More than $5.1 million in grants provided to 180 nonprofits through federal CARES Act funds
Nearly 200 local nonprofit organizations have been awarded $5,135,000 in grants from the County of Summit and Akron Community Foundation through the Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Program, as well as through an additional contribution from Summit DD. The program, announced earlier this fall, is providing federal CARES Act funding to 501(c)(3) organizations throughout Summit County that provide for the basic needs of underserved County residents, as well as nonprofits in the arts and cultural sector.
"When individuals and families are in need, they often turn to local nonprofit organizations for help. After experiencing a surge in demand for COVID-19 related assistance, our nonprofits suddenly found themselves in need," said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. "These grants will help many local nonprofits stay in operation during these trying times, and ensure our residents are able to access critical basic needs services. We are grateful Akron Community Foundation stepped up to help us quickly and efficiently distribute the funds."
In this round of funding, 113 organizations received $3,090,000 in funding for basic needs, 57 organizations received $1,605,000 in arts and culture-focused funding, and 10 nonprofits received $440,000 to support the needs of residents with developmental disabilities. From paying for personal protective equipment to technology upgrades incurred from taking services virtual, these funds will help local organizations defray unexpected costs incurred this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nonprofits are struggling with the long-term economic consequences of COVID-19 just like businesses and individuals, but there were very few formal assistance programs in place to provide support," said County Council Vice President Elizabeth Walters. "I am proud of my fellow council members and Executive Shapiro for stepping up to fill this need for nonprofits."
The Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grant program was approved by Executive Shapiro and Summit County Council on Sept. 21 after meeting with nonprofit leaders who expressed concern about the long-lasting economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000 and must be spent by Dec. 30.
"It's an understatement to say this has been a difficult year for so many – our local nonprofits included. Not only have they been feeling the strain due to unexpected costs and programmatic changes, but they've faced an increased need for their services from the community, too," said John T. Petures Jr., president and CEO of Akron Community Foundation. "I'm so pleased we could work with the county to get millions of dollars back into the community now when it's needed most."
The following 180 organizations received funding:
A Kid Again
ACCESS
Akron Area YMCA
Akron Art Museum
Akron Bible Church
Akron Blind Center
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Akron Children's Museum
Akron Civic Theatre
Akron Inner City Soccer Club
Akron MakerSpace
Akron Marathon
Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs
Akron Roundtable
Akron Soul Train
Akron Symphony
Akron Urban League
Akron-Urban Minority Alcoholism Drug Abuse Outreach Program Inc
American Red Cross of Summit, Portage and Medina Counties
ARC Recovery Services
Art Resources Transformations
ArtsNow
ArtSparks
Asian Services In Action (ASIA)
Autism Society of Greater Akron
Ballet Excel Ohio
Ballet Theatre of Ohio
Barberton Area Community Ministries
Be The Church Inc.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties
Birthing Beautiful Communities
The Blick Center
Bounce Innovation Hub
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
Bright Star Books
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry
Bulldog Bags Inc.
CANAPI
Caring Hands Charity
CASA Board Volunteer Association
Cascade Community Development Inc.
Catholic Charities of Summit County
Center for Applied Drama and Autism
Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture
CHC Addiction Services
Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Children's Concert Society of Akron
Choices: A Community Social Center
Christ Child Society of Akron
Coleman Professional Services
Community Legal Aid Services
Community Oriented Recovery
Community Support Services
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
CORE Furniture Bank
Crafty Mart
Crown Point Ecology Center
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Daughters of Divine Charity
The Devil Strip
Dr. Bob's Home
Dreams Academy International
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation
Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio
Elevate AKRON
Embracing Futures Inc.
The Emergency Assistance Center
ETC All-American Youth Show Choir
Falls Cancer Club Inc
Family and Community Services
Family Promise of Summit County
Fathers & Sons of Northeast Ohio
The Final Farewell Project
First Congregational Church of Hudson
Forever R Children
Forget-Me-Not Baskets
Free To Be Ministries
Freedom House for Women
Friends of the Stow-Monroe Falls Public Library
Friends of The Summit
GASP Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection
Genesis Experience Theatre
Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio
Good Neighbors Inc.
Good Samaritan Hunger Center
Goodwill Industries of Akron
Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee
Greenleaf Family Center
Gum-Dip Theatre
H.M. Life Opportunity Services
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, Inc.
Harmony House
He Brought Us Out Ministry
HELP Foundation, Inc.
Helping Hands of Summit County Inc.
Himalayan Music Academy
Humane Society of Summit County
International Institute of Akron
International Soap Box Derby
Jewish Community Board of Akron
Jewish Community Center of Akron
Jewish Family Service of Akron Ohio
JoAnna House II
Keys to Serenity
Koinonia Homes Inc.
Legacy III Inc.
Let's Grow Akron
Limitless Ambition
LINKS Community and Family Services
Magical Theatre Company
MAPS Air Museum
Music from The Western Reserve
Musical Arts Association
National Center for Choreography
NCS of Barberton
The Nightlight Cinema
None Too Fragile Theatre
North Akron Community Development Corporation
Northfield Presbyterian Church
Not Just October
OhioGuidestone
Ohio Shakespeare Festival
OPEN M
Open Tone Music
Our Lady of the Wayside
The Packard Institute
Peninsula Art Academy
Peninsula Foundation
The Peter Maurin Center of Akron
Progress Through Preservation
Project GRAD Akron
Proyecto RAICES
RAHAB Ministries
Rape Crisis Center
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio
Red Oak Behavioral Health
Ronald McDonald House Akron
Rubber City Theatre
Safety Forces Support Center
The Salvation Army of Summit County
Sarah's House Inc.
Shanti Community Farms
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
South Akron Youth Mentorship
South Street Ministries
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Stewart's Caring Place
Stow-Munroe Falls Neighborhood Improvement & Community Enrichment
Stow-Munroe Falls Rotary Club Foundation
Street Ministries Inc
Students With A Goal
Summit Artspace
Summit Choral Society
Summit County Community Partnership
Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio
Summit Education Initiative
Tarry House
Theatre 8:15 and Friends
Theron Brown Music
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates
Truly Reaching You
Tuesday Musical Association
Twin Masks Performing Arts Center
United Disability Services
Urban Ounce of Prevention Behavioral Health Services
Urban Troubadour Company
Urban Vision
VANTAGE Aging
Victim Assistance Program
Wandering Aesthetics
Warriors' Journey Home Ministry Inc.
Weathervane Community Playhouse
Weaver Industries, Inc.
The Well Community Development Corporation
Western Reserve Historical Society
Western Reserve Playhouse
Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop
Zane's Inc.