Announcing Our 2026 Grant Recipients

The GPD Employees Foundation is excited to recognize the 222 grants awarded through our 2026 Spring Grant Cycle and our GAME CHANGERS program. In total, nearly $1million was awarded to a combination of non-profits that work with children with special and/or medical needs or who are at-risk and K-12 public schools.

These organizations and schools make impacts on the lives of children in our communities every day, and we are honored to play a role in supporting their efforts. We look forward to seeing the impacts they make and to continuing our mission of making a difference in the lives of children.

Northeast, Ohio – $674,291

A Kid Again, GAME CHANGERS, $25,000
A Kid At Art for the Heart, Inc., Bilingual Preschool Art Education Programming for Low-Income English as Second Language Learners, $4,000
Access the Arts, Access the Arts Classes 25, $3,000
ACCESS,Inc., The Feed the Future Program, $7,500
Adaptive Sports Ohio, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Akron Children’s Hospital, Providing Books to Children through the Berry Good Reading Program, $5,000
Akron Community Service Center & Urban League, Akron Urban League Summer Camp, $4,000
Akron Public Schools, The Dimensions of Our World, $3,995
Akron Public Schools, Finding Our Voices: Mobile Media Tools for Language Practice and Storytelling, $5,500
Akron Public Scshools, Firestone CLC Robotics Club: Teaching the Next Generation of Roboteers, $5,000
Akron Public Schools, Project Rise’s “ADOPT A SENIOR”, $7,500
Akron Public Schools, Continuing to Amplify Student Voices from East CLC!, $7,678
Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter, Safe Beginnings: Children’s Welcome Bags, $3,000
Art Sparks, Dynamite Duos, advancing equity and access in Akron Public Schools, $5,000
Autism Society of Greater Akron, GAME CHANGERS, $15,000
B Brave Foundation, Medical Assistance and Comfort Carts for Children with Rare, Fatal Neurological Disorders, $5,000
Baumgardner Middle School, Fades for Grades, $5,000
Berea City School District, Titan Family Resource Center, $8,800
Berkshire Local School District, Colorful Connections: Building Creativity, Communication, and Inclusive Play, $3,000
Blick Center, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Building for Tomorrow, Steam Club at Reach, $4,000
Camp Ho Mita Koda Foundation, Supplies for Summer Camp for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes, $3,000
Camp Quality, GAME CHANGERS, $20,000
Canton Local School District, Advanced Robotics and Physical Computing, $5,000
CarsonStrong Foundation, Gift of Time Together, $4,000
CASA Board Volunteer Association, Inc, Domestic Violence Training Toolkit for CASA/GAL Volunteers, $5,000
CASA of Portage County Associate Board, Childhood Normalcy Opportunities., $3,000
Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, RAISE (Responsive Arts In School Education), $5,000
Claggett Middle School, Claggett Makerspace, $3,000
Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Stuttering Together – Empowering Youth Who Stutter, $3,000
Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Changing the Narrative, $5,000
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, John Marshall School of Engineering, Our Voices: A STEAM Design Journey, $2,000
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, E.R.A.C.E- Eat Right and Consistently Exercise, $2,400
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Halle School, Feed The Jungle Book Cast, $2,713
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Healing Therapeutic Services for K-12 Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse, $3,000
Cleveland School of the Arts Board of Trustees, Support for Students at Cleveland School of the Arts, $3,000
Clyde-Green Springs Schools, Blueprint for Success: Engineering Powered Solutions, $5,000
Connecting for Kids, 2026 Adapted Programs in Westlake for Children with Disabilities and/or Mental Health Issues, $4,000
Copley High School, Art of Design, From the Screen Into Your Hands, $4,231
Copley-Fairlawn Middle School, CFMS PBIS Incentives, $2,220
Coventry Local School District, InnovatED! Drones, Design, and 3D, OH MY!, $7,228
Crestwood Local, Crestwood Destination Imagination 2026-2027, $1,400
Crown Point Ecology Center, Growing Together: Inclusive Farm-Based Education for At-Risk and Special Needs Youth, $3,000
