For the third November in a row, Akron Community Foundation’s board focused the majority of its discretionary, or board-directed, grant-making on meeting residents’ basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter and primary and preventative health care. The community foundation’s board approved the grants at its Nov. 18 meeting.

Of its discretionary grants, $105,000 went to organizations that provide food to Summit County residents in need. Another $65,000 went to shelter and furniture programs, and $85,000 will help provide medical care to residents who cannot afford it.

Akron Community Foundation’s Millennium Fund for Children awarded 26 grants totaling $43,000 to arts, education and health programs for local youth. Nearly half will support programs that meet children’s basic needs, including a program that provides backpacks of food for at-risk children on weekends and school breaks.

The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $29,161 to 10 greater Akron nonprofit organizations. Akron Community Foundation’s board ratified this latest round of grants at its quarterly meeting Nov. 18.

Grants were awarded to projects that increase awareness about domestic violence in same-sex couples, including a $5,085 grant to train forensic nurses in Summa’s DOVE program. Other grants focused on support groups and outreach for LGBT youth and senior citizens in greater Akron.

The Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is requesting grant proposals for programs that support social change for women and/or girls.

Grant applications are available at www.akroncommunityfdn.org/wef. Proposals are due to Akron Community Foundation by Nov. 15 and will be reviewed by Women’s Endowment Fund board members, donors and people knowledgeable in the above focus areas.

Freedom House for Women will host Edgar’s Caribbean Night June 4 at 9 p.m. Edgar’s Restaurant is located at J.E. Good Park Golf Course at 530 Nome Ave. in Akron. Proceeds will benefit Freedom House for Women, which was founded in 2007 to combat homelessness for chemically dependent women.

Tickets are $25 and can be obtained by contacting Eva at (330) 338-4657 or (330) 785-9720.

The Vernon L. Odom Fund of Akron Community Foundation is celebrating $100,000 in grants to organizations that improve the quality of life for minorities in Summit County. The fund recently awarded $9,000 in grants to 10 Akron-area nonprofits, bringing its cumulative grant-making total to $106,587.

Three years ago, Akron Community Foundation prioritized its education grants to fund programs that prepare children to succeed in kindergarten.   
Since then, a steering committee led by Summit County Executive Russ Pry has combined efforts with many of Akron Community Foundation’s early learning grantees to develop the First Things First initiative.

Lemonade stands are a rite of passage during childhood: The experience of selling homemade drinks goes a long way in teaching kids important lessons about hard work and the value of a dollar. But when Stow resident Eileen Burg encouraged her granddaughter Bailey to start a lemonade stand several years ago at age 7, she had a much bigger lesson in mind.