Announcing Our 2024 Grant Recipients

The GPD Employees’ Foundation recently approved 178 grants for organizations and K-12 public schools across the country as a part of our annual Spring Grant Cycle. The Spring Grant Cycle awarded more than $730,000 in grants that all make a difference in the lives of children. The 92 non-profits awarded grants focus their efforts on children with special/medical needs or who are considered at-risk, and the 86 public school grants went directly to educators as they continuously work to enrich the educational experience of their students.

As a part of our grant process this year, the Grant Committee held short interviews with all non-profits who were “new” to the foundation. Fifteen Northeast Ohio non-profits visited GPD’s headquarters in Akron to explain the great work their organizations do and their impact on the community. These conversations were incredibly beneficial and helped the Grant Committee ensure that the organizations’ mission and work aligned with the foundation.

Northeast Ohio — $508,760

A Kid Again (Twinsburg, OH) Adventures for Northern Ohio Children with Life-Threatening Conditions and their Families, $15,000
ACCESS, Inc. (Akron, OH) Feed the Future, $7,500
Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio (Wooster, OH) Adaptive Sports Ohio Dream Camp for Youth with Disabilities, $3,000
Akron Children’s Hospital (Akron, OH) Dance Unlimited Program, $5,000
Akron Urban League (Akron, OH) Summer Enrichment Camp 2024, $3,500
Alchemy, Inc. (Akron, OH) Developing Heroes: In 0school Group Mentoring for Urban Adolescents in Akron Public Schools, $5,000
Always Climbing Project (Akron, OH) SERVE Month (Students Experience Real, Valuable Engagement), $2,500
Art Sparks (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) Expansion of Dynamite Duos performance to Alight with Appropriate Youth Development Goals, $5,000
Aultman Hospital (Canton, OH) Aultman Ambassador Program, $3,750
Autism Society of Greater Akron (Akron, OH) 2024 Summit County iCan Bike Camp, $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina, and Stark Counties (Akron, OH) One-to One and Site-Based Mentoring Programs for Youth in Summit, Stark and Medina Counties, $2,500
Blick Center (Akron, OH) Therapy Resources, $3,568
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (Cleveland, OH) Out of School Time Enrichment Programs for Under-Resourced Kids and Teens in Akron, $5,000
Cadence Care Network (Niles, OH) Cadence Care Network Respite Support, $2,500
Camp Quality Ohio (Akron, OH) Camp Quality Ohio Ongoing and New Programming—Patients, Siblings, and Families, $15,000
CASA Board Volunteer Association, Inc. (Akron) Specialized Advocacy for Abused and Neglected Boys of Color in the Child Welfare System, $5,000
Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center (Cleveland, OH) 2024 FACEtime Fluency Group for Kids Who Stutter, $2.500
Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank (Cleveland, OH) Well Read, Well Fed – Book Distribution at Feeding Sites, $5,000
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (Cleveland, OH) Healing Therapeutic Services for K-12 Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse, $2,500
Connecting for Kids (Westlake, OH) 2024 Adapted Programs in Westlake for Children with Disabilities and/or Mental Health Issues, $3,500
DDC Clinic (Middlefield, OH) Compassionate Care Program, $2,500
Domestic Violence Project, Inc. (Canton, OH) Welcome Bags for Teenagers, $3,500
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio (Independence, OH) Lifelong Learning Academy0Education Programs for Families and Toddlers to Teens, $5,000
Down Syndrome Association of the Valley (Boardman, OH) DSAV Speech, Language and Communication Programs, $2,500
Embracing Futures, Inc. (Akron, OH) Orthodontic Care Program, $10,000
Empower Sports (Cleveland, OH) Inclusive Sports for People with Disabilities, $3,500
Fairhaven Foundation (Niles, OH) The Fairhaven Backpack Program, $2,500
Footpath Foundation (Cleveland, OH) 5^th Grade Outside Discovering Me, $2,500
GiGi’s Playhouse Canton (Canton, OH) GiGi’s Playhouse One-on-One Literacy Tutoring, $2,500
Girls on the Run East Central Ohio (Canton, OH) Unlocking the Power and Potential of Every Girl in Eastern Stark County, $2,500