Cuyahoga Falls City School District, Black Tiger Family Center, $2,000
Daily Dose of Reading, Early Literacy Skill Development for Underserved Children, $3,000
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio, The Lifelong Learning Academy – Education Programs for Families and Toddlers to Teens & Beyond, $5,000
Down Syndrome Association of the Valley, Speech, Language and Communication Programs, $3,000
Edison Local School District, Ruling Our Experiences (ROX), $2,000
Edison Middle School, Beyond the Books, $7,000
Embracing Futures, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Empower Sports, Inclusive Sports for People with Disabilities, $4,000
Fairhaven Foundation, Community Experiences and Events, $4,000
Footpath Foundation, 5th Grade Outside Discovering Me, $3,000
Fostering Hope Ohio, Health & Wellness Program for Youth in Residential Treatment, $3,000
GiGI’s Playhouse Canton, Therapeutic Dance Program, $3,000
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, Physical and Neuro-diverse Special Needs Programming to Ensure Scouting Access for all Girls, $3,000
Girls on the Run East Central Ohio, Program Funding Initiative for Alliance, Louisville & Plain Local, $4,000
Girls on the Run of Greater Summit DBA Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, Building Healthy & Resilient Girls, $5,000
Goalgetta Academy, Success is the Only Option Teen Career Day, $4,000
Harding Middle School, ROX Team Building Field Trip, $2,000
Hoover High School, Viking Robotics FIRST Robotics, $5,000
Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, To support safe sleep supplies for children residing in emergency protective shelter, $3,000
Howland Paw Pantry, The Howland Local School District Paw Pantry, $2,000
Hudson City Schools, Ruling Our Experiences (ROX) Club, $1,330
Inspiring Minds, Summer Enrichment Program 2026 (SEP), $5,000
International Soap Box Derby, Akron Public Schools STEAM Invitational Program, $4,000
James A. Garfield Elementary, Preschool/Kindergarten Inclusive Playground Equipment, $6,000
Kent City Schools, Walls Elementary Kindergarten, Kindergarten Zoo Experience, $615
Lake Erie Council, Scouting America, Great Lakes Adventures, $5,000
Lake Local Schools, Lake Elementary, Stronger Hearts, Stronger Hartville, $4,315
Lakewood City Schools, All Hands, All Minds: Clixo for STEM Classrooms, $7,200
Leg Up for Cleveland’s Kids, Equicizer Integration: Designing Safe Pathways from Community Space to Working Landscapes, $4,395
LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, School-Based Wellness Programming for Underserved LGBTQ+ Public School Students, $3,000
LifeAct 2026, Suicide Prevention Classroom and Stress Management Classroom Programs for Grades 5-12 Students, $3,000
Limitless Ambition, Purposely Chosen Teen Programming in Akron Public Schools, $4,000
Louisville City Schools, Tabetha Beckett- Cross Categorical Classroom- Grade 2-4, $1,500
Louisville City Schools, Family Engagement Nights: Reading Under the Lights & STEAM at the Stadium, $1,500
Louisville City Schools, Community Field Trips, Weekly Cooking Projects for Life Skills and Classroom Supplies, $1,600
Louisville City Schools, Kylie Ray- Cross Categorial Classroom- Grades 4-5, $1,800
Louisville City Schools, Daily Living Skills and Classroom Support, $1,800
Louisville City Schools, The Life Skills Studio: Cultivating Autonomy and Social Success, $1,960
Louisville City Schools, Sensory Support Project, $2,000
Louisville City Schools, Louisville Elementary Backpack Program, $10,000
Louisville City Schools District, Leaping Towards Independence, $1,500
Manchester Local School District, Special Education Work Experience Field Trips, $1,500
Manchester Local School District, Safety City Program at Nolley Elementary School, $6,120
Maplewood Local Schools, Just Keep Swimming!, $2,260
Maplewood Local Schools, A Rocket Fueled Summer, $5,000
McDonald Local Schools, Percussion Equipment Renewal, $5,000
McDonald Local Schools, Orff Instrumentarium Project, $5,274
Medina City Schools, I. Root Middle School, Real Problems- Smart Designs, $2,000
Music Boosters For Southeast Pirates of Southeast Local Schools, Acoustic Meets Algorithm: Transforming Music Practice through Integrated Digital Tools, $1,400
