During the second half of 2008, The Dayton Foundation awarded $21 million in grants from donor funds to a wide variety of charitable organizations in the Greater Dayton Region and beyond. A portion of the $21 million in grants was made through the Foundation’s discretionary grants program, which a number of donors have made possible by providing unrestricted or largely unrestricted funds to The Dayton Foundation to be able to act on opportunities for the community and address pressing needs throughout Greater Dayton.

Discretionary grants are approved by the Foundation’s Governing Board to promote efforts in the areas of arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors in Greater Dayton. Recently the Foundation made $210,000 in discretionary grants to assist the following organizations in helping Greater Dayton.

American Red Cross Dayton Area Chapter ($15,000): To better serve area homeless families by hiring staff to help with relocating the organization’s Emergency Housing Program from Parkside Homes to Gettysburg Avenue in Dayton.

Cityfolk ($25,000): To help enrich underserved neighborhoods by expanding the Culture Builds Community neighborhood-based arts program, as well as moving some Cityfolk Festival activities beyond downtown and into Neighborhood School Centers located in five Dayton public elementary schools.

Dakota Center ($10,000): To assist with a feasibility study in preparation for a capital campaign. The Dakota Center, located in the MacFarlane neighborhood of inner-west Dayton, has provided youth programs and adult self-sufficiency classes for 43 years.

Dayton Area League of Women Voters ($10,000): To help hire an education director for the Dayton Area League of Women Voters and Kids Voting to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these two volunteer-driven organizations.

Dayton Ballet Association ($6,500): To aid in marketing the Dayton Ballet Association’s three new, full-length ballets to other ballet companies throughout the country.

Dayton Society of Natural History ($10,000): To help develop Science Island: Energy, an interactive, permanent exhibit that will enhance children’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills.

Echoing Hills Village ($8,000): To help residents with mental retardation remain active in the community by purchasing a handicapped-accessible van for transportation to medical appointments and recreational activities.

Kids in New Directions ($10,000): To assist in serving 20 percent more youth in underserved Dayton neighborhoods by creating new youth programs and expanding existing programs.

The Learning Tree Farm ($25,000): To help fund improvement projects that will enrich the farm’s facilities and better serve inner-city children and other visitors year round.

The Linda Vista, Inc. ($10,000): To aid in hiring a youth program specialist to enhance the academic stability of children living in transitional housing and assist them in coping with the effects of homelessness.

Miamisburg Historical Society ($10,000): To help expand the Society’s educational potential for children by renovating a log home into a one-room school and children’s museum.

Reach Out of Montgomery County ($19,500): To assist in creating a Chronic Care Clinic that will provide better health management for underserved and uninsured individuals suffering from chronic diseases.

Resident Home Association ($7,500): To help purchase a new van to transport clients who are disabled to various community activities and medical appointments.

St. Vincent Hotel ($25,000): To aid in developing a permanent, supportive housing program for homeless families with disabilities. This is the first and only housing program of its kind in the area and will help fill a significant and identified gap in services to the homeless.

Victoria Theatre Association ($8,500): To help use art to empower youth by pairing at-risk, high school juniors with college-age mentors to examine the challenges and triumphs of the lead character Celie in The Color Purple.

We Care Arts ($10,000): To aid this organization, which helps promote life and job skills for people with mental and physical disabilities, in purchasing computer software. The software will streamline development and fundraising efforts, including tracking inventory, client information, evaluation data and donor information.

Since 1921 The Dayton Foundation has been helping people help others in the Dayton community and beyond. The Dayton Foundation helps donors find the best and most tax-wise ways to achieve their charitable objectives, invests and manages donors’ charitable funds, and provides grants and leadership to grow philanthropy and help meet present and future community needs. More information about The Dayton Foundation and its services is available at www.daytonfoundation.org.