For Immediate Release
Building Stronger Communities: The Stocker Foundation Invests $556,000 in Northeast Ohio Education
Elyria, OH - April 8, 2025 - The Stocker Foundation today announced 22 grant awards totaling $556,658 to educational nonprofit organizations serving Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. These Northeast Ohio grants are part of the Foundation's broader annual grant cycle that includes 86 grants totaling over $1.5 million across eight communities nationwide. All grant funding focuses on supporting the development of foundational reading and writing skills, early childhood education, kindergarten readiness, cross-disciplinary and project-based learning through STEAM, and wraparound services that remove barriers to learning and academic achievement.
Trustees approved $422,133 to 17 organizations in Lorain County. The largest grant of $85,000 was awarded to Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio in support of Lorain County School Food Program. Other notable grants include $50,000 to Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio for the DreamLab project providing STEAM and life-skills experiential learning; $60,000 to The Lorain Historical Society towards an Early Learning Initiative; and $50,000 to Save Our Children of Elyria to support Summer 2025 Dream Chasers program. In Cuyahoga County, Trustees approved $134,525 to nine organizations. Significant awards include $50,000 to Great Lakes Science Center toward Early Childhood Exhibition Support; $25,000 to Open Doors Academy for the 2025 Educational and Enrichment Summer Camp; and $15,000 to Arts Impact toward Supporting Student Success Through STEAM.
"These grant awards represent more than just financial support – they embody our belief that quality education is the foundation for strong, vibrant communities," said Patricia O'Brien, Executive Director. "Through strategic partnerships with outstanding organizations, we're helping to create educational environments where all children can develop the skills, creativity, and confidence they need to thrive."
Northeast Ohio Grant Recipients - 2025
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Arts Impact - $15,000
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Avon Local Schools - $34,500 (over three years)
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Avon-Avon Lake Community Resource Services - $3,000
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Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center - $10,000
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The Cleveland Museum of Natural History - $15,000
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Effective Leadership Academy - $20,000
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Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio - $50,000
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Great Lakes Science Center - $50,000
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ideastream - $14,633
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Intergenerational Cleveland - $15,000
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Little Lighthouse Learning Center - $15,000
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The Literacy Cooperative - $9,306
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The Lorain Historical Society - $60,000 (over two years)
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OberlinKids Community Collaborative - $15,000
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Open Doors Academy - $25,000
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Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. - $10,000
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Save Our Children of Elyria - $50,000
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Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio - $85,000
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Spark Theatre Company, Inc. - $10,000
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United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Cleveland, Inc. - $10,219
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United Way of Greater Lorain County - $25,000
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World Savvy - $15,000
About The Stocker Foundation
The Stocker Foundation was established in 1979 by Beth K. Stocker. Since that time, the Foundation has awarded more than $76 million to nonprofit organizations across the United States. The Stocker Foundation focuses its investments in eight communities nationwide, with primary emphasis on Lorain County, Ohio, the place where assets were generated. Additional funding supports communities where trustees reside: Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Pima County, Arizona; King and San Juan Island counties, Washington; Alameda and San Francisco counties, California; and Hartford County, Connecticut. The Foundation's mission is to invest in literacy and STEAM-focused programming for students to become creative, contributing members of their communities, guided by a vision for a world where equitable access to quality education creates strong communities and curious, lifelong learners. For more information about The Stocker Foundation and its grant application process, please visit www.stockerfoundation.org.
Foundation Contact:
Patricia O'Brien
Executive Director
The Stocker Foundation
440-366-4885
pobrien@stockerfoundation.org