Junior Achievement receives support for New Frontiers program; Harmony Project named Continuous Improvement grant recipient
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 20, 2015)—Local nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life for central Ohioans will receive a boost as 2015 kicks off—with 36 grants recently approved by the Foundation’s Governing Committee, totaling $679,795.
In October, a $120,000 grant was awarded to Junior Achievement of Central Ohio, Inc. (JACO) to develop and launch New Frontiers, a strategic effort to broaden and deepen its career pipeline of programs to foster essential career skills for youth ages 6–18. This program is being created to prepare area youth to become adults who meet the employment needs of central Ohio. JACO was established in 1950 by the Columbus Rotary Club. JACO’s purpose today, as it was then, is to inspire and empower young people to own their economic success.
The Foundation named the Harmony Project as a Continuous Improvement grant recipient in December. Harmony Project is a nonprofit organization created to connect communities across social divides through art, education, and volunteerism. Grantmaking under the Continuous Improvement program is designed to provide multi-year support for operating expenses, focus on strengthening institutional infrastructure, and inspire organizations that have the potential for innovative service delivery. In addition to providing financial support, the Foundation will offer technical assistance and hands-on support from Foundation staff. Previous Continuous Improvement grantees are the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, EasyColumbus, and United Schools Network.
The following grants were approved in December through the Foundation’s Giving Strength competitive grantmaking program.
FUND FOR TARGETED NEEDS
Basic Needs
Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus—$35,000 to strengthen the capacity of Columbus community development corporations to develop affordable housing and initiate community-building activities.
Community Shelter Board—$110,000 to support operations.
Mid-Ohio Foodbank—$50,000 to support and expand food distribution services, food stamp outreach efforts, and specialty programming.
Ohio Association of Foodbanks—$140,000 to support local Ohio Benefit Bank services, including My Budget Coach, workforce development, and navigator services under the Affordale Care Act.
Developmental Disabilities
LifeCare Alliance—$15,000 to support the IMPACT Safety program to teach safety education skills to individuals with developmental disabilities.
SMALL AND SPECIALIZED GRANTS
Community Improvement
Parsons Avenue Redevelopment Corporation—$5,000 to support renovations of the historic structure at 677 Parsons Avenue.
The Jefferson Center for Learning and the Arts—$5,200 to support the restoration and reconstruction of the exterior of 57 Jefferson Avenue.
Education
Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus, Inc.—$8,000 to support the expansion of the summer learning loss prevention program, Summer Brain Gain.
Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center—$2,000 to support the Kids Club program with a writing module in partnership with Thurber House.
Columbus School for Girls—$1,495 to send an English teacher to the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop for Teachers.
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council—$5,000 to support STEMfest.
The Buckeye Ranch, Inc.—$3,000 to fund the Nuturing Fathers’ Program for fathers with open child welfare cases.
Health
Alvis House—$12,000 to support human trafficking survivors in their substance abuse and trauma recovery.
Amethyst, Inc.—$12,000 to support new mothers and human trafficking survivors in their substance abuse recovery.
Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region—$5,000 to support pain-reduction health education sessions for people with arthritis.
CompDrug, Inc.—$5,000 to support pain-reduction health education sessions for people with arthritis; $12,000 to support women in the MOMS program.
KidSMILES Pediatric Dental Clinic—$3,600 to support the distribution of educational material.
LifeCare Alliance—$3,900 to support Kick Start a Healthy New You project to encourage healthy behaviors among clients and to increase their health knowledge.
Maryhaven, Inc.—$10,000 to purchase 50 baby packages for infants born to women in the Stable Cradle Program.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana Inc.—$14,000 to grant wishes to central Ohio residents.
National Society to Prevent Blindness – Ohio Affiliate—$5,000 to provide a certified vision screening program for volunteers.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio—$9,200 to help reduce rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases by supporting delivery of culturally competent services to non-English speaking clients at the Franklinton Health Center.
YMCA of Central Ohio—$24,000 to support ECRN+ to provide mental health and developmental screenings and link to services.
Social Services
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio—$7,500 to secure and repair the back deck on Sebring Lodge at Camp Oty’Okwa.
Flying Horse Farms—$3,500 to purchase materials for the maintenance of the camp’s pedestrian and cart paths.
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council—$9,600 to install 16 speed bumps and replace the front gates at Camp Ken-Jockety.
Recreation Unlimited Foundation—$800 to construct a new camp firewood shelter.
Simon Kenton Council, Boy Scouts of America—$2,000 to replace floor tiles, doors, and bathroom fixtures at the Bucher Training Center at Camp Lazarus.
YMCA of Central Ohio—$4,000 to add two portable chicken coops at Camp Willson.
Special Population
American Red Cross Central – Southeast Ohio Region—$1,000 to support the Community Transportation Program, which provides non-emergency medical transportation to Franklin County residents age 60 or older.
National Society to Prevent Blindness – Ohio Affiliate—$9,000 to support a Vision Care Outreach Program that provides those at high risk of losing their sight with donated eye care.
National Church Residences Foundation—$7,500 to support the creation of an enhanced hospice volunteer program.
OhioHealth Foundation, Inc.—$7,000 to support a workshop for professionals and caregivers relating to grief and loss in the disabled community.
Wexner Heritage Village—$12,500 to support the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program.
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor® to more than 2,000 individuals, families, businesses, and communities that have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Now 70 years strong, The Columbus Foundation is the seventh largest community foundation in the United States. The Foundation’s online giving marketplace, PowerPhilanthropy,® makes it possible for everyone to access valuable information about nonprofit organizations in central Ohio.