Green Community Fund distributes $15,000 to eight local nonprofits

Mike Jones, a representative of the Green Community Fund, told the Green City Council on March 11 that the fund completed its first grant cycle and awarded $15,000 to eight local nonprofits.

Jones said the Green Community Fund was created in 2022 during the city's 30th anniversary to support nonprofits serving youth and neighbors in Green. "We just awarded our first grant cycle. We had 15 nonprofits that serve the community of Green submit applications, and we awarded 8 grants during our first grant cycle," Jones said.

The grants and amounts Jones listed were: Blessings in the Backpack, $3,000; Fellowship Works, $2,500; First Tee of Greater Akron in Green, $1,500; Green YMCA, $1,000; Green Good Neighbors, $2,500; Green Soccer Association, $1,500; MAPS Air Museum, $1,500; and Veil Charitable Organization, $1,500. Jones described this distribution as the fund's first annual distribution and said the group hopes to raise more to expand support for local nonprofits.

Council leadership and Jones also described the fund's relationship with the Akron Community Foundation. Jones said contributions can be made through the Akron Community Foundation website; he added the fund is "presently approaching $400,000 in total" in donations and fundraising.

Barry Hollis was identified in the meeting as a co‑chair of the Green Community Fund; Kelly Schultz was named as the other co‑chair but was not present.

The presentation was informational; no council action or vote related to the grants was recorded during the meeting.

The Green Community Fund presentation concluded with a reminder about how residents can contribute and with Council moving on to other agenda items.