The Medina County Community Fund of Akron Community Foundation announced the largest grant in its 24-year history at its annual Spring into Summer event on June 22. Fund officials presented the $15,000 grant to Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers for the purchase of a new van to transport area residents to medical appointments.
Altogether, more than 85 percent of this year’s funding will support transportation initiatives, meeting a growing need in the community, said MCCF Grants Committee Chair Terry Pfleiderer.
“Many Medina County residents have a difficult time securing reliable transportation to medical appointments, school or work,” Pfleiderer said. “The greatest burden often falls on older adults and people with disabilities, particularly those in the southern part of the county, where public transportation options are limited.”
MCCF’s first impact grant will help purchase a van to transport area residents to medical appointments.
Last year, Faith in Action provided nearly 2,400 free rides to life-sustaining medical appointments throughout Medina, Cuyahoga and Summit counties. With the help of the grant from MCCF, the agency will be able to replace its 10-year-old passenger van, which is in need of costly repairs.
“Without this service, many individuals in our community would be denied access to necessary medical care due to lack of transportation,” said Deborah Poland, executive director of Faith in Action.
She estimated at least 300 people would benefit from the program this year alone.
“Transportation is a critical need, and I’m proud that our grant will make a real impact on the lives of people throughout Medina County,” Pfleiderer said.
In total, the Medina County Community Fund awarded $27,700 to six local nonprofit organizations in 2017, bringing its cumulative grantmaking to more than $500,000 since the fund was established in 1993. The following is a full list of grants awarded in 2017:
Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers, to purchase a van to transport Medina County residents to life-sustaining medical appointments, $15,000
First Impression Inc., to help disadvantaged women in Medina County secure sustainable employment by providing them with professional clothing and interview training, $1,500
Matthew 25 Coalition, to provide fuel and auto repair vouchers to impoverished residents in rural areas of Medina County who need transportation to work, school or medical appointments, $4,000
Medina County Arts Council Inc., to support free performances and arts programs throughout Medina County during the 2017 Arts Week Festival, $1,200
Newbridge Place, to purchase a van to transport low-income veterans in Medina County to medical appointments and community resources, $5,000
ORMACO Inc., for the Jazz Under the Stars free concert series in Medina’s public square, $1,000
About the Medina County Community Fund
The Medina County Community Fund, an affiliate fund of Akron Community Foundation, serves as a permanent philanthropic endowment for Medina County. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Medina County residents, now and in the future. The income from this fund is distributed annually to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide a wide range of cultural, educational, health and community services. To date, the fund has grown to more than $820,000 and awarded nearly $530,000 in grants. For more information, or to contribute to the Medina County Community Fund, visit www.akroncf.org/MCCF.
About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 62 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, 2017, it is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $202 million with a growing family of 560 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 $139 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.
