Community Foundation of Lorain County announces grant recipients

ELYRIA — The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Lorain County has announced $580,000 in grants awarded to 34 organizations. The Community Foundation has recently seen more requests from organizations that support senior citizens in the county and has awarded more than $176,000 to provide nutrition, health and social isolation support for seniors, according to a press release. "The COVID-19 outbreak has shed a spotlight on the lack of healthcare, food availability, transportation and housing inequities faced by our elderly population in Lorain County," said Maria Grega, chair of the Grants Committee at the Community Foundation of Lorain County, in a statement. A $12,000 grant awarded to the Lorain County Office on Aging will partially fund a needs assessment study to be conducted by The Center for Community Solutions, said Lorain County Office on Aging Executive Director Lauren Ksiazek. "Many of our organizations serving seniors have a substantial waiting list," she said. "The results from this needs assessment will not only provide data to define the need but also help to inform our community to garner support to serve our seniors." Of the 34 organizations receiving July grants, five focused on arts and culture will receive about $79,000. Twelve focused on education and youth development will receive about $160,000. Ten focused on health and human services will receive about $163,000. Seven focused on "strengthening Lorain County," including the Lorain County Urban League, Lorain County Metro Parks and multiple Main Street organizations, will receive about $128,000. Grant recipients and approximate amounts include: Arts & Culture Center for Arts-Inspired Learning — $18,000 Dancing Classrooms — $3,000 Great Lakes Theatre — $35,000 Lorain Historical Society — $17,000 MAD Factory — $5,000 Education & Youth Development Atmosphere Adventures — $12,000 Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio — $30,000 Cleveland Museum of Natural History — $17,000 College Now Greater Cleveland — $20,000 Educational Service Center — $7,000 Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland — $15,000 Lake Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America — $15,000 Lorain County Metro Parks — $2,000 Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra — $25,000 Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. — $10,000 Ritter Public Library — $3,000 Second Baptist Church Adopt-A-School Initiative — $2,000 Health & Human Services A Dementia Friendly Life — $18,000 American Red Cross — $10,000 Cornerstone Pregnancy Services — $4,000 Family Planning Services — $40,000 Lorain County Office on Aging — $12,000 MobileMed — $30,000 NAMI Lorain County — $9,000 New Agrarian Center — $25,000 Ohio Guidestone — $5,000 Vocational Guidance Services — $8,000 Strengthening Lorain County Harrison Cultural Community Centre — $15,000 Leadership Lorain County — $30,000 Lorain County Metro Parks — $8,000 Lorain County Urban League — $50,000 Main Street Amherst — $7,000 Main Street Wellington — $7,000 Western Reserve Land Conservancy — $10,000