The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Hispanic Fund awards grants
The Hispanic Fund, an Affiliate Fund of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, celebrated the Hispanic communities of Lorain County on Oct. 20 and announced that it awarded $18,650 in grants, according to a news release.
At a special Harvest Fiesta event hosted at Spectrum Vocational Center in Lorain, the community mingled with the Board of the Hispanic Fund, nonprofit grantees and was invited to join in its work helping their communities.
Nine grants were awarded that provide support for needs in the Hispanic Community, the release said.
“It is my complete honor to represent the Hispanic Fund,” said Albert Calo, president of the Hispanic Fund Advisory Board. “In the economic situation Lorain County has undergone in the last several decades, and most recently Hurricane Maria, the Hispanic Fund is even more needed to serve the Hispanic/Latino community.
“Based on the founding principles of this country, we strive to assist our fellow men and women of Hispanic-Latino decent and others. This gala represents how we give back to Lorain by our much needed grants.”
A few of the grants awarded by the Hispanic Fund and its supporting Endowment Funds include:
• Bigs in Blue, a program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, connects youth with Lorain County police officers, including Elyria and Lorain, to build positive relationships between the Hispanic community and local police.
The Hispanic Fund supported this program in its pilot year in 2017.
• A grant to Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio Inc. provides support for translating its website for Spanish speakers, thereby reducing barriers for Spanish speaking residents to find partner food pantries, according to the release.
A translated website also provides centralized and accessible informational resources for partner agencies.
• The El Dorado Seniors Program, provided by El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc., ensures access to relevant social services; translation/interpretation, health screenings and transportation to medical and social service appointments, the release said.
El Centro has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide monthly boxes of food to seniors to address hunger among seniors.
These grants were made possible not only because of the Hispanic Fund, but also because of Endowment Funds that support the Hispanic Fund including: Apolinar and Eva Arredondo Family Fund; Elena Nunez Fund; Francisco and Theresa Hernandez Family Fund; Frank Jacinto Fund; Fred Lozano Fund; Joel and Joyce Arredondo Family Fund; Ray Pagan Fund; and the Simon, Mercedes, and Frances Ortiz Fund, according to the release.
The Hispanic Fund was established to improve and promote socioeconomic and educational opportunities within the Hispanic Community.
Since its inception, the Hispanic Fund has invested over $290,000 in community grants and over $19,000 in scholarships for Lorain County’s Hispanic students, the release said. The nine grants: Arts & Culture - $2,100 The Roberto Ocasio Foundation
Student Sponsorships for 2019 Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Camp
Food, Agriculture, & Nutrition - $1,200
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
Spanish Translation for the Second Harvest Website Health Care - $2,500 Lorain County Free Clinic
Medical Services Program Human Services - $6,500 El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. - $1,500
El Dorado Seniors Program
Neighborhood Alliance $2,000
Home Delivered Meals for Hispanic Seniors
Salvation Army Lorain $3,000
Learning Zone After School Program
Recreation & Sports $2,000 Freddie’s Boxing Gym Youth Boxing Program Youth Development $4,350
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, Inc. $2,000 Bigs in Blue Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. - $2,350 Funology Lab