The Foundation’s $5 million grant to the $225 million museum project will support the most ambitious renovation and expansion plan in the University Circle institution’s 88-year history.

The Invest in Children Initiative is a five-year $73 million public-private partnership to create an early childhood system that promotes child well-being from birth to six, supports parents and caregivers and builds community support for investment in young children.  The Foundation made a $1 million three-year grant to this comprehensive, groundbreaking initiative.

The Foundation also continued its commitment to Shorebank Enterprise Group Cleveland with a $300,000 grant to support efforts to create economic opportunities in eastside Cleveland neighborhoods.  A three-year $375,000 grant to The Brookings Institution’s Urban and Metropolitan Policy Center will be used for research and policy activities focused on issues facing communities like Cleveland.

Issues related to farmland preservation and urban sprawl also received attention with grants to three organizations working in that field.  The Ecological Design Innovation Center received a two-year $80,000 grant for the Northeast Ohio Foodshed Network’s efforts to match local farmers with local restaurants and markets.  A two-year $74,000 grant was made to the American Farmland Trust for its Ohio field office, and the Western Reserve RC&D received $48,060 for the Center for Farmland Preservation in Northeast Ohio.

“This quarter’s grants reflect the Foundation’s continued commitment to improving life in the urban center of our region by funding innovative efforts to address economic development, human services, education, quality of life and environmental concerns,” said David Abbott, Foundation executive director.   “The health of Cleveland and other urban centers is vital to the health of our entire region.  We hope many of these grants help more people understand that fact.”

These grants were among 81 totaling $9,776,410 approved at the last quarterly meeting of 2004.  Total grantmaking for the year was $27,831,547 to a wide range of organizations and projects in human services, education, economic development and community revitalization, environment and the arts.

Other grants of interest included:

·                    $75,000 to Policy Matters Ohio for state-level policy research on economic issues.

·                    $35,000 to the Health Care Research and Policy Institute at Georgetown University to analyze the impact of proposed federal Medicaid changes on HIV/AIDS services.

·                    $210,000 to the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture for operating support.

·                    $60,000 to the Cleveland Botanical Garden for conservation program collaboration with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

·                    $115,000 to the Center for Community Solutions for continued assistance in implementing the Cleveland Municipal School District’s Comprehensive Health Plan.

·                    $50,000 over two years to Neighborhood Health Care for Tremont Clinic expansion.

·                    $100,000 over two years to the Enterprise Foundation for the Green Communities Partnership to develop affordable green housing in Cleveland.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company.  The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements.  Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts.  Foundation commitments to date have totaled almost $437 million.

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