Amplifying the power of giving in Northern Kentucky

This article was written by Laura Menge, Sr. Philanthropic Advisor, Greater Cincinnati Foundation

For nearly 60 years, Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has been a leader in this remarkable community, addressing the entire region’s greatest needs. In Northern Kentucky, GCF and its donors have invested $50 million in recent years to support the health and vitality of communities in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. This summer, thanks to the strength of donor partnerships and endowments dedicated for Northern Kentucky, GCF has issued grants totaling $350,000 to Kentucky nonprofits that are making a difference for so many.

Supporting Affordable Car Repairs

Reliable transportation presents an underreported challenge to low-income workers who need it to get to their jobs. For most people in the area, a car is a necessity. But all vehicles require maintenance and repair services.

Samaritan Car Care Clinic, a longtime partner of GCF, works to lift the transportation barriers to self-sufficiency. Through their partnerships with multiple referral agencies, such as the Brighton Center and the Lincoln Grant Scholar House, they help low-income families stay on a path to economic stability by ensuring reliable transportation so they can get to work and school.

Samaritan Car Care Clinic. Photo provided by Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

The Clinic has operated “virtually” since 2007, using borrowed space or paying for repairs elsewhere. In 2021, the Clinic helped 227 low-income families with vehicle maintenance and repair services. More than 80% were female-headed households; 40% were people of color. The Clinic aims to help at least 250-300 low-income families each year. Last December, the Clinic received the gift of a vacant lot in Covington’s urban core upon which they can build a dedicated nonprofit vehicle repair shop.

In May, GCF granted $50,000 toward the construction of that repair shop that will allow them to help more families with critical car repairs. “I want to offer another round of thanks to Greater Cincinnati Foundation,” said Bruce Kintner, Director of Samaritan Care Clinic. “With six requests for help just today from single moms needing car repairs, the GCF grant has been incredibly timely!”

Promoting Educational Success

Education is foundational in all communities. To support the educational success for students across Northern Kentucky, especially with the aim to reduce disparities in academic and career outcomes for low-income students and students of color, GCF has awarded nearly $150,000 in grants to education-based organizations and schools in the Commonwealth:

  • Northern Kentucky Education Council for the One-to-One Tutoring Program:  Partnered with more than 30 schools across Northern Kentucky, One-to-One trains volunteer coaches to tutor students in Grades 1-3 and help them gain confidence in their literacy skills. The program provides a multi-generational approach, working with parents/guardians in the same school community where children are tutored. GCF’s grant of $35,000, made in partnership with the Durr Foundation and second to a grant made last fall, will expand the One-to-One reading programs in 16 school communities with the highest percentage of children living in poverty, boosting those children’s academic achievement.
  • Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission for the Lincoln Grant Scholar House: The Lincoln Grant Scholar House, located in the heart of Covington, is an innovative model for single parents who are full-time college students. The program provides affordable housing and comprehensive services for these parents so they can attain postsecondary degrees and meaningful career paths with wages that will support their families. GCF’s grant, also made in partnership with the Durr Foundation and reflecting a second year of support, allocates $30,000 in general operating support to the Scholar House. Past program support has included supporting families by providing assistance with security deposits, rental balances and transportation in order to promote their housing stability and educational success.

    “The Lincoln Grant Scholar House’s primary objective is to work alongside our families to allow them to dream again and empower them with tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Catrena Bowman-Thomas, Executive Director of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission.  “We believe in the resilience, intelligence, and resourcefulness of all the Northern Kentuckians that we serve.”
Lincoln Grant Scholar House. Photo provided by Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
  • UpSpring Summer 360°: UpSpring Summer 360° is a six-week summer camp serving the educational and enrichment needs of children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are experiencing homelessness. GCF’s grant of $30,000 will support this key summer programming aimed at helping students build their math and literacy skills, social and emotional well-being, and gain new life experiences.

In addition to these grant awards, GCF also funded 33 Northern Kentucky nonprofits with $32,730 through its Summertime Kids grant program, supporting creative activities and programs that are enriching and fun for youth and promote learning during the summer.

