Community Foundation Board Approves Grants at July Meeting

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            Elyria, OH, July 22, 2014 ‑ The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Lorain County voted to approve grants totaling $568,315 at its July 16 meeting. The Community Foundation awards general competitive grants from over 500 endowed Funds 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.

Twenty nine local agencies, both large and small, received grants that will contribute to numerous programs and services benefiting Lorain County residents. A few examples of grants awarded to the county at large are highlighted below, followed by a complete list of all funded grants.

Lorain City Schools Science Day A grant of $7,395 has been awarded to take all third grade classes from Lorain City Schools to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Students will attend curriculum-based Earth and Space Science programs including: learning about the Solar System at the Planetarium, Rocks and the Making of Soils, Earth’s Changing Surface, Rocks and Minerals, and Ohio’s Geography.

YMCA of Greater Cleveland has received a grant for $28,000 for operating the Central and Oakwood pools and to provide summer pool passes for youth. For the past several years, the YMCA has managed and operated two of Lorain’s city pools: Central Pool and Oakwood Pool from June to August for 8 weeks.

The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park has been awarded a grant for $13,935 that will support a camp program for the Elyria School District during the school year and a summer program for Lorain City Schools. Fifth graders from Elyria’s Crestwood Elementary School will get to camp in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for three days and two nights. The camp, “All the Rivers Run,” will teach students about ecological concepts such as biodiversity, life cycles, change, and sustainability. Students will also design an “eco-friendly house”.

Voices for Children, a juvenile advocacy organization, has received a $17,320 grant for volunteer recruitment and training. Voices for Children trains volunteers to be Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardians Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) to represent the best interest of a child who is involved in a court proceeding as a result of having been abused or neglected. Recruitment and training of volunteers is held twice a year. Training and support for ongoing CASA/GAL volunteers, including monthly continuing education training sessions, is also provided.

A $27,000 grant has been awarded to the Lorain County Office on Aging (LCOA) supporting the Improving Health Outcomes of Rural Seniors in Southern Lorain County program. The program serves seniors living in households with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level in the communities of Brighton, Camden, Huntington, LaGrange, Penfield, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Wellington Village and Township. The grant will support delivery of hot meals to seniors and covers mileage costs for volunteers providing transportation for seniors to medical care appointments and other services.

Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House A grant for $28,794 has been awarded to support the Genesis House Aftercare Program. The Aftercare Program provides planning and support services to women after they leave the shelter. The caseload has more than doubled from 23 families in 2012, most of the women are from Elyria and Lorain, but also include residents from North Ridgeville, Oberlin, and Wellington.

Arts & Culture ‑ $44,366
Credo Chamber Music Association
      Community Service Projects ‑ $4,000

Great Lakes Theater Festival
      2014‑2015 Education Programs in Lorain County ‑ $22,866

 Lorain Historical Society
      General Operating Support ‑ $25,000

The MAD Factory
      Theatre Arts Based Programming ‑ $7,500

Oberlin Choristers
      General Operating Support ‑ $5,000

Ohio Dance Theatre
      General Operating Support ‑ $5,000 

Civic Affairs ‑ $46,800
Herrick Memorial Library
      Latchkey program ‑ $4,300

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
      Access to Justice for Lorain County Residents ‑ $17,500

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 ‑ $15,000

Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      Environmental education for Elyria and Lorain City Schools ‑ $13,935

Educational Service Center of Lorain County
      Young Authors’ 2015 ‑ $5,460

Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland
      K ‑ 12 Economic Education Programs for Lorain County Students ‑ $15,000

Lorain City Schools
      Science day for third graders at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History ‑ $7,395

Ohio State University Extension
      OSU Extension: Lorain County 4‑H ‑ $40,000

Health ‑ $93,000
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center
      Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Lorain ‑ $20,000

Family Planning Services of Lorain County
      Community Health Educator and operating support ‑ $45,000

YMCA of Greater Cleveland
      Lorain city pools, Vermilion YMCA, and Wellington programs for seniors ‑ $28,000

Catholic Charities Corporation
      Emergency Assistance Services and Adoption Services ‑ Lorain County ‑ $58,650

Family Promise of Lorain County, Inc.
      Interfaith Hospitality Network ‑ $40,000

Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House
      Aftercare Program ‑ $28,794

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
      Girl Scout After School Journey Program in Lorain Schools: with conditions ‑ $17,800

Lorain Co Lutheran Presbyterian Cooperative Ministries
      Food Distribution and Meal Programs ‑ $5,000

Lorain County Office on Aging
      Improving Health Outcomes of Rural Seniors in Southern Lorain County ‑ $27,000

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Association
      Volunteer Guardianship Program ‑ $20,000

Neighborhood Alliance
      Haven Center Homeless Shelter: Challenge Grant ‑ $25,000

Voices for Children
      Volunteer Recruitment & Training ‑ $17,320