The Saint Luke’s Foundation Awards $54,000 in Grants in September
Resident Advancement Committee Meeting
Cleveland, OH – October 4, 2024 – The Resident Advancement Committee at the Saint Luke’s Foundation has approved grants totaling $54,000 for nine small organizations during its September Resident Advancement Committee meeting. These investments advance the Foundation’s mission to achieve health equity by addressing social determinants of health, including:
- Educational attainment
- Financial stability
- Healthy eating and active living
- Safe and affordable housing
- Social connections
- Strengthening neighborhoods surrounding the former Saint Luke’s Hospital
“We are immensely proud of the ten dedicated residents on the Resident Advancement Committee whose leadership in awarding $54,000 in grants this round is making a difference in our community,” says Indigo Bishop, Program Officer at the Saint Luke’s Foundation. “From fostering social-emotional development through the arts to promoting financial stability and youth empowerment, these locally-driven projects reflect the passion of small organizations committed to transforming and strengthening the health and well-being of our neighborhoods.”
Here is a summary of this quarter’s Resident Advancement Committee awardees, the grant amounts awarded, and descriptions of how the grants will be used:
7th Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference – $6,000
This grant supports the 7th Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference, a day-long literary event in a modified virtual setting. The conference brings together writers from Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and the Great Lakes region to learn from and network with prominent publishing professionals from major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Participants will engage in meaningful dialogue with authors, enjoy storytelling performances, and connect with like-minded creatives.
Cultivating Excellence and Inspiring Future Leaders – $6,000
The grant will fund a series of monthly youth seminars focused on health professions and emergency medical response, such as handling asthma attacks and seizures. The program aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in healthcare while equipping them with essential life-saving skills.
CJ’s Famous Angus Box Lunches for Rice Branch Resource Fairs – $6,000
This grant will support the provision of healthy, locally sourced boxed lunches by the CJ’s Famous Angus food truck at a series of resource fairs hosted at the Rice Branch Library. The goal is to ensure nutritious meal options are available to attendees while promoting local food vendors.
Focus Universal Language of Chess – $6,000
This grant will fund a mentorship and youth development program through chess at the Alpha Phi Alpha Educational Leadership Institute. The program teaches neighborhood youth chess while imparting life lessons and leadership skills, fostering critical thinking and personal growth.
How To Bee a Sustainable Keeper –$6,000
The grant will provide resources to support ongoing apiary training for both children and adults in the community. The program promotes sustainable beekeeping practices and educates participants about the importance of bees in maintaining ecological balance.
Giving Hope to the Youth Through Arts – $6,000
This grant will support a tutoring and suspension diversion program at Calvary Hill, incorporating arts and field trips to engage youth. The program aims to provide an alternative path for suspended students and foster creative expression through artistic activities.
The Impact of Art (Beyond Murals) – $6,000
This grant will fund a film project documenting the effects of public art and art programming (or the lack thereof) on the health of residents in redlined neighborhoods, such as Mount Pleasant and Union Miles. The grant will cover expenses for food, supplies, and meeting spaces for focus groups and interviews with local artists working in these communities.
Touch of Rain Medical Mani/Pedis – $6,000
This grant will be used to continue offering free medical pedicures for residents suffering from diabetes and other foot-related conditions that impede mobility. The service is aimed at improving foot health and mobility for those with chronic illnesses.
The Most Promising – $6,000
The grant will support a creative writing program led by resident Ali Black, aimed at teaching teens the art of writing. Funds will be used for expenses such as books, artist fees, writing supplies, journals, and refreshments, all of which contribute to fostering literary creativity among young people.
About the Resident Advancement Committee
The Resident Advancement Committee (RAC) is Saint Luke’s grantmaking body of ten community members who oversee the Foundation’s community discretionary budget. Through the RAC, residents of the Saint Luke’s footprint have the opportunity to review the Foundation’s Community Grant applications and award up to $140,000 annually for initiatives that zero in on the social, economic, and environmental factors which shape health in their own neighborhoods. The Saint Luke’s Foundation is dedicated to achieving health equity by addressing social determinants of health for people in neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke’s and throughout Cuyahoga County. For more information on the work of Saint Luke’s Foundation, please visit saintlukesfoundation.org
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Media Contact:
Devonta Dickey
Communications and Marketing Officer
Saint Luke’s Foundation
216.431.8010
ddickey@stlukesfdn.org