Girls on the Run of Northeast Ohio (Brecksville, OH) Hello, Superstar! – Empowering Healthy and Resilient Youth, $5,000
Goalgetta Academy (Akron, OH) 4^th Annual Success is the Only Option Teen Career Day, $5,000
Good Samaritan Hunger Center (Akron, OH) Good Samaritan Hunger Center Weekend Kids Bag Program, $2,500
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County (Akron, OH) Twinsburg Safety Town, $2,500
Highland Robotics and Technology Boosters (Medina, OH) Steel Stingers Robotics TEAM 2603, $5,000
Inspiring Minds (Warren, OH) 2024 Inspiring Minds Summer Enrichment Program, $5,000
LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) School-Based Mental Health + Life Skills Programming for Underserved LGBTQ+ Public School Students, $2,500
LifeAct (Chagrin Falls, OH) Suicide Prevention and Stress Management Programs for Ohio Youth, $2,500
Limitless Ambition (Stow, OH) Expanding Purposely Chosen Teen Programming for Girls in Akron Public Schools, $5,000
Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation (Warrensville Heights, OH) Clubs Fore Kids, $3,000
Open Arms Adoptions (Kent, OH) Sibling and Teen Adoptions, $5,000
Pathway Caring for Children (Canton, OH) Mindful Summer: Youth Mental Health Enrichment, $5,000
Pegasus Farm (Hartville, OH) Financial Assistance for Students Enrolled in Pegasus Farm’s Take Flight Scholarship Program, $2,000
The Dancing Wheels Company and School (Cleveland, OH) Dancing Wheels’ 2024 Outreach Programming, $3,000
Providence House, Inc. (Cleveland, OH) Providence House Family Preservation Crisis Nursery: Medical Care, Oversight, and Monitoring, $15,000
Rainey Institute (Cleveland, OH) Rainey Institute 2024 Summer Camps, $5,000
Rayl Charitable Organization (Green, OH) The Debbie Rayl Kindness for Kids Program, $2,500
Rec2Connect (Cleveland, OH) Recreational Therapy Program Welcome Bags, $5,000
RePlay for Kids (Medina, OH) Creating More Adapted Toy Lending Libraries in Ohio, $5,000
Sawyer’s Wish (Akron, OH) Deck the Hospital with Holiday Sheets from Sawyer, $5,000
Shaker Schools Foundation (Shaker Heights, OH) VEX Robotics Technology and Equipment Enhancements and Upgrades, $5,000
Shaker Schools Foundation (Shaker Heights, OH) Therapeutic Horseback Riding Experiences for Extended Standards Students, $3,744
Shaker Schools Foundation (Shaker Heights, OH) Shaker Elementary Schools Author Visit featuring Angela Dominguez, Author of the Stella Diaz Series, $2,500
Shaker Schools Foundation (Shaker Heights, OH) Hand Tool Identification and Safety Certification for all Shaker Schools Eighth Graders, $4,500
Shelter Care, Inc. (Tallmadge, OH) Safe Landing Welcome Duffels, $2,688
Smiles with Style, Inc. (Sagamore Hills, OH) Fund a Smile at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, $5,000
Students with a Goal (Akron, OH) Academic Boost Summer Enrichment Program, $2,500
The First Tee of Greater Akron (Akron, OH) 2024 First Tee – Greater Akron Summer Community Programming, $13,000
The First Tee of Canton (Canton, OH) Continued Impact Through Outreach 2024, $1,500
The Kelly Reeves Memorial Foundation (Munroe Falls, OH) Kelly’s Grief Center/In School Counseling Program, $5,000
United Disability Services (Akron, OH) Promote Child Development and School Readiness Through Access to a Community Toy and Resource Center, $2,500
Valley City Firefighters Association (Valley City, OH) Pediatric Emergency Bags, $2,570
Victory Gallop (Akron, OH) Victory Athletics 2024, $10,000
Women’s Auxiliary Board of Summit County Children Services (Akron, OH) Beds for Kids Program, $5,000
Youth Challenge (Westlake, OH) Creative Arts Programs for Young People with Physical Disabilities, $2,070
Akron Public Schools Online (Akron, OH) APS Online PBIS Rewards and Family Event Funding, $4,000
Barberton City School District (Barberton, OH) Extending the “Magic” After School Hours, $3,950
Berea City School District (Berea, OH) BCSD Classroom Calm Spaces, $3,600
Berea-Midpark Middle School (Middleburg Heights, OH) Titans Team Store, $2,500
Boardman Local Schools (Youngstown, OH) Moving Hearts, $1,310
Boardman Local Schools (Youngstown, OH) BRYT Program Funding, $5,500
Clearview Local Schools (Lorain, OH) Vending Machine Books and Life Skills Class Supplies, $2,500
Clearview Local Schools (Lorain, OH) Cooking with Lesh, $2,880
Clearview Local Schools (Lorain, OH) Headphones for Learning, $520
