on the 50th anniversary celebration of Leach’s Meats and Sweets. Congratulations Skylar and Leach Family! 

Foundation Announces 2021 First Grant Cycle Awards

Foundation Announces 2021 First Grant Cycle Awards

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Grants

Foundation Board Meets, Announces Job Opening, First Cycle Grant Partners

Barberton Community Foundation’s Board of Directors met via Zoom on Thursday, March 18, to approve $87,200 in grants to eight area nonprofits, to share committee updates, and to discuss the job opening for a Director of Economic Development.

Josh Gordon was in good spirits as he hosted his first meeting as the Chair of the Board of Directors. He welcomed and thanked everyone for attending. “The Foundation has long-emphasized a strong focus on economic development, and we are thrilled to open the search for a talented professional on our team that will help attract successful businesses to relocate and grow in Barberton,” Gordon said. “In addition to a new staff role, I am very excited about our newest Board Members who bring experience in economic development, law, and education to our board. We have also more than doubled the size of our Friends of the Foundation program, enhancing the strength and capabilities of our committees. While we are all working well virtually, we are excited to meet in person to continue our work together.”
The newly posted job opening is for a Director of Economic Development. Applications will remain open through April 23, with the interview process commencing after. The job description is available on the Foundation’s website.

Dr. Suzanne Allen, Executive Director of Barberton Community Foundation, shared the reason for the new role.  “This new position is part of the Foundation’s strategic focus. Working with the City and BCDC to build on the strengths that have served Barberton well, and helping us continue to serve the businesses and the residents of our city are key components of this new job.”

A New Grant Cycle

The board approved motions for the Foundation’s first grant cycle of 2021. The Grants Committee utilized a new granting format that focuses each cycle into specific categories. For this cycle, only grants focused on education, workforce, and economic development were considered.

The Barberton City School District received the largest grant this cycle, $39,700 for technology improvements including: 500 computer mice for kindergarten and first grade students at both elementary schools, eight mounted interactive boards for Barberton Preschool classrooms, and two interactive boards on movable carts at each elementary school.

Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority was awarded $18,000 toward the installation of WiFi in the Crimson Terrace and Van Buren Homes housing developments. A reliable WiFi connection at these locations will help students to access school work and seniors or individuals with disabilities to access telehealth sessions and the internet. The project is a collaboration between the City, Barberton City Schools, the Foundation, and AMHA.

The Foundation awarded the National Inventors Hall of Fame $7,500 to continue Barberton’s partnership with Camp Invention. Funding supports scholarships for elementary students who wish to attend. The camp focuses on a week of STEM activities and utilizes Barberton teachers in programming.

Tri-County Jobs for Ohio Graduates (JOG) was awarded $5,000 to support their programming in partnership with Barberton High School. Four JOG programs are currently provided at Barberton High School including Schools-to-Careers, YEAR-13, Out of School programming and Subsidized Employment for high school dropout prevention, recovery services and career pathway planning.

The Foundation granted $5,000 to Akron SCORE for their Barberton Community and Workforce Development program. Throughout the year, SCORE anticipates serving as many as 150 Barberton residents who are considering starting or expanding their businesses.

United Way of Summit and Medina Counties received $5,000 for their program called Financial Empowerment Services for Barberton Residents. The program provides no-cost financial coaching, tax preparation, and banking access. United Way has a financial coach dedicated to Barberton, spending one day a week at a local nonprofit to meet with clients.

Soap Box Derby (SBD) STEM Education program received $4,000 to continue their Mini SBD STEM program for all fourth graders at both elementary schools. The program involves 250 youth and builds STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) strengths, provides summer camp scholarships for five BCS students and supports materials for the Barberton High School Gravity Racing Challenge.

The Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America was awarded $3,000 to provide scouting scholarships for youth and adult troop leaders in Barberton. The Boy Scouts have seen a decrease in numbers due to COVID-19. Currently there are about 100 scouts in eight units in Barberton.