Youngstown Foundation Awards $1.2M in Grants

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Foundation on Monday announced $1.2 million in grants, including $250,000 for an expansion project at ACLD School and Learning Center in Youngstown, which serves children who are struggling to learn.

ACLD, which has served local children since 1968, plans to build a 4,500-square-foot addition to its building at 118 E. Wood St., north of downtown. The center added outdoor green space and parking space in 2022 with its purchase and demolition of the former First Calvary Baptist Church building on Wood Street.

“These awards reflect our emphasis on local nonprofits and the broad spectrum of needs they serve,” Youngstown Foundation President Lynnette Forde said. “Our distribution committee was very impressed with the work going on at ACLD School and Learning Center, and we are so pleased to be a major supporter of its expansion project.”

These local nonprofits were also awarded grants:

• Help Network, special navigator, $125,000 (over two years).
• The Butler Institute of American Art, boiler replacement and accessibility, $101,800.
• Down Syndrome Association, general staffing support, $100,000 (over two years).
• Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Valley Vision 2050 & Housing, $100,000.
• Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Renovando OCCHA, $100,000.
• Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, community programming, $100,000.
• Students Motivated by the Arts, Beats & Empowers programming, $78,820.
• Adaptive Sports Ohio, sports for youths with disabilities, $60,000.
• Ohio Urban Renaissance, youth education project, $50,000.
• Veterans Outreach, transition to Colonial Complex, $50,000.
• Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, leadership development, $37,050.
• Vision to Learn, expanded access to vision care, $25,000.
• Clothed in Strength, Clothed in Strength Boutique, $20,000.
• The Youngstown Playhouse (Monday Musical), 2023-2024 season support, $20,000.
• Chickadee Pre-School, outdoor classroom support, $10,000.
• Humility of Mary Housing, food vouchers for Trumbull, $9,000.
• National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention, $7,560.

Pictured at top: Teacher Mary Dorney leads a class at the ACLD School and Learning Center in Youngstown. The Youngstown Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to support an expansion project at the center.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.