The George Gund Foundation

07/21/2004 in Grantmaking

Recent Grants – June 2004

CLEVELAND, OH — George Gund Foundation Trustees made a $1.6 million grant at their June meeting for construction of the Idea Center, a downtown facility that will serve as a shared home for ideastream, Cleveland’s public broadcasting organization, and Playhouse Square Foundation’s education programs.

The center, which will open in Cleveland’s theater district in early 2005, will include street-level broadcast and dance studios, a 300-seat theater that can be used for both television and theater and an interactive education center.

“The Idea Center represents a unique collaboration that not only will save more than $5 million over what it would have taken for the two organizations to build separate facilities, but also presents an incredible opportunity for synergy between the two organizations,” said David Abbott, Foundation executive director. “The street-level studios also will enliven Euclid Avenue and bring new activity to downtown.”

The Idea Center grant, which will be paid over three years, was among 109 grants totaling $6,019,930 approved at the second quarterly meeting of 2004. Trustees also approved a three-year $450,000 grant to the Center for Community Solutions for its public policy and advocacy work; two grants totaling $180,000 to Cleveland Public Art for operating support, completion of the Detroit-Shoreway pedestrian/bikeway and other projects; and $215,000 in grants to the Cleveland Municipal School District for academic standards implementation, communications efforts and the CEO Support and Development Fund.

Other grants of interest included:

  • $40,000 over two years for publication of “Angle,” a magazine reporting on activities in Cleveland arts, cultural and literary communities.
  • $100,000 to Towards Employment to continue programs of the now-defunct Cleveland Works.
  • $90,500 over two years to the Cleveland Zoological Society to strengthen and expand its conservation programs.
  • $60,000 over two years to the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization to develop the Cuyahoga/Lake Erie Environmental Restoration Technology Enterprise Center.
  • $50,000 to the United Labor Agency to establish a community hiring hall for day laborers.
  • $25,000 to the Center for Families and Children for its policy work and a conference on the impact of regionalism on health and human services issues and organizations.
  • $48,300 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to develop policies and procedures for its proposed archives and library.
  • $29,460 to the Western Reserve Historical Society for the “Big and Green—Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century” exhibit. 
  • $45,000 to David N. Myers College for development of its capital campaign.

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 and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $422 million.

For Further Information Contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216.241.3114)