Musical Arts Association dba The Cleveland Orchestra, Music Mentors & Crescendo Education Program Support, $4,000
Newton Falls Elementary School, Newton Falls Students Camp Fitch Overnight and Day Trip Educational Opportunity, $5,000
Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools, Pantry with Purpose: Supporting Our Tigers, One Meal at a Time, $4,000
Nordonia Hills City Schools, FRC Team 8713, $6,000
North Nimishillen Elementary School, Hands-On Experiences to Make Curriculum Connections and Classroom Motivation, $1,800
Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation, Clubs Fore Kids Expansion, $3,000
Pathway Caring for Children, TRUST Adventure Therapy Camp, $3,000
Polaris Career Center, Empowering Innovators: Expanding 3D Printing for Emerging Leaders in Engineering and Robotics, $4,000
Professional Flair, Inc. dba The Dancing Wheels Company & School, Dancing Wheels’ Community Outreach, $4,000
Project Outrun, Empowering Kids & Families as They Battle Life Threatening Illnesses, $4,000
Providence House, GAME CHANGERS, $20,000
Rainey Institute, 2026 Summer Camps, $5,000
Rec2Connect, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Replay for Kids, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Revere Local School, P Pod Postural Support System, $2,200
Revere Local Schools, Flexible Seating, $1,000
Revere Local Schools, Accessible Adapted Kitchen, $2,000
Revere Local Schools, Richfield Elementary Sensory Tools To Improve Focus in the Classroom, $500
Robinwood Elementary School, STEAM Rolling to the Future, $3,600
Rootstown Local Schools, Code, Create, Innovate, $5,629
Salem City Schools, Structural Engineering Career Module, $7,895
Sawyer’s Wish, Deck the Hospital with Sheets from Sawyer, $5,000
Shaker Schools Foundation, Visiting Author, Award-Winning Carole Lindstrom, and Book Purchases, $4,700
Shaker Schools Foundation, Therapeutic Riding Experiences for Students in the Moderate/Intensive Disability Classrooms, $4,920
Shaker Schools Foundation, Geodes Elementary School Book Sets: Supporting Early Readers, $5,000
Shelter Care, Inc., Therapeutic Supplies for Safe Landing Youth Shelter and Respite Care Youth, $3,000
Smile with Style, GAME CHANGERS, $10,000
Southeast Local Schools, Captain’s Cup Coffee Cart, $4,020
Southeast Local Schools, Expansion of Technology and Computer Literacy Using Windows Programming in the Maker Space Classroom, $5,000
Southeast Local Schools, Southeast Serves, $6,000
Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center, Support for Children in Northeastern Ohio Affected by Cancer, $4,000
Stow-Munroe Falls City School District, Kimpton Outdoor Connections, $5,083
Streetsboro Elementary, Make Recess Accessible for All Kids at SES!, $6,000
Streetsboro High School, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), $2,500
Strongsville City Schools, High School Life Skills Program, $1,500
Strongsville City Schools, The Derby – School Spirit Shop, $1,762
Strongsville City Schools, Lights. Camera. Learning: Expanding Student Broadcast Media, $2,000
Strongsville City Schools, Mustang Inclusive Learning Environment (M.I.L.E) Cafe, $2,500
Strongsville City Schools, Spark Creativity and Career Skills: Empowering Students Through Innovation, $5,000
Summit Education Initiative, Year Two: Barberton Preschool Collaborative to Support Kindergarten Readiness, $4,000
Tallmadge City Schools, The Next Frontier: Passion Projects, Phase III, $3,650
Tallmadge City Schools, TES Care Closet, $3,991
Tallmadge City Schools, Let the Games Begin: Second Grade STEAM, Phase II, $4,030
The First Tee of Akron, GAME CHANGERS, $15,000
The Well CDC, Akron HOPE: Supporting Students & Families in Middlebury (Akron), $4,000
Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Building Skills for the Future: STEM & Creativity Foundations with LEGOS, $1,000
Twinsburg City Schools, Living the Story: Immersive Journeys in Black Literature, $4,771
Victory Gallop, GAME CHANGERS, $15,000
Women’s Auxiliary Board, Beds for Kids Program, $5,000
Woodridge Elementary, Children’s Museum Field Trip, $1,050
Woodridge High School, Self & Career Discovery Classroom, $506
Woodridge High School, Student Council Continued Social Responsibility, $3,950
Woodridge Local School District, District Food Pantry, $500
Youth Challenge, Creative Arts Programs for Young People with Physical Disabilities, $3,000

