The George Gund Foundation

06/24/2003 in Grantmaking

Recent Grants – June 2003

Cleveland, OH — The George Gund Foundation made grants at its June meeting to launch the new Health Policy Institute of Ohio, insure better legal representation for Ohioís juvenile offenders and continue efforts to promote green building standards in Greater Cleveland.

Foundation Trustees approved 107 grants, totaling $3,391,750 to a wide range of organizations working in the arts, environment, human services, civic affairs, education and economic and community development.

A two-year $225,000 grant was made to help launch the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, an organization that will work to improve the health of all Ohioans though non-partisan research, analysis and communication on vital health issues in the state, particularly those affecting Medicaid, uninsured and underinsured populations. The new organization, funded by a statewide consortium of foundations, will be based in Columbus.

The Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center, which serves as the regional affiliate of the American Bar Association’s National Justice Defender Center and whose territory includes Ohio, will work to implement recommendations of a recently completed study, “Justice Cut Short: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings in Ohio.” The organization received a $110,000 grant for its work.

The Cleveland Green Building Coalition will use a two-year $120,000 grant to continue efforts to promote green building standards in both renovation and new construction projects throughout the community.

Other grants of interest included:

  • $40,000 to the New York Institute for Special Education to expand the Cornerstone literacy program into additional Cleveland Municipal School District schools.
  • $125,000 to Young Audiences for the Initiative for Cultural Arts in Education (ICARE) project.
  • $100,000 to the Kent State University Foundation for the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative.
  • $40,000 to St. Vincent DePaul Society to establish the Greater Cleveland Clothing Bank, a central collection and distribution center for gently used clothing.
  • $49,875 to Western Reserve RC & D for the Center for Farmland Preservation in Ohio.
  • $50,000 to WECO Fund, Inc. for the Individual Development Account and Microenterprise Programs.
  • $25,000 to Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Cleveland for expansion of the Experience Corps Tutoring Program in the Cleveland Municipal School District.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment, arts and civic affairs. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $393 million.

For Further Information Contact: Deena M. Epstein (216)241–3114