Bath Community Fund announces first grant cycle

Just two years after it was established, Bath Community Fund of Akron Community Foundation will award its first grants to nonprofits serving Bath Township.

The fund, which was created in 2014 by a group of committed Bath residents, is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the Bath community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration and creating a legacy of charitable giving.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Bath Community Fund has grown so quickly that we are already in a position to give back to the Bath community, which is exactly why the fund was created,” said Mary Anne Krejci, Grant Committee chair. “These grants will meet existing needs in the township and enrich the lives of residents throughout our community.”

Bath Community Fund will accept grant applications for programs that preserve the township’s historical and environmental legacy; enhance the local arts and culture landscape; serve youth through education and recreation; and meet residents’ social service needs. Approximately $15,000 will be available for grantmaking.

“Grant awards will be determined by how closely the projects align with BCF’s goals, objectives and mission,” said Jen Hardin, BCF Grant Committee member.

Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply online beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, through Saturday, Oct. 1. A link to the application is available at www.akroncf.org/applyBCF.

A five-person committee composed of Bath Community Fund board members, donors and community leaders will review the requests to determine the fund’s first awards. Grant decisions will be announced in November.

Questions about the online application process should be directed to John Garofalo, vice president of community investment, at 330-436-5624 or jgarofalo@akroncf.org.

About Bath Community Fund

Established in 2014 by a group of committed Bath residents, Bath Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the Bath community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration and creating a legacy of charitable giving. The fund is committed to responding to community needs, helping the less fortunate, supporting local nonprofits, and reinforcing and preserving Bath’s historical and environmental legacy. The fund is currently embarking on the “For Bath, Forever” endowment campaign to raise $2.018 million by Bath’s bicentennial in 2018. For more information, contact Jody Miller Konstand, advisory board chair, at 330-618-4477 or jmkmedia@msn.com.

About Akron Community Foundation

Celebrating 61 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. As of March 31, 2016, it is a philanthropic endowment of more than $182 million with a growing family of more than 530 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation’s funds have awarded more than $130 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.akroncf.org.