Cuyahoga Falls City Schools (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) Speak Up for the Nonverbal, $11,721
Edison Local Schools (Milan, OH) Grant Proposal: Stand-Up Desks for Student Engagement and Health, $8,625
Field Middle School (Mogador, OH) Enhancing Creativity and Therapeutic Benefits Through Working With Clay, $4,344
Firestone CLC Robotics (Akron, OH) Firestone Robotics Club: Teaching the Next Generation of Roboteers, $5,000
Green Mighty Dawgs Inclusive Cheer Program and Green High School (Green, OH) Green Mighty Dawgs Cheer Equipment, $1,000
Highland Local School District (Hinckley, OH) Music and Performance Amplification, $3,700
Hoover High School (North Canton) Viking FIRST Robotics, $3,000
Hudson City School District (Hudson, OH) Indoor GaGa Ball Pit Project, $1,799
Hudson City Schools (Hudson, OH) East Woods Intermediate ROX, $2,000
Kent City Schools (Kent, OH) Walls Kindergarten Zoo Experience, $600
Lake Local Schools (Hartville, OH) Solar and Lunar Eclipse Activity Kit, $750
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Louisville Elementary Backpack Program, $10,000
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Daily Living, Cooking, Classroom Supplies, $1,500
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Daily Living Skills – Cooking, Community Outings and Classroom Supplies, $1,600
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Daily Living Skills – Classroom Supplies, $1,600
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Strong Student Engagement Environments, $2,500
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Transitioning to Adulthood: Building Functional Skills for Success, $1,890
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Independence, Inclusion, Life Skills and Growth, $1,800
Louisville City Schools (Louisville, OH) Daily Living Including Cooking, Community Outings, and Classroom Supplies, $1,500
Maplewood Local Schools (Cortland, OH) Sensory Integration for Emotional Regulation, $4,050
Massillon City Schools (Massillon, OH) Massillon Schools District Art Show, $6,456
McDonald Local Schools (McDonald, OH) World Drumming Project, $5,550
Norton City Schools (Norton, OH) Flexible Seating in the Co-Taught Classroom, $3,500
Norton City Schools (Norton, OH) Enrichment Learning Center Within a Multiple Handicapped Classroom, $3,000
Polaris Career Center (Middleburg Heights, OH) Student Created Video to Enhance/Review/Provide Access to Career Technical Laboratories, $2,700
Revere Local Schools (Richfield, OH) Interactive Bubble Tubes, $4,000
Southeast Local Middle School (Ravenna, OH) SUDS (Southeast United Distribution Shelves), $2,100
Southeast Local Schools (Ravenna, OH) Southeast Pirates Serve, $4,000
Southeast Local Schools (Ravenna, OH) Programming Pirates Using Classroom Robots, $3,200
Streetsboro High School (Streetsboro, OH) Facility Dog for Streetsboro High School, $3,520
Strongsville City Schools (Strongsville, OH) Fostering Innovation: Mini 2D Printer Farms for Secondary Schools MakerSpaces, $2,800
Strongsville City Schools (Strongsville, OH) Wilson Teacher/Student Materials, $4,500
Tallmadge City Schools (Tallmadge, OH) Enhancing Literacy through Book Clubs: Nurturing a Love of Reading in Middle School, $750
Tallmadge City Schools (Tallmadge, OH) Johnny Appleseed 2.0: Phase II, $3,400
Tallmadge City Schools (Tallmadge, OH) Butterflies, Bats and Bugs…Oh My!, $3,500
Tallmadge City Schools (Tallmadge, OH) The Next Frontier: Passion Projects, $2,900
Twinsburg City Schools (Twinsburg, OH) STEM Expansion: E-Sports Launch at Twinsburg High School, $4,000
Wadsworth City Schools (Wadsworth, OH) Wadsworth City Schools Inclusive Playground, $14,870
Wadsworth City Schools (Wadsworth, OH) Cultivating Growth: Franklin Elementary STEM Sensory Garden, $3,365
Willoughby – Eastlake City Schools (Eastlake, OH) The Jaguar Pride Den, $4,000
Woodridge Local Schools (Peninsula, OH) Children’s Museum Field Trip, $700
Woodridge Local Schools (Peninsula, OH) Student Government Social Responsibility, $3,122
Woodridge Local Schools (Peninsula, OH) The Woodridge Way: Building a Trauma Informed Refuge for our RESET Students, $4,000
Wooster City Schools (Wooster, OH) K-4 Literacy Intervention, $5,968
Wooster City Schools (Wooster, OH) General’s Closet; Student and Family Resources, $14,730

