Wide array of programs will impact youth from all corners of Portage County
The Board of Trustees for the Portage Foundation announced the awarding of over $200,000 in grants to local nonprofits supporting programs for area youth. The awards stem from a special grant cycle from the George L. and Genevieve D. Moore Trust at the Foundation.
“This is a significant investment into the programs that directly impact area children. We were thrilled with the number of organizations that submitted applications, which included some who have worked with the foundation previously and many who submitted grants for the first time. Each is doing great work on a very local level to build and support youth in our community,” said Scott Taylor, Executive Director at the Portage Foundation. “Working closely with the advisors to the Moore Trust, distributing at this level allowed the opportunity to make a transformative difference to our area, with reverberations that we hope will be evident for years to come.”
Recipients of the grants included local food pantries, Aurora Community Relief Program and Crestwood 4Cs, youth recreational programs, such as Girls on the Run and Great Lakes Council of Boy Scouts of America, and nature organization, Moebius Nature Center. Area youth arts programs, including the Aurora Community Theater, Crestwood Band Boosters, Main Street Ravenna’s Winter Writing Festival, and Standing Rock Cultural Arts, also received funding for their children’s programs. The Foundation also awarded grants to programs working with at-risk youth and families, including those supporting foster children and early childhood literacy.
The Moore family, who lived on a farm on Bissell Road in Aurora, were well-known within the Aurora area for their support of educational programs, especially as it related to youth and nature. “George and Genevieve Moore believed in hard work and community. They created their fund with the hopes of supporting local organizations connecting with local youth while also valuing self-sufficiency and effort. The programs selected for awards reflect the Moore’s mission when they created their trust,” said Angela DeJulius, Chair of the Grants Committee for the Portage Foundation.
The Portage Foundation, created as a community foundation 25 years ago, oversees funds endowed through donations from individuals and organizations. The foundation currently has over $8 million in assets under management and regularly awards over $100,000 in grants and $40,000 in scholarships annually. The foundation is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary with the Thrive at 25! Raffle. Tickets for the raffle, which cost $25, can be purchased online via the Foundation’s website, portagefoundation.org, or in person. Additional information about the Portage Foundation, including current scholarship applications, future grant cycles, and how to start an endowed fund can also be found on the website.