Working with Foundation Scholarships by Ramona Grigsby July 28, 2009

Most people connect scholarships with June graduations. I wonder how many realize that a scholarship program is really year-round. It begins as soon as the previous year’s awards are made.

Closing Reflections on the Youth Fund Experience by Rebecca Temerario June 30, 2009

I came to the Youth Fund as a Freshman at Clearview High School. Although I was one of the youngest members of the group, I quickly discovered that the single Sunday per month I would spend surrounded by twenty peers from other Lorain County high schools would become one of the most refreshing and engaging ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. At our meetings, the Youth Fund addressed issues affecting local youth, world poverty and starvation, and service learning in the classroom. Additionally, the Youth Fund visited many area landmarks and locales such as Second Harvest Food Bank, The Lorain County Disaster Management Headquarters, The Lorain Lighthouse, Common Ground, and Wesleyan Village. At these site visits, Youth Fund members gained a knowledge of the history of Lorain County, learned team-building skills, and assisted those in need.

Volunteers Are Multiplying Our Grant Investments by Linda Weaver June 12, 2009

Requests for grants are pouring in. Our due diligence includes reviewing the program design, goals, performance of past projects (outcomes), strength of the organization (financial statements, staff qualifications, board expertise), and diversification of sources of revenue including investment from community volunteers.

Making Dreams Come True by Linda Weaver April 30, 2009

In December 2007, the Community Foundation made a modest grant to Wesleyan Village for “Second Wind Dreams.” The dream fulfillment project served the elderly with limited resources. Today, I received their grant report and I wanted to share some of the dreams you made come true in 2008.

Day 4 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Keri Sugerik March 13, 2009

Day 4                 
 
We woke up a bit earlier this morning and got everything packed up for the buses.  They were to arrive and load the luggage while we were at class.  After breakfast we had our last class of the week.  Everyone got to talk about their favorite part of their time at the Park, [...]

Day 3 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Keri Sugerik March 6, 2009

Staff member Keri Sugerik recounts her experience as a chaperone for son Devin’s winter experience at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Day 2 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Keri Sugerik February 26, 2009

Foundation Staff member Keri Sugerik was able to experience a grant firsthand when she acted as chaperone for son, Devin’s, field trip to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Keri Sugerik February 20, 2009

Staff member Keri Sugerik was able to experience a Foundation grant firsthand when she chaperoned a trip from her son Devin’s class to a winter experience offered through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Grantmaking in Difficult Times January 27, 2009

Was it Charles Dickens who said, “it was the best of times and the worst of times… we had everything before us?”  As grant application deadlines approach, grant seekers are calling and e-mailing me, asking what they can expect from the Community Foundation?
 
We anticipate that competition for grant dollars will increase and grant decisions [...]

Youth Fund Report on Visit to Common Ground November 11, 2008

The Youth Fund Advisory Committee had our second meeting of the year on Sunday, October 19th. We took a trip to the Common Ground Retreat Center in Oberlin to participate in community building activities. Rick Grahovac, Executive Director of Common Ground led our group on a nature hike across some of the twenty-one acres of [...]