Neighborhood Partnership Program grants awarded
AKRON — The city of Akron and the Akron Community Foundation (ACF) are continuing their commitment to improving neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Partnership Program, according to both entities. Now in its 10th year, the program is awarding 49 grants totaling $223,824.
These funds allow residents and neighborhood-based organizations to clean up vacant lots in their neighborhoods, provide tutoring and after-school programs for children and hold neighborhood events for residents of all ages, according to Akron city officials.
In 1999, the ACF joined the Akron Department of Planning and Urban Development to work together on the Neighborhood Partnership Program. The grant program is designed for community revitalization projects initiated and operated by neighborhood organizations. Available is approximately $220,000 of city of Akron and ACF funds for neighborhood-based organizations.
The organizations must match the Neighborhood Partnership Program grants with in-kind volunteer services, as well as cash contributions.
“The foundation has been proud to make these very visible contributions to our city,” said Jody Bacon, president of the ACF. “We work very hard to help improve the quality of life here; I like what we have done with the city.”
Grants awarded that will affect the West Side Leader area include: Ward 1
• Linden/Birchwood Block Watch for newsletters, $1,456; and
• Highland Square Neighborhood Association for its Art in the Square festival, $1,150.
Ward 3
• Akron African-American Cultural Association for the 27th Annual African-American Cultural Festival and 6th Annual 5K Run July 14-15, $7,500;
• Men Count Too for a midnight basketball program for ages 14-18, $7,500;
• Fairlawn PTA for a school sculpture, $6,000;
• Neighborhood Services Committee for summer camp for 15 at-risk youths at Camp Christopher in Bath, $5,500;
• Tennis All-Stars for an after-school recreation and prevention program for children ages 5-18, $5,000;
• Let’s Grow Akron Inc. for the intergenerational vegetable garden at the John Brown Home, $3,034;
• West Hill Neighborhood Organization to expand its reach and increase citizens’ involvement, $2,645; and
• Callis Towers Senior Citizens Club to plant and maintain flowers at the Callis Tower for senior citizens and disabled people, $1,200.
Ward 4
• Alchemy Inc. for after-school and summer camp for urban male youths, $5,000;
• Rankin Elementary School for Akron After School programming, $3,750;
• Schumacher Academy for Akron After School programming, $3,750; • Stewart Elementary School for leadership training for youths to improve community involvement, $3,500;
• Mountain of the Lord Fellowship for its Violence Free Zone Rally/National Night Out Against Crime, $2,875;
• West Akron Community Organization for its Community Day parade and celebration, $2,042; and
• Alpha Kappa Alpha for mentoring, tutoring, leadership development and literacy development programs to youths in Buchtel Cluster, $2,000.
Ward 5
• Nantucket Building Association and Downtown Kiwanis Foundation Inc. for the Nantucket Nights outdoor musical celebration, $4,500;
• Better Akron Recreation for Canines to maintain the current park and expand it with a small dog area, $3,000; and
• Cascade Locks Park Association for cleanup along the Ohio & Erie Canal and Little Cuyahoga River, $2,000.
Ward 8
• Hereford/Highland Area Block Watch Inc. for its newsletter, youth events, community events and block watch, $7,500;
• Alpha Phi Alpha Homes Inc. to plant and maintain flowers at the Charles H. Wesley Tower for senior citizens and disabled people, $1,200; and
• Highland Square Neighborhood Association for its Art in the Square festival, $1,150.
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