Jan. 9, 2018
CINCINNATI – Scripps Howard Foundation, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation and WCPO 9 On Your Side are continuing their charge to break the cycle of poverty through literacy. The organizations are leveraging resources to provide $150,000 in grants to nonprofits that support family literacy in impoverished neighborhoods in Greater Cincinnati.
A grant of $100,000 will be awarded to a single nonprofit that empowers parents with skills, confidence and tools to help their children develop emergent literacy and language skills from birth through pre-K. The program must be ongoing, serve families living in poverty and develop deep relationships with parents.
A grant of $50,000 will be awarded to a finalist. Winners will be announced during the 65th Annual Scripps Howard Awards show at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati on April 19.
In order to be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Must be a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status that serves children (birth through pre-K) and their families living in poverty in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler or Warren counties in Ohio; or in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties in Kentucky.
• The nonprofit may not be a grant-making agency.
Eligible nonprofits can submit their letter of intent for grant consideration on the Foundation’s website. The deadline to submit is Jan. 24.
The foundations will review all submitted letters and on Jan. 31 will invite no more than 10 nonprofits to complete a full application. Those applications will be due by Feb. 21. On March 13, no more than five semi-finalists will be announced and must be available for site visits the week of March 19.
The winner and a finalist will be announced on April 19.
To break the cycle of poverty in Greater Cincinnati, the funding organizations selected family literacy as a means to foster reading in young children and bolster their vocabulary. Education is a key pathway out of poverty: Studies show that by age 3, children in poverty are exposed to 30 million fewer words than little ones in high-income homes. In addition, of homeless children, 45 percent are under age 5, according to Strategies to End Homelessness.
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.
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The foundation provides more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. The foundation’s education focus spans kindergarten to career, particularly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), early childhood literacy and workforce development. It also supports the environment and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture.
Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders at a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on its legacy of community service. For more information, visit http://www.duke-energy.com/foundation.
Media Contact:
Kari Wethington, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3763, [email protected]