George Gund

CLEVELAND OH — The George Gund Foundation made major grants at its December meeting for the Cleveland Museum of Art’s renovation and expansion project, Cuyahoga County’s Invest in Children Initiative and other programs that reflect the Foundation’s continuing commitment to the urban core of the region.

The Foundation’s $5 million grant to the $225 million museum project will support the most ambitious renovation and expansion plan in the University Circle institution’s 88-year history.

The Invest in Children Initiative is a five-year $73 million public-private partnership to create an early childhood system that promotes child well-being from birth to six, supports parents and caregivers and builds community support for investment in young children.

The Foundation also continued its commitment to Shorebank Enterprise Group Cleveland with a $300,000 grant to support efforts to create economic opportunities in eastside Cleveland neighborhoods.

Issues related to farmland preservation and urban sprawl also received attention with grants to three organizations working in that field.

These grants were among 81 totaling $9,776,410 approved at the last quarterly meeting of 2004.

Other grants of interest included:

• $75,000 to Policy Matters Ohio for state-level policy research on economic issues.
• $35,000 to the Health Care Research and Policy Institute at Georgetown University to analyze the impact of proposed federal Medicaid changes on HIV/AIDS services.
• $210,000 to the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture for operating support.
• $60,000 to the Cleveland Botanical Garden for conservation program collaboration with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
• $115,000 to the Center for Community Solutions for continued assistance in implementing the Cleveland Municipal School District’s Comprehensive Health Plan.
• $50,000 over two years to Neighborhood Health Care for Tremont Clinic expansion.
• $100,000 over two years to the Enterprise Foundation for the Green Communities Partnership to develop affordable green housing in Cleveland.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company.

For Further Information Contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216)241.3114

CLEVELAND, OH — The George Gund Foundation awarded grants at its September meeting to organizations working to improve public policy in Ohio related to child welfare, public education, adoption and health care access.

“Year after year we make grants to organizations working to ameliorate social conditions that too often don’t seem to change,” explained David Abbott, the Foundation’s executive director. “We see our investment in public policy advocacy as helping to change the policies that create these conditions in the first place. Our policy grants also have the potential to leverage public dollars far beyond any funds for direct service a foundation might be able to provide.”

The grants were among 92 totaling $5,287,415 made at the board’s third quarterly meeting of the year to organizations working in human services, education, environment, arts and economic and community development.
The Foundation continued its support for Voices for Children of Greater Cleveland, an organization dedicated to improvements in the well-being of children through coordinated state and local advocacy, with a $60,000 operating grant.

The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, which focuses on creating a fair, equitable method for funding Ohio public schools, received a $50,000 grant.

Other policy-related grants included $75,000 to Families USA, a Washington D.C. based group working on research and advocacy related to health care issues, and $75,000 over two years to the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy at Capital University in Columbus.

Other grants of interest included:

• $60,000 to the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization for a capital campaign feasibility and implementation study for the Gordon Square Cultural Arts District.
• $50,000 to Beyond Pesticides for a pesticides exposure reduction program in Greater Cleveland schools.
• $37,500 to the Cuyahoga County Public Library for research on possible library consolidation in Cuyahoga County.
• $50,000 to the Center for Teacher Leadership at John Hopkins University for the Institute for Progressive Teacher Union Leadership.
• $66,080 to the Institute for America’s Future for an analysis of how existing manufacturing capacity in Northeast Ohio can be adapted to the growing renewable energy market.
• $75,000 to MDRC to research and develop models for quality early childhood development programs.
• $15,000 to the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation to provide environmental information to Cleveland television meteorologists.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $427 million.

For Further Information Contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216)241.3114

CLEVELAND, OH — George Gund Foundation Trustees made a $1.6 million grant at their June meeting for construction of the Idea Center, a downtown facility that will serve as a shared home for ideastream, Cleveland’s public broadcasting organization, and Playhouse Square Foundation’s education programs.

The center, which will open in Cleveland’s theater district in early 2005, will include street-level broadcast and dance studios, a 300-seat theater that can be used for both television and theater and an interactive education center.

“The Idea Center represents a unique collaboration that not only will save more than $5 million over what it would have taken for the two organizations to build separate facilities, but also presents an incredible opportunity for synergy between the two organizations,” said David Abbott, Foundation executive director. “The street-level studios also will enliven Euclid Avenue and bring new activity to downtown.”

The Idea Center grant, which will be paid over three years, was among 109 grants totaling $6,019,930 approved at the second quarterly meeting of 2004. Trustees also approved a three-year $450,000 grant to the Center for Community Solutions for its public policy and advocacy work; two grants totaling $180,000 to Cleveland Public Art for operating support, completion of the Detroit-Shoreway pedestrian/bikeway and other projects; and $215,000 in grants to the Cleveland Municipal School District for academic standards implementation, communications efforts and the CEO Support and Development Fund.

Other grants of interest included:

• $40,000 over two years for publication of “Angle,” a magazine reporting on activities in Cleveland arts, cultural and literary communities.
• $100,000 to Towards Employment to continue programs of the now-defunct Cleveland Works.
• $90,500 over two years to the Cleveland Zoological Society to strengthen and expand its conservation programs.
• $60,000 over two years to the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization to develop the Cuyahoga/Lake Erie Environmental Restoration Technology Enterprise Center.
• $50,000 to the United Labor Agency to establish a community hiring hall for day laborers.
• $25,000 to the Center for Families and Children for its policy work and a conference on the impact of regionalism on health and human services issues and organizations.
• $48,300 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to develop policies and procedures for its proposed archives and library.
• $29,460 to the Western Reserve Historical Society for the “Big and Green—Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century” exhibit.
• $45,000 to David N. Myers College for development of its capital campaign.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $422 million.

For Further Information Contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216.241.3114)