Grants available for local spay, neuter programs

The Rosalie and Cecil Smith Fund of Akron Community Foundation is accepting grant applications from nonprofits that help reduce Summit County’s stray animal population. Grants are available for spaying and neutering feral cats and for spaying and neutering cats and dogs of low-income individuals.

The fund accepts requests from applicants with experience in, or a firm understanding of, animal spay and neuter methods. Local organizations may be affiliated with regional or national organizations, but their programs must be executed in Summit County. Last year, $7,500 was awarded to support spaying and neutering efforts in Summit County.

All requests are due by Thursday, Sept. 15. A link to the application is available at www.akroncf.org/applysmith.

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

About the Rosalie and Cecil Smith Fund

The Rosalie and Cecil Smith Fund of Akron Community Foundation was established in 2007 by Cecil Smith in honor of his wife, Rosalie, to help reduce Summit County’s feral animal population and to spay and neuter animals living in low-income households. To date, it has awarded grants totaling nearly $90,000. For more information or to contribute, visit www.akroncf.org.

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.