Health and Human Services Grant Cycle
Supporting Health and Human Services: A Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
Community Foundation of Lorain County’s Board of Directors has approved over $1.3M in grants to Health and Human Services non-profit organizations in 2024. These non-profits will continue their essential work, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
Our Lorain County community shares a common passion: to improve our community. We envision a future where everyone has access to supportive housing, no one experiences hunger or thirst, and all individuals enjoy quality healthcare and education. This ensures people can lead dignified lives with good health and well-being. Many of us already contribute our time, talents, treasures, ties, and testimonies toward these vital goals.
These aspirations align with SDGs’ goals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
The Sustainable Development Goals are not abstract concepts but core principles directly impacting our community’s lives. They address issues such as access to quality education, healthcare, environmental protection, peace, and justice—areas where we seek continuous improvement. The work of the Community Foundation and our grant recipients closely aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Grants awarded during the Health and Human Services cycle at the Community Foundation support local non-profits in providing crucial services such as healthcare, food, supportive housing, and homeownership for individuals and families.
2024 Health and Human Services Grant Recipients
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry: $20K
Mercy Foundation of Lorain County: $55K
NAMI Lorain County: $13.5K
Neighborhood Alliance: $85K
Nord Center: $60K
North Ridgeville Community Care: $10K
Oberlin Community Services Council: $30K
OhioGuidestone: $5K
P2R: $25K
Pathways Enrichment Center: $35K
Prevent Blindness, Northeast Ohio Chapter: $10.5K
Primary Purpose Center, Inc.: $18K
Road To Hope House Inc.: $50K
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio: $5K
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: $100K
The Salvation Army Elyria: $37K
United Way of Greater Lorain County: $25K
Vocational Guidance Services: $7.5K
Voices for Children: $10K
In 2023, the Community Foundation participated in a year-long cohort organized by Philanthropy Ohio and led by The Cleveland Foundation to learn more about the SDGs and integrate these goals into our grant cycles.
We eagerly anticipate recognizing the grant recipients of the 2024 Education and Youth Development cycle in July, which aligns with another set of SDGs.
Using the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework fosters innovation, economic growth, and local cooperation. The SDGs and the work of the Community Foundation are interconnected, ensuring that no one is left behind and embracing the diversity of our Lorain County community.
One promising partner in our grants portfolio is the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA), with their Southside Gateway Community Plan. Team leaders include LMHA, the City of Lorain, and El Centro, which organizations in urban planning, community engagement, education planning, and communications support.
This group obtained $500K in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a plan to revitalize Southside Gardens and South Lorain. The plan targets three main areas:
- Improving employment, health and wellness, and education (led by El Centro).
- Enhancing neighborhoods (led by the City of Lorain).
- Addressing housing needs, including replacing 110 public housing units and adding 430 new mixed-income units (led by LMHA).
The Community Foundation of Lorain County serves on the Steering Committee for the Southside Gateway Community Plan. LMHA has engaged community voices to determine early action activities. The Community Foundation approved $60K for Lorain Community Park, which will provide gathering areas, recreational opportunities, and locations for community partners to offer services. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Fall 2024, with expected completion in Spring 2025.
This work aligns with the Health and Human Services grant cycle and the SDGs. The ultimate plan to implement the Southside Gateway Community Plan includes securing a $50M HUD Neighborhood Planning Grant.
“We are pleased to be a part of the Southside Gateway Community Plan to transform South Lorain,” said Maria Grega, Community Foundation of Lorain County Grants Committee Chair. “The recent grant to Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority will help leverage the federal funds from the HUD Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant and ideally position our community to receive additional federal funding. We’re grateful to Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, El Centro de Sociales, and the City of Lorain for their leadership.”
We eagerly anticipate continuing to leverage the SDGs as a valuable resource, connecting people who care with causes that matter. As we strive to improve our community, we look forward to exploring how these goals can guide our efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind and embracing the diverse needs of our Lorain County community.