Youngstown Foundation Announces $380K in Grants

$100K Boosts Inspiring Minds Enrichment Program

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Foundation today announced $380,000 in new grants, including $100,000 for the Inspiring Minds Youth Enrichment program, an initiative that aims to equip and inspire young people to discover and pursue success.

Inspiring Minds provides after-school and summer enrichment programs to students in Youngstown and Warren. The programs focus on education, college and career readiness, health and wellness, personal development and exposure to new experiences.

“When the school doors close, many young people struggle to access educational opportunities and basic needs such as healthy meals and adequate adult supervision,” said Deryck Toles, founder and chief executive officer at Inspiring Minds. “Our programs enable students to continue their intellectual development while they receive the necessary support they need to do so.”

Lynnette Forde, president of the Youngstown Foundation, added, “Supporting the high-quality youth development efforts at Inspiring Minds is an honor. The Youngstown Foundation is inspired by the commitment of Deryck Toles and his team to our community.”

The grants announced today also include a $75,000 award to the YWCA of the Mahoning Valley for an affordable housing project on Youngstown’s North Side. The funds will support the renovation of an Illinois Avenue building to create six apartments, including one accessible to a person with disabilities.

Seven other local nonprofits received these grant awards:

• Autism Society, Camp FRIEND, $50,000
• Northeast Ohio Adoption, Building Diverse Support for Foster Youth, $50,000
• Kool Boiz Foundation, Promising Men’s Mentoring, $30,000
• Nikki’s House, Recovery Housing, $30,000
• AxessPointe Health Centers, Veterans Haven Housing Project, $20,000
• Junior Achievement, Junior Achievement K-12 Pathways, $20,000
• Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, Girl Scout Journeys in Youngstown, $5,000

About the Youngstown Foundation

Since 1918, the Youngstown Foundation has devoted its resources to ensuring the quality of life and sustaining a vital and prosperous community in the Mahoning Valley. The Youngstown Foundation has grown from $33,000 in assets at its origins to over $150 million today and has distributed over $100 million back into the community through grants to support nonprofit organizations. The foundation remains poised to address the most pressing issues and support actions and ingenuity to ensure that our community continues to grow and thrive, with no one left behind. Further information is available at www.youngstownfoundation.org.