Strongsville Pay It Forward Grant Helps Kids Give Back To Their Community

STRONGSVILLE, OH - On Friday night, Team Strongsville will host a fundraiser for the Kelly Kinney Pay It Forward Grant, which funds projects from Strongsville children looking to benefit their community. Over the past two years, the Grant has funded 15 projects, worth a little more than $4,000.

The Strongsville High School boys basketball game against Solon on Feb. 17 will see all student admission fees donated to the grant. Additionally, Team Strongsville says they will host a 50/50 raffle and a T-shirt sale. The game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Recent projects have included the creation of a sensory room for mentally delayed children at Berea Guidestone, donating school supplies to the Strongsville Food Bank, creating fun bags for chemotherapy patients, and buying stuffed animals for police to give away to children. The only thing Team Strongsville asks for in return is a synopsis of how the grant was implemented and photos from the project.

"As long as some of the money stays in Strongsville, we'll grant the request. We wanted to grant the sensory room at Berea Guidestone. Those girls took an empty room, painted it, stenciled, did bean bag chairs. How do you say no to that?" asks Team Strongsville President Collette Fine.

The nonprofit wants to continue funding these helpful projects. That's why they're mixing up their fundraising efforts in 2017. Fine believes they may have their strongest fundraising year yet.

"We’re very proud to have granted every request that has come through the last two years," said Team Strongsville President Collette Fine. "The goal is to give something to everyone who has a legitimate request."

Plus, who can resist the urge to help fulfill such adorable, heartwarming requests. Just read one of the requests that has come in to Team Strongsville since 2015.

"I would like to buy stuffed animals for the police to give to children who have to ride in their cars for some reason," said third grader Sarah Beth Ren. "I would also like to give stuffed animals to the fire department for children who ride in the ambulance and are scared. I also want to give stuffed animals to to patients at the Cleveland Clinic in Strongsville so they have something to hug and love."

The grant is named for a remarkable 12-year-old girl who passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer. Inspired by her generous attitude and can-do spirit, the non-profit Team Strongsville asked Kinney's parents if they could form a grant honoring their daughter. Kinney's parents agreed and the Pay It Forward Grant has been helping Strongsville residents, ages 3 to 18, bolster their community for two years.

To apply for the grant, click here.

Photos from Team Strongsville