FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Foundation of Lorain County Announces $725,728 in Grants
Continues Legacy established by Len DeLuca and Ted Jacobs
For more information, contact:
Lisa Rupple, communications coordinator
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Office 440.984.7390
Elyria, OH, July 21, 2015
The Community Foundation of Lorain County has announced grants totaling $725,728 in support of 32 projects around the county that will contribute to numerous programs and services benefiting Lorain County residents.
General, competitive grants ranging from $4,300 to $68,500 were awarded in support of projects in five program areas: Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Education, Health, and Social Services. Grants are awarded to tax-exempt organizations classified as 501(c)(3) charities by the Internal Revenue Service and organizations must be located in or provide services to residents within Lorain County. A complete list of grants awarded follows.
A $11,900 grant has been awarded to Lorain City Schools to engage 2nd and 3rd grade students in curriculum-based science programs. The grant will cover the cost per student and transportation for about 1,100 children from 35 classrooms to travel to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for Science Day programs in spring of 2016. Teachers will prepare students in advance of the trip by teaching content that they will experience at the museum.
Third grade students will explore Ohio’s habitats by learning about a wide variety of native plants and animals throughout history. Second grade students will learn about how and when dinosaurs lived and how they were specifically and physically adapted for basic survival in their environment. All content is aligned to Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Academic Content standards.
According to the 2014 Ohio Department of Education Report Card, the Lorain City School District failed to meet the state minimum requirements in mathematics, reading, and science for grades 3 through 8. Only 31% of 5th graders passed science. The Science Day project provides a curriculum incorporated and aligned opportunity to introduce young students to a foundation in science in an approach that is meaningful and memorable.
The grant is supported in part from the Len and Sally DeLuca Family Fund and the Ruth and Ted Jacobs Fund. Len DeLuca and Ted Jacobs were two longtime Community Foundation supporters and donors that have recently passed. During their lifetimes they used their endowment funds to support causes and organizations they cared about, which included addressing critical needs in the community and scientific and educational programs. This grant is a prime example of the Community Foundation’s promise to each of these individuals to carry on their legacy. Support for the grant was also provided from the Billy S. and Fay R. Rowland Fund.
The grant is the second that has been awarded to the Lorain City Schools for a Science Day, also funded in part by the Ruth and Ted Jacobs Fund. In 2014, the Community Foundation awarded $7,395 for 500 third grade students from the district to go to the museum for curriculum-based Earth and Space Science programs. Other contributing Funds are the Ray L. and Mary K. Miraldi Fund and the Northern Ohio Heart Center Fund.
Founded in 1980, the Community Foundation of Lorain County is made up of more than 570 endowed Funds valued at approximately $128 million dollars. Assets of the Funds are invested wisely and a percentage of those earnings provides $4.4 million annually in grant support to non-profit organizations in Lorain County. For more information on the Community Foundation visit www.peoplewhocare.org.
Arts & Culture $100,366
Credo
Credo Summer Music Festival $5,000
Great Lakes Theater Festival
2015-16 Education Programs in Lorain County $22,866
Lorain Historical Society
General operations $25,000
The MAD Factory
Theatre based Arts Programs $7,500
Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras
Scholarships and general operating support $25,000
Oberlin Choristers
Scholarships for ethnic minorities $5,000
Ohio Dance Theatre
General operating support $10,000
Civic Affairs $39,110
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
2016 Elyria Lorain Partnership $14,110
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Access to Justice for Basic Needs for Lorain County Residents $25,000
Western Reserve Land Conservancy
Land protection activities in Lorain County – $10,000
Education $146,232
Atmosphere Adventures
Science Enrichment $15,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Natural History & Health Education Programs for Rural Lorain County Schools $12,755
College Now Greater Cleveland, Inc.
College Access Advising in Lorain County schools $20,000
Educational Service Center of Lorain County
Math Mania and Young Authors $9,477
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
After School Journey Program in Lorain City Schools $17,800
Herrick Memorial Library
Continuing literacy for latchkey program $4,300
Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland
K 12 Economic education for Lorain County students $15,000
Lorain City Schools
Science Day $11,900
Ohio State University Extension
Lorain County 4 H $40,000
Health $135,600
Alzheimer’s Association
General operating support for Lorain County office $45,600
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center
Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Lorain County: $20,000
Family Planning Services of Lorain County
General operating support $45,000
Lorain County Urban League
Accounting Services $25,000
Social Services $294,420
Catholic Charities Corporation
Emergency Assistance, Adoption and Foster Care $68,650
Family Promise of Lorain County, Inc.
Interfaith Hospitality Network $40,000
Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House
Aftercare and general operating support $50,000
Lorain Co Lutheran Presbyterian Cooperative Ministries
Food distribution through pantries and hot meals $5,000
Lorain County Office on Aging
Improving health outcomes of rural seniors in southern Lorain County $33,070
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County $20,000
Neighborhood Alliance
Haven Center homeless shelter $50,000
North Ridgeville Community Care
Essentials: Choices for daily living: $5,000
Oberlin Community Services Council
Financial literacy and general operating support $22,700