And through its Learning Links program, GCF has granted $21,690 to 18 Northern Kentucky schools to fund engaging educational projects or events that K-12 educators would like to bring to their classroom in the 2022-2023 school year. Summertime Kids and Learning Links grants are offered every year in partnership with the Charles H. Dater Foundation.

Focusing on Substance Abuse

Several years ago, a donor left an estate gift to GCF for the creation of an endowment specific to substance abuse prevention and services in Northern Kentucky. Through that support, GCF has been able to make two meaningful investments:

  • Brighton Center, Inc: Brighton Center creates opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment and leadership. One of their many impactful programs, the Women’s Recovery Center, helps individuals develop safe, healthy and positive attitudes that value sobriety and ongoing recovery leading to successful outcomes. Brighton Center is taking a deep dive into the prevalence and impact that substance use has on individuals and families, with a special focus on people of color. A crucial part of this initiative is to examine and document the ways race impacts access to services and chances of success in the substance use/recovery ecosystem. GCF is granting Brighton Center $100,000 over a two-year period to support this work.
  • Transitions, Inc: Substance abuse often causes serious oral health problems. Providing on-site dental care is one more way that Transitions, Inc. will offer holistic care for individuals with substance use disorders. GCF’s $50,000 grant provides funds for the equipment, disposal supplies, and electrical and plumbing work for two dental treatment rooms. It also allows for this project to receive another $48,150 in funding from the Durr Foundation. “After surveying the dental care needs of our clients, we knew we had to do something,” said Jim Beiting, CEO. “Transitions created a sustainable plan, and GCF was quick to respond to our request. Having access to top-quality dental care will greatly increase a client’s success in treatment and recovery. GCF’s support of such a significant public health problem clearly demonstrates their care for the health and welfare of the community.”

Join Us

As the region’s largest community foundation, GCF believes the most remarkable changes happen when people come together – in partnership, collaboration and generosity. Through the generous partnerships of generations of donors, GCF can work to ensure we all rise together to shape a new reality where everyone thrives. You can join us in making important community investments like these for the continued vitality of Northern Kentucky.

Visit gcfdn.org/northern-kentucky-fund for more information

Posted inSponsored

Sponsored: Amplifying the power of giving in Northern Kentucky

by Partner Content

This article was written by Laura Menge, Sr. Philanthropic Advisor, Greater Cincinnati Foundation

For nearly 60 years, Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has been a leader in this remarkable community, addressing the entire region’s greatest needs. In Northern Kentucky, GCF and its donors have invested $50 million in recent years to support the health and vitality of communities in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. This summer, thanks to the strength of donor partnerships and endowments dedicated for Northern Kentucky, GCF has issued grants totaling $350,000 to Kentucky nonprofits that are making a difference for so many.

Supporting Affordable Car Repairs

Reliable transportation presents an underreported challenge to low-income workers who need it to get to their jobs. For most people in the area, a car is a necessity. But all vehicles require maintenance and repair services.

Samaritan Car Care Clinic, a longtime partner of GCF, works to lift the transportation barriers to self-sufficiency. Through their partnerships with multiple referral agencies, such as the Brighton Center and the Lincoln Grant Scholar House, they help low-income families stay on a path to economic stability by ensuring reliable transportation so they can get to work and school.

Samaritan Car Care Clinic. Photo provided by Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

The Clinic has operated “virtually” since 2007, using borrowed space or paying for repairs elsewhere. In 2021, the Clinic helped 227 low-income families with vehicle maintenance and repair services. More than 80% were female-headed households; 40% were people of color. The Clinic aims to help at least 250-300 low-income families each year. Last December, the Clinic received the gift of a vacant lot in Covington’s urban core upon which they can build a dedicated nonprofit vehicle repair shop.

In May, GCF granted $50,000 toward the construction of that repair shop that will allow them to help more families with critical car repairs. “I want to offer another round of thanks to Greater Cincinnati Foundation,” said Bruce Kintner, Director of Samaritan Care Clinic. “With six requests for help just today from single moms needing car repairs, the GCF grant has been incredibly timely!”