Central/Western Ohio — $54,956

Down Syndrome Asso cation of Central Ohio (Columbus, OH) Summer Learning Academy, $15,000
Dreams on Horseback (Blacklick, OH) Teens with Emotional Disabilities and Horses Find their Common Ground, $2,500
Seeds of Caring (Columbus, OH) Seeds of Caring’s Kindness Corps Programming, $5,000
Bryan City Schools (Bryan, OH) Bear Brews and Embracing Every Ability, $2,500
Circleville City Schools (Circleville, OH) Healthy Closet, $9,000
Hillsboro Middle School (Hillsboro, OH) Accessibility and Mobility, $5,888
Teays Valley East Middle School (Ashville, OH) Enhancing Student Knowledge Through Literature, $3,993
Westerville City Schools (Westerville, OH) Sensory Supports for Student Success, $3,535
Westerville City Schools (Westerville, OH) Imaginative Play and Listen Centers for Life Skills, $4,000
Westerville City Schools (Westerville, OH) Digital Materials, $600
Westerville City Schools (Westerville, OH) Community Outing – LifeTown, $2,940

Phoenix, Arizona — $14,000

A New Leaf (Mesa, AZ) A New Leaf’s La Mesita Children’s Services – Sensory/STEAM Resources, $2,100
Biltmore Preparatory Academy (Phoenix, AZ) Building Strong Leaders in Middle School, $2,300
Child Crisis Arizona (Mesa, AZ) Early Education Services for Children of Low-Income Families, $2,100
Make a Wish Foundation of Arizona (Scottsdale, AZ) Funding Wish Boosts for Critically Ill Children in Arizona, $1,400
New Pathways for Youth (Phoenix, AZ) 2024 Healthy Meals Project: Feeding Low Income Phoenix AZ Youth Year-Round, $2,000
Ryan House (Phoenix, AZ) Child Life Program, $2,100
Sojourner Center (Phoenix, AZ) Children and Youth Programming – Child Development Center, $2,000

