George Gund

The George Gund Foundation continued its commitment to creating new, innovative schools in the City of Cleveland with $1.4 million in grants approved at its July meeting.

An $800,000 grant will support 13 new and innovative schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and a $200,000 grant will fund the CMSD Office of New and Innovative Schools. Breakthrough Charter Schools, which currently operates four schools in Cleveland and partners with the CMSD, received $400,000 that will be used for administrative expenses and to open additional schools during the coming school year.

The grants were among 94 totaling $5,653,910 to a variety of human services, arts, environment, education and economic and community development organizations awarded at the Foundation’s second meeting of the year.

The Foundation also made three grants to organizations working to reform Ohio’s juvenile justice system. Public Interest Projects received a $60,000 grant, and the Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center received $100,000. Voices for Ohio’s Children received $100,000 for its work on this issue as well as other advocacy efforts related to children’s health, education and welfare needs.

Other grants of interest included:

• $200,000 over two years to support the First Ring Superintendents’ Collaborative, which is embarking on a shared services study in the 16 public school districts that surround the City of Cleveland
• $100,000 to MetroHealth Foundation for Patients In Care, a pilot program to test a patient-centered “medical home” program for currently uninsured and Medicaid patients
• $150,000 over two years to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association Foundation to improve quality, and decrease costs for pediatric patients
• $100,000 to the Cleveland Housing Network for strategic initiatives that are responsive to current community needs and economic realities
• $100,000 to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for Global Cleveland’s job matching program
• $110,000 to the Cleveland Playhouse for the first season in its new home at Playhouse Square
• $200,000 over two years to the Environmental Law & Policy Center for the Midwest for its Ohio office and work on energy policy
• $100,000 over two years to EcoWatch, a bimonthly newspaper covering environmental issues in Ohio

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 three times a year in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $573 million.

The George Gund Foundation made grants at its March meeting to an innovative music education program, two organizations working on public policy related to health reform implementation in Ohio and continuing efforts to revitalize downtown Cleveland.

The Foundation made a two-year grant of $60,000 to the Rainey Institute for El Sistema@Rainey, an after-school instrumental program based on the Venezuelan program that has attracted international attention for transforming the lives of at-risk children through music.

The Health Care Policy Institute of Ohio received $200,000 over two years for research and analysis on issues ranging from Medicaid reform to state and federal health care cost containment proposals. Ohio Grantmakers Forum was awarded $20,000 for a project to facilitate collaboration among Ohio funders on issues related to health care reform implementation.

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance received a grant of up to $250,000 for its continuing efforts to make downtown Cleveland “the most compelling place to live, work and visit in the region.”

The grants were among 59 totaling $3,489,875 that were made to a wide range of arts, human service, environment, education and economic development organizations at the Foundation’s first board meeting of 2011. Trustees also made a $25,000 program-related-investment to the Noteworthy Credit Union so it can expand its loan program for artists.

Other grants of interest include:

• $180,000 over two years to the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy in operating support for its work in protecting farmlands, supporting local farmers and promoting local food.
• $50,000 to Oberlin College to fund efforts to make the college and the City of Oberlin America’s first carbon neutral community.
• $80,000 over two years to City Year to support its program in Cleveland.
• $50,000 to the Cleveland Foodbank for advocacy and public education initiatives.
• $60,000 to the Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation for its efforts to build and support a film industry in Cleveland.

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 $542 million.

CLEVELAND OH — The George Gund Foundation made grants at its November board meeting to expand the availability of locally-grown food in Greater Cleveland and encourage increased support for anti-hunger programs in Ohio.

The awards were among 93 grants totaling $8,010,630 made at the Foundation’s final meeting of 2010. Total grantmaking for the year was $23,584,339. Grants are made three times each year to a variety of education, human service, arts, environment and economic and community development organizations.

The Foundation made a $100,000 grant to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition, a public-private partnership aimed at improving access to healthy food in urban neighborhoods and stimulating the regional food economy. The coalition is a collaborative initiative led by the Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County and Case Western Reserve University’s Center for Health Promotion Research.

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks received a two-year $160,000 grant to advocate for increased government funding for hunger programs and to support the Ohio Benefit Bank, a free internet based program to help low-income individuals access support services that are essential to steady employment and providing for their families.

Grant funds also will be used to study the feasibility of creating a community flash freezing facility that would help growers extend the shelf-life of their produce at a reduced cost in return for committing a portion of the food to local food banks.

The Foundation also continued its longstanding commitment to retinal degenerative disease research with a $2 million grant to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and its work on health policy and health care reform with grants to Families USA Foundation ($50,000), the Center for Families and Children ($25,000) and the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati ($75,000 over two years).

Other grants of interest included:

• $110,000 to the Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology for Ingenuity 2011
• $70,000 to the Trust for Public Land for its work in protecting land in Greater Cleveland for public use
• $120,000 over two years to the City Club of Cleveland for events commemorating its centennial anniversary
• $25,000 to the East Side Organizing Project for its foreclosure prevention and counseling services

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 $562 million.

For further information contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216) 241.3114

CLEVELAND OH — The George Gund Foundation gave a boost to the Museum of Contemporary Art -Cleveland’s plans for a new building in University Circle with an additional $500,000 grant and a $2 million loan.

“This is an important building which will serve as a dynamic gateway to the new residential/retail Uptown District and a catalyst for additional development in University Circle,” said David Abbott, Foundation executive director. “The Foundation was an early supporter of MOCA’s plans for a new home with a $2.1 million grant, and this additional support will help ensure that groundbreaking takes place this year.”

The Foundation provided also support at its summer board meeting for a new charter school management organization, creation of an urban land trust and continued reform of Ohio’s juvenile justice system.

Breakthrough Charter Schools, a collaboration of three high-performing Cleveland charter school operators, received $150,000 to create a single “back office” for the Citizens’ Academy, Intergenerational School and Zealous Schools, operator of E Prep and Village Prep, and explore opening of additional charter schools.

A three-year $325,000 grant will help the West Creek Preservation Committee expand the geographic scope of its work to include preserving green space and ecological habitats in all of Cleveland.

Organizations receiving grants to help with their work on various aspects of juvenile justice reform include Voices for Ohio’s Children (up to $125,000), Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center ($100,000), Public Children Services Association of Ohio ($80,000 over two years) and Kent State University’s Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence and Center for Innovative Practice ($75,000).

These grants were among 104 totaling $6,193,809 approved at the Foundation’s second meeting of 2010.
Other grants of interest include:

• $100,000 over two years to Midtown Cleveland for its work in developing the Health and Technology Corridor
• $50,000 to the Cleveland Music School Settlement to conduct a search for a new director of early childhood programs
• $55,000 to Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio and $30,000 to Community Catalyst to help with planning for implementation of health care reform in Ohio
• $200,000 to the Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland for program support
• $150,000 to the Greater Ohio Policy Center for operating support
• $150,000 over two years to Environmental Health Watch for operating support
• $125,000 to Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio for arts integrated programs in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

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 $554 million.

For further information contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216) 241.3114