Medina County Women's Endowment Fund awards $13,570 to local nonprofits

The Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation, announced its 2015 grant distributions Friday. Grants totaling $13,570 were awarded to nine qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving women and children in Medina County.

Since its inception in 1998, the fund has awarded 78 grants totaling $125,022 to improve the lives of local women and children.

This year, MCWEF funded grant proposals in the areas of “transportation of the handicapped, programs for youth, and materials and supplies for mothers and children,” said Grant Review Committee Chair Mari Halkovich. “In addition, we funded grants that targeted the needs of women and children in crisis.”

Nearly half of the amount awarded will support transportation programs for women in need, including a $3,000 grant to Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers. The grant will provide free transportation to and from medical appointments for elderly and disabled women in Medina County, helping them maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life.

“We alleviate the stress and anxiety from our clients, who often wrongfully feel like a burden to the people they depend on to get the care they need and deserve,” said Deborah Poland, the agency’s executive director.

In addition, another $3,000 will help homeless women and children get to work, school and medical appointments through Operation H.O.M.E.S. The nonprofit agency collaborates with Medina County Public Transit, a local cab company, and volunteers to provide free transportation to its clients. It also offers gasoline vouchers for clients who cannot afford to purchase gas for their own vehicle.

Other grants this year will provide support groups for victims of domestic violence, purchase diapers for babies in low-income families, and support suicide prevention programs in Medina County high schools, among other projects.

The following is a full list of grants awarded in 2015:

Battered Women’s Shelter, for domestic violence support groups in Medina County, $2,000

Birthcare of Medina County, to purchase diapers, wipes and other basic necessities for children in low-income families, $500

Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers, to provide free transportation to and from medical appointments for elderly and disabled women in Medina County, $3,000

LifeAct, for suicide prevention and depression awareness programs at Brunswick, Buckeye, Cloverleaf, Highland and Medina high schools, $1,500

Matthew 25 Coalition, to provide emergency assistance to women and children in rural southwest Medina County, $1,000

Operation H.O.M.E.S., to provide homeless women and children with transportation to work, school and medical appointments, $3,000

Rape Crisis Center, for the Tina Project, which helps prevent teen dating violence by educating middle and high school students about healthy relationships, $1,000

RePlay for Kids, to provide adapted toys to low-income families with children with disabilities in Medina County, $1,000

Society for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County, to support the toy lending library, which loans educational and adapted toys to families of children with disabilities, $570

About the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund

The Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, an affiliate of Akron Community Foundation, was established in 1998 to improve the lives of women and children in Medina County. The mission of the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund is to fund organizations and programs in Medina County that support women and children, to serve as a catalyst for needed projects, and to assist women in their growth as philanthropists. The fund encourages the advancement and full participation of women and children in the community and in society. In addition, it supports organizations and programs that create opportunities for the educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic and personal growth of women and children. Since the fund’s establishment, it has grown to nearly $350,000 and awarded more than $125,000 in grants. For more information, or to contribute to the Medina County Women’s Endowment fund, go to www.medinawomensendowment.org.

About Akron Community Foundation

Celebrating 60 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. Today, it is a philanthropic endowment of more than $191 million with a growing family of nearly 500 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 $124 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.