Atlanta, Georgia — $52,000

Bearings Bike Shop (Atlanta, GA) Frameworks Advanced Job Training Program, $4,000
Blankets Creek Composite MTB Team LTD (Woodstock, GA) Operation Everybody Rides, $3,500
Briarlake Elementary School (Decatur, GA) IXL, $3,000
Camp Twin Lakes (Atlanta, GA) Camp Twin Lakes Camper Scholarship Program, $5,000
Childkind, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) Childkind Home Based Services, $3,400
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation (Atlanta, GA) Camp You Be You, $4,000
Creating Connected Communities (Atlanta, GA) Expansion of STEAM Education Program for Students Experiencing Hardship, $3,500
Fulton Education Foundation, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) Fulton Child Support Fund, $5,000
Go Baby Go East Cobb Middle School (Marietta, GA) Go Baby Go East Cobb Middle School,$5,000
Kincaid Elementary – Cobb County School District (Marietta, GA) Hands-On Reading: Using our Hands to Learn Phonics, $3,500
Sandy Springs Education Force (Sandy Springs, GA) SSEF Summer Reading Club, $5,000
SATB2 Gene Foundation (Lilburn, GA) SATB2 iPads for Communication, $2,100
The Center for Children and Young Adults (Marietta, GA) Essential Youth Bathroom Renovation, $5,000

Dallas, Texas — $15,000

Dallas Education Foundation (Dallas, TX) Advancing Literacy in Dallas ISD Through Book Vending Machines, $9,225
North Texas Food Bank (Plano, TX) Feeding Hungry Children (School Pantries), $5,775

Houston, Texas — $15,000

Alief ISD Education Foundation (Houston, TX) Alief ISD Education Foundation Scholarships, $3,500
Alvin ISD Education Foundation (Houston, TX) Alvin ISD Book Bus, $3,500
Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation (Baytown, TX) Empowering Student Parents at GCCISD – Made Possible by GPD Group Employees’ Foundation, $3,500
Katy ISD Education Foundation (Katy, TX) Inspiring Imagination Teacher Grant Program, $3,500
Pasadena ISD Education Foundation (Pasadena, TX) PISD Classroom Mini-Grant Program, $3,500
Sheldon ISD Education Foundation (Houston, TX) Sheldon ISD Education Foundation, $3,500

Indianapolis, Indiana — $46,000

A Kid Again – Indiana Chapter (Indianapolis, IN) 2024 Plane Pull, $2,500
Avon Intermediate School West (Avon, IN) Fostering a Love of Fun Learning, $1,000
Bunker Hill (Indianapolis, IN) Bunker Hill Special Education Program, $1,073
Indianapolis Public Schools (Indianapolis, IN) Let’s Meet the Needs of Ms. L Students, $5,000
Monon Trail Elementary School (Westfield, IN) Robots to the Rescue, $9,288
Plainfield Community Middle School (Plainfield, IN) Get Excited, $2,000
Raymond Park Science Olympiad (Indianapolis, IN) Raymond Park Science Olympiad, $6,000
Red Alert Robotics (Greenwood, IN) Red Alert Robotics Technology Needs, $4,500
The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. (Carmel, IN) Children’s TherAplay Speech Program Supplies and Assessment Tools, $4,634
Western Wayne Schools (Pershing, IN) Robotics, $4,000
William Tell Elementary School (Tell City, IN) William Tell Elementary VEX and GEMS Programs, $6,005

Louisville, Kentucky — $15,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (Louisville, KY) It Takes 2: Youth Mentoring Services, $2,500
Boys & Girls Haven (Louisville, KY) Continuation of Support for BGH Music Therapy Program Through 2024 (Older Youth and Residential Care), $4,500
Down Syndrome of Louisville, Inc. (New Albany, KY) Support for Down Syndrome of Louisville Summer Education Enrichment (SEE) Camp, $4,500
Special Olympics Kentucky (Louisville, KY) Unified Champion Schools – Inclusion Revolution, $3,500

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — $11,500

Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania – Future City Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) Future City Pittsburgh Region 2024, $2,500
Jeremiah’s Place (Pittsburgh, PA) STEAM Program, $4,000
Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) Children’s Literacy Programs – High Interest and Diverse Books, $5,000

Seattle, Washington — $2,000

Kiwanis Camp Casey (Seattle, WA) Kiwanis Camp Casey, $1,000
WestSide Baby (Seattle, WA) Basics for Families in Need, $1,000

News

Announcing Our 2024 Grant Recipients