Callahan Foundation Announces Fall 2018 Grant Recipients

Twice each year, the Callahan Foundation awards Northeast Ohio nonprofits who embody the foundation’s mission in demonstrating superior leadership and creating value for those in need, through programs in higher education, the arts and social services. This fall, the Callahan Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded $135,000 to 11 nonprofits in its Fall 2018 grant cycle:

City Year Cleveland: A first-time grant recipient, City Year Cleveland is an education-focused, service-based organization that partners with public schools in high-poverty communities to help keep students in school and on track to graduate. City Year was awarded $5,000 towards their AmeriCorps program, which pairs young adult members with in-need students to help build the social-emotional and academic skills students need to achieve their goals. City Year AmeriCorps members not only make a difference in the lives of the students they serve, but also acquire valuable skills that prepare them to become the next generation of civically-engaged leaders.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs: The Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) aims to inspire engagement in international affairs and world cultures through education, citizen diplomacy and public dialogue. CCWA was awarded $5,000 for their expanding Model United Nations program, which brings world affairs alive through trainings, workshops and conferences for over 1,800 participants from more than 55 Northeast Ohio schools each year. The program offers students the opportunity to learn about and engage in international affairs in a personal, exciting way.

Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM): The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) was awarded $5,000 towards their Annual Fund, enabling the yearly operation of the school, its programs, and its scholarships. Funding will help support such scholarships that lower the financial burden for nearly every student, and which are vital to attracting and retaining the best and brightest students in classical music. CIM students receive exposure to world-renowned visiting artists and conductors, and are afforded intensive study with faculty along with a rich curriculum offered by the organization’s partner, Case Western Reserve University.

Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF): As an annual presenting sponsor, the Callahan Foundation awarded CIFF $30,000 towards the Roxanne T. Mueller (RTM) Audience Choice Award for Best Film, IFF’s most prestigious and internationally acclaimed honor recognizing impactful filmmakers. Funding allows CIFF to not only present the award, but cover the costs of bringing back the year’s winner for a supplemental screening post-festival, further engaging audiences and propagating interest in the festival.

Cleveland Print Room: The Cleveland Print Room is a nonprofit community darkroom, education center, workspace, and photographic gallery. This fall, the organization was awarded $7,500 for operating costs, which would allow CPR to build organizational capacity and more fully serve their target population: underserved students in Cleveland who are denied access to opportunities to study photography due to lack of financial resources, parental guidance, and access to facilities and art classes.

College Now: As Ohio’s largest and the nation’s first college access organization, College Now Greater Cleveland serves 29,000 socioeconomically diverse students and adults yearly through programs and counseling on postsecondary educational attainment. The organization was awarded $10,000 for general operations, allowing them to continue to lead in the field of college access across Ohio and the region.

Case Western Reserve University’s (CWRU) National Youth Sports Program (NYSP): CWRU was one of the first universities in the country to launch the enriching, five-week National Youth Sports Program.   NYSP is a summer sports camp which provides a structured environment with established expectations of positive behavior and mutual respect for socioeconomically disadvantaged youth. CWRU’s NYSP was awarded $7,500 for their 2019 program.

CWRU Research ShowCASE: Case Western Reserve University’s celebrated, daylong research presentation fair, Research ShowCASE, is the university’s second largest annual event. The fair, which  showcases cutting-edge research done across the university, was awarded a $25,000 sponsorship. Funding will help bring a keynote speaker to campus to share a meaningful message with researchers and scholars, as well as cover the costs of complimentary lunches for attendees.

FIRST Robotics: FIRST is a competitive-based education program where students design, build, program and compete as a team using robots to solve new challenges every year. The program was awarded $10,000 for their Buckeye Regional High School Robotics Competition, a landmark for both Northeast Ohio and all other FIRST Regionals, taking place this March 27-30, 2019.

The Sculpture Center: The Sculpture Center (TSC) is an arts institution dedicated to the education and career advancement of emerging sculptors in the region, and the preservation of Ohio outdoor public sculpture. TSC was awarded $20,000 for general operating support and for the Cleveland Sculptors Network (CSN), a collaborative effort which brings artists to Cleveland to engage with local sculptors through collective discussions and public panel talks.

YWCA: Celebrating 150 years of service to the community, YWCA was awarded $10,000 for the expansion of their Nurturing Independence & Aspirations (NIA) program, which provides comprehensive supportive services and case management for formerly homeless youth and young adults living at Independence Place (IP). The program’s expansion will include the Community NIA program, which supports former tenants in maintaining secure housing and progress after IP.

About The Callahan Foundation

The Callahan Foundation is a family foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, that provides support for Northeast Ohio nonprofits to add value to the entire region. Started in 1968 by Francis Joseph “Joe” Callahan and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Callahan, the Callahan Foundation is primarily focused on art and higher education grants, as well as the funding of numerous social service endeavors. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded more than $15 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the area that demonstrate superior entrepreneurial leadership and a track record of value creation.