Central Ohio , $66,457

Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio, Pathways to Potential: A Future Ready Youth Initiative, $3,000
Concrete Orkidz Foundation, Youth Summer Camp 2026, $4,000
Down Syndrome of Central Ohio, GAME CHANGERS, $15,000
Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools, Start With Hello, $4,000
Heinzerling Community, Music-Making Therapy for Children with Developmental Disabilities, $4,000
Learning 4 Life Farm, Summer Farm Lab: Student Led Market and Workforce Skills Project, $4,000
Local Matters, Food Education and Access Expansion in Whitehall, $4,000
Seeds of Caring, Kindness Corps Programming, $6,000
The Bold Girl Collective, In-School Programming, $4,000
The Hardy Center Inc, High-Dose Tutoring & Academic Proficiency Program, $4,000
Westerville City Schools, Language and Literacy Through Story Champs, $487
Westerville City Schools, Increasing Functional Communication Through Play!, $500
Westerville City Schools, Themed Language and Articulation Therapy Materials, $705
Westerville City Schools, Multisensory and Themed Speech-Language Materials, $876
Westerville City Schools, Community Outing for Students with Disabilities – Immersive Art Exhibition, $1,278
Westerville City Schools, Growing Independence Through Play & Sensory Learning, $2,000
Westerville City Schools, Sensory Fun, $2,611
Westerville City Schools, Multi-Sensory Learning for Students with Learning Needs, $3,000
Westerville City Schools District, Engage and Learn: Headphones, Supplies, Sensory Supports, and Interactive Reptile Event, $3,000

Atlanta, Georgia – $60,000

Bearings Bike Shop, Frameworks Career Accelerator Program, $6,000
Brockett Elementary School, Write Score Literacy Grant, $4,000
Camp Twin Lakes, Camper Scholarship Program, $7,500
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, The Becca Sue Klein All Kids Fish, $5,000
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, Camp Crescent Moon, $5,000
Cobb County School District, Kincaid Elementary, We Are Published Authors!, $3,500
Creating Connected Communities, STEAM Education Program for Students Experiencing Hardship, $3,500
Fulton Education Foundation, Inc., Student Basic Needs, $6,000
Grady Health Foundation, Child Life Program, $4,000
Sandy Springs Education Force, Summer Book Club, $6,500
SATB2 Gene Foundation, SATB2 iPads for Communication, $3,000
The Center for Children and Young Adults, Weekend and School Break (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Holidays) Outings, $6,000

Dallas, Texas – $17,500

Catch Up & Read, Growing Confident Readers and Teachers, $5,000
Dallas Education Foundation, Advancing Literacy in Dallas ISD through Book Vending Machines, $9,750
Music Movement, Music Therapy and Instrument Grants, $2,750