Promoting Educational Success

Education is foundational in all communities. To support the educational success for students across Northern Kentucky, especially with the aim to reduce disparities in academic and career outcomes for low-income students and students of color, GCF has awarded nearly $150,000 in grants to education-based organizations and schools in the Commonwealth:

  • Northern Kentucky Education Council for the One-to-One Tutoring Program:  Partnered with more than 30 schools across Northern Kentucky, One-to-One trains volunteer coaches to tutor students in Grades 1-3 and help them gain confidence in their literacy skills. The program provides a multi-generational approach, working with parents/guardians in the same school community where children are tutored. GCF’s grant of $35,000, made in partnership with the Durr Foundation and second to a grant made last fall, will expand the One-to-One reading programs in 16 school communities with the highest percentage of children living in poverty, boosting those children’s academic achievement.
  • Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission for the Lincoln Grant Scholar House: The Lincoln Grant Scholar House, located in the heart of Covington, is an innovative model for single parents who are full-time college students. The program provides affordable housing and comprehensive services for these parents so they can attain postsecondary degrees and meaningful career paths with wages that will support their families. GCF’s grant, also made in partnership with the Durr Foundation and reflecting a second year of support, allocates $30,000 in general operating support to the Scholar House. Past program support has included supporting families by providing assistance with security deposits, rental balances and transportation in order to promote their housing stability and educational success.

    “The Lincoln Grant Scholar House’s primary objective is to work alongside our families to allow them to dream again and empower them with tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Catrena Bowman-Thomas, Executive Director of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission.  “We believe in the resilience, intelligence, and resourcefulness of all the Northern Kentuckians that we serve.”
Lincoln Grant Scholar House. Photo provided by Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
  • UpSpring Summer 360°: UpSpring Summer 360° is a six-week summer camp serving the educational and enrichment needs of children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are experiencing homelessness. GCF’s grant of $30,000 will support this key summer programming aimed at helping students build their math and literacy skills, social and emotional well-being, and gain new life experiences.

In addition to these grant awards, GCF also funded 33 Northern Kentucky nonprofits with $32,730 through its Summertime Kids grant program, supporting creative activities and programs that are enriching and fun for youth and promote learning during the summer.

And through its Learning Links program, GCF has granted $21,690 to 18 Northern Kentucky schools to fund engaging educational projects or events that K-12 educators would like to bring to their classroom in the 2022-2023 school year. Summertime Kids and Learning Links grants are offered every year in partnership with the Charles H. Dater Foundation.

Focusing on Substance Abuse

Several years ago, a donor left an estate gift to GCF for the creation of an endowment specific to substance abuse prevention and services in Northern Kentucky. Through that support, GCF has been able to make two meaningful investments:

  • Brighton Center, Inc: Brighton Center creates opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment and leadership. One of their many impactful programs, the Women’s Recovery Center, helps individuals develop safe, healthy and positive attitudes that value sobriety and ongoing recovery leading to successful outcomes. Brighton Center is taking a deep dive into the prevalence and impact that substance use has on individuals and families, with a special focus on people of color. A crucial part of this initiative is to examine and document the ways race impacts access to services and chances of success in the substance use/recovery ecosystem. GCF is granting Brighton Center $100,000 over a two-year period to support this work.
  • Transitions, Inc: Substance abuse often causes serious oral health problems. Providing on-site dental care is one more way that Transitions, Inc. will offer holistic care for individuals with substance use disorders. GCF’s $50,000 grant provides funds for the equipment, disposal supplies, and electrical and plumbing work for two dental treatment rooms. It also allows for this project to receive another $48,150 in funding from the Durr Foundation. “After surveying the dental care needs of our clients, we knew we had to do something,” said Jim Beiting, CEO. “Transitions created a sustainable plan, and GCF was quick to respond to our request. Having access to top-quality dental care will greatly increase a client’s success in treatment and recovery. GCF’s support of such a significant public health problem clearly demonstrates their care for the health and welfare of the community.”

Join Us

As the region’s largest community foundation, GCF believes the most remarkable changes happen when people come together – in partnership, collaboration and generosity. Through the generous partnerships of generations of donors, GCF can work to ensure we all rise together to shape a new reality where everyone thrives. You can join us in making important community investments like these for the continued vitality of Northern Kentucky.

Visit gcfdn.org/northern-kentucky-fund for more information

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