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 Welcome to the first issue of GAR Foundation's periodic
e-newsletter. We plan to use this vehicle to communicate with grantees and other stakeholders around timely topics and upcoming events. Please help us make this publication as useful as possible; tell us what you think at info@garfoundation.org. And please share it with any colleagues who may benefit. Thanks for reading!
Rob Briggs
President, GAR Foundation |
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Highlights from our August 2011 Distribution Committee Meeting
The Foundation's Distribution Committee held its quarterly meeting on August 10 and 11. The Committee awarded grants totaling $1,148,500 to 22 organizations. A list of these awards appears on our website, www.garfoundation.org.
Several key themes anchored the discussions:
- The Foundation reiterated its strong commitment to high-quality, evidence-based early childhood learning efforts. A $70,000 grant to Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority for its Early Childhood Initiative was but one outward sign of this commitment.
- The Committee allocated $300,000 for another year of GAR Foundation's Educator Initiative Grant Program. The goal of the "EIG" program is to support teacher-initiated, classroom-based projects and methods that demonstrably impact student academic achievement. Learn more, including how to apply, at www.garfoundation.org. Also join us at the Akron-Summit County Public Library on October 12 for an EIG informational workshop (details below).
- Given the challenges our community continues to face in the slow economy, the Committee made multiple awards supportive of basic community needs. Of particular interest was a $25,000 award to Info Line for the Food Pantry Clearinghouse effort. Through this unique collaborative effort, supported by many other local foundations and governmental departments, Summit County residents can navigate the community's food pantry network through a central point of contact. Learn more at http://summitfoodhelp.org/ .
The Distribution Committee revisited the Foundation's current moratorium on capital grants and, after thoughtful deliberation, opted to keep it in place for now. The Foundation acknowledges the importance of capital grants. Yet in this time of economic crisis, budget cuts, and systemic turmoil, GAR Foundation feels it must double down in support of the operations and programs so desperately needed in the local community.
The GAR Foundation Distribution Committee will meet for the final time this calendar year in November. |