Houston, Texas – $16,300

Alief ISD Education Foundation, Teacher Grants, $1,000
Fort Bend ISD Education Foundation, Grants to Teachers and Schools, $1,500
Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation, Calm Spaces, Stronger Classrooms: Educator Wellness for Student Stability, $4,300
Sheldon ISD Education Foundation, Bright Idea Grants and Rising Star Mini Grants, $5,000
Splendora ISD Education Foundation, Readers Rise Summer Literacy Program, $2,000
Stafford MSD Education Foundation, Stafford High School Drama Troupe’, $2,500

Indianapolis, Indiana – $55,000

A Kid Again – Indiana Chapter, Support for A Kid Again’s Capes and Crowns Adventure, $4,000
Anderson Woods Inc., Supporting Inclusive Camping Services for Individuals with Special Needs, $5,000
Avon Intermediate School West, Small Group Space for Big Learning Gains, $1,000
Avon Intermediate School West, Transform the Room, Transform the Learning (Again!), $750
Bunker Hill, Special Education Resources, $2,767
GiGi’s Playhouse Indianapolis, Youth Therapeutic & Literacy Program Expansion, $3,000
Indianapolis Public Schools, Reinventing Mrs. Lawson’s Classroom, $4,500
Mill Creek Community School Corp, Student Collaboration, $4,000
Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Inc., Therapeutic Riding, $5,000
Raymond Park Science Olympiad, $5,500
Red Alert Robotics, Organization Infrastructure and Equipment, $2,748
Resources of Hope Inc, Butterfly Blessings Mobile Unit, $2,500
The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc., Clinic Equipment, $6,235
Western Wayne Schools, Robotics at WWS, $3,000
William Tell Elementary School, STEM and Robotics, $5,000

Louisville, Kentucky – $17,500

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, Mental Health Through Youth Mentorship, $2,800
Boys & Girls Haven, Music Therapy Program with Child Welfare System-Involved Young People, $4,200
Bullitt County Public Schools, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program, $2,300
Critically Loved, Inclusion Education Program, $1,000
Down Syndrome of Louisville, Inc., Support for Summer Education Enrichment (SEE) Camp, $4,000
Jefferson County Public Schools, Hawthorne STEAM Lab Enhancement: Building Creative and Technological Capacity for All Learners, $800
Special Olympics Kentucky, Competition Equipment – Portable Digital Scoreboards, $2,400

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – $20,000

Angels’ Place, Inc., Ensuring Children Facing Risk Factors Have Access to High-Quality Early Childhood Education, $3,500
Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania – Future City Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Regional Future City Competition, $3,000
Jeremiah’s Place, STEAM Program, $5,000
Reading Is FUNdamental Pittsburgh, Children’s Literacy Programming – High-Interest, Culturally Diverse Books, $8,500

Phoenix, Arizona – $17,500

Child Crisis Arizona, Providing Access to Early Education Services for Children of Low-Income Families, $2,100
A New Leaf, La Mesita Children’s Services – Sensory/STEAM Resources, $2,100
Biltmore Preparatory Academy, Enhancing Student Success Through Student Agenda Implementation, $2,100
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona, Supporting Wish Boosts for Kids with Critical Illnesses, $1,700
New Pathways for Youth, Healthy Meals Program for Phoenix Youth, $2,100
Robinson Ranch, Summer Camp Programming for Underprivileged and Disabled Youth, $1,100
Ryan House, Child Life Program, $2,100
Sojourner Center, Children and Youth Services – Child Development Center, $2,100
The Foster Alliance, Birthday Dreams, $2,100

Seattle, Washington – $2,500

Kiwanis Camp Casey, Kiwanis Camp Casey, $1,250
WestSide Baby, Basic Needs Items for Children, $1,250

News

Announcing Our 2026 Grant Recipients