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Three local organizations offer $100,000 literacy grant

Jan. 18, 2017 By Rebecca McCarter

CINCINNATI– Scripps Howard Foundation, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation and WCPO 9 On Your Side are joining forces to break the cycle of poverty through literacy. The organizations are leveraging resources to provide a $100,000 grant to a single nonprofit that supports family literacy in impoverished neighborhoods in the Tristate.

Funds will be awarded to a single nonprofit that fosters and promotes the development and expansion of new and/or existing literacy programs supporting children and their families living in poverty from birth through early elementary school age.

Applicants must be one of the following:

– A nonprofit with a 501(c)(3) status that serves children and their families living in poverty from birth through elementary-age children
– A nonprofit in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler or Warren counties in Ohio; a nonprofit in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties in Kentucky; or a nonprofit in Dearborn County in Indiana
– A nonprofit that provides direct services to children and families living in poverty in one or more of the aforementioned counties; the nonprofit may not be a grant-making agency

Eligible nonprofits can submit their letter of intent for grant consideration. The deadline to apply is Feb. 9, 2017. Click here for the application site.

The two foundations will review all of the submitted letters, and on Feb. 13 will invite 15 nonprofits to complete a full application. Those applications will be due by March 3. Both foundations and WCPO 9 On Your Side will review the full applications and choose three finalists no later than March 13.

The winner will be announced during the Scripps Howard Awards program Wednesday, April 12, at The Aronoff Center for the Arts.

To break the cycle of poverty in Greater Cincinnati, the three funding organizations selected family literacy as a means to foster reading in young children and bolster their vocabulary. Studies show education is a key pathway out of poverty.

– Greater Cincinnati is ranked #4 nationally in child poverty, with nearly half of children estimated to be living below the federal poverty level, according to The National Center for Children in Poverty.
– Of homeless children, 45 percent are under age 5, according to Strategies to End Homelessness. Literacy and kindergarten readiness are crucial to the academic, social and economic success of families and children living in poverty.

“In addition to shining light by supporting excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation makes The E.W. Scripps Company’s vision of creating a better-informed world accessible to even the most disadvantaged children in our community,” said Liz Carter, president and CEO, Scripps Howard Foundation. “Children who read have the best hope of rising out of poverty and achieving their full potential. The entire Scripps community is proud to partner with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to give children that chance.”

“We are excited to be collaborating with the Scripps Howard Foundation to find solutions to the challenges facing our community,” said Ellen M. Katz, president and CEO of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. “Creating pathways to success for individuals in our region who are living in poverty will be crucial to the long-term economic success of Greater Cincinnati as a community.”

About The Scripps Howard Foundation
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation educates, empowers and honors extraordinary journalists who illuminate community issues, and partners with impactful organizations to drive change and improve lives. As the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company, the Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development, literacy and First Amendment causes. With a special commitment to the regions where Scripps does business, the Foundation helps build thriving communities.

About The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
One of the nation’s leading community foundations, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation helps people make the most of their giving to build a better community. We believe in the power of philanthropy to change the lives of people and communities. As a community foundation, GCF creates a prosperous Greater Cincinnati by investing in thriving people and vibrant places. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1963, the Foundation inspires philanthropy in eight counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. At the end of 2015, GCF had net assets of $533 million.