COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus leaders announced Monday that the city will put more than $20 million into summer programming for kids.
Some of the $20.8 million funding will go toward summer camps, youth sports and different city-led programs.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said the programs will provide opportunities for kids in every neighborhood.
“A safer community and a stronger workforce begins with keeping our young people on track over the summer,” said Hardin. “The programs we’re funding this year provide opportunities for kids in every neighborhood to learn, grow and build community, whether through athletics, STEM exposure, job training, enrichment camps and so much more.”
Mayor Andrew Ginther said the programming will help build a "brighter tomorrow" for children.
“Our children have been through so much these last few years – coming out of the pandemic and adjusting to a changed society – and it is vital that they see themselves in our city’s future," Ginther said.
More than $8 million was awarded to 90 community organizations that submitted funding requests in an application process. All of the proposals were evaluated by an interdepartmental review committee composed of representatives from the administration and council.
There was also $12.2 million approved for several city-sponsored summer programs like police and fire cadet classes, the Columbus Recreation and Parks APP Job Readiness Program, summer camps and youth sports.
According to a release from the city, the programs receiving financial support promote academic achievement, career readiness skills and non-violent conflict resolution.
Below is the full list of organizations receiving funding:
- Actors' Theatre of Columbus: The Globe School summer camps $10,000
- After-School All-Stars Ohio: After-School All-Stars Ohio Summer Program $30,000.00
- All Nations Worship Assembly: Tomorrow's Leaders Youth Intervention $100,000.00
- All THAT-Workforce Development Academy $167,000
- Always with Us Charities $240,000.00
- Asian American Community Services (AACS) $90,000
- Bantu Hope Foundation Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio: Big Brothers Big Sisters Summer 2024 $80,000
- Enrichment Experiences $250,000
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus, Ohio: Formula for Impact $171,000.00
- Brown Girls Mentoring $85,000.00
- Capital City Equestrian-Mane Connection 2024 $100,000
- Central Community House & Youth: TRANSIT ARTS $66,000
- Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. (CDCFC) $190,000
- City of Refuge Goodlife Program-Goodlife Youth 2024 $150,000
- Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center: Kids Club $114,102.00
- Columbus College of Art and Design: College Preview $62,300.00
- Columbus Fashion Initiative dba Columbus Fashion Alliance Columbus Housing Partnership/Homeport & Summer Camps at Emerald Glen and $200,000
- Pheasant Run $29,000
- Columbus Metropolitan Library: Summer Community Intern Program $60,000.00
- Columbus Museum of Art-Summer Art Breaks $9,500.00
- Columbus Preparatory Academy: Building Blocks Summer Intensive $49,000.00
- Columbus Urban League $200,000.00
- Community Arts Project,Inc. dba The King Arts Complex: King Kids $80,000
- Community Development for All People: CD4AP: Youth Development Programs $150,000.00
- Community for New Direction-CND Summer Engagement Program $150,000.00
- Community of Caring Development Foundation & Sports Leadership Academy $60,000
- Community Partners Youth Development Organization $200,000
- Community Refugee & Immigration Services $10,000.00
- Creating Central Ohio Futures: Shaping Futures $150,000
- Directions for Youth and Families-Summer Program $80,000
- Dominican Sisters of Peace_Martin de Porres Center $85,000.00
- Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio: Summer Learning Academy $8,000.00
- Driven Foundation: POWER AND PURPOSE $50,000
- Eckerd Youth Alternatives-ARTRageous Out-of-School $80,000.00
- ETSS: Summer Youth Enrichment Program $125,000.00
- FACCES: Education Summer Program $170,000
- Femergy-Chica Sports and Fitness $50,000.00
- First Tee of Central Ohio: Summer Golf Camp with OSU LiFEsports $10,000.00
- Franklin County Historical SocietyConnects2You: STEAM Education $152,654.00
- Franklinton Farms: Summer Youth Garden Initiatives $2,825.00
- Girls Leap $15,000.00
- Gladden Community House & Gladden Summer Camp $50,000.00
- Godman Guild Association (IgniteU) $50,000.00
- Heart Of JOB Foundation $213,000
- Highland Youth Garden $63,000
- Hilltop Arts Collective: ARtsway Summer Youth $60,800.00
- Homes for Families, Homes for Families Program $35,000.00
- I Know I Can: Summer Success Program $130,000.00
- ICE Mentors Inc. $140,000
- J. Jireh Development Corporation: Youth Summer Program $97,830.00
- Jesus Power Assembly of God Church: Vacation Bible School $80,000
- Kaleidoscope Youth Center-Drop In Center $50,000
- Kingdom First & The Competitive Edge and The Crossover $150,000
- LEAD WITH PURPOSE $58,000
- Legacy Youth Academy: Reimagining Safety $207,860.00
- Liberians in Columbus-Summer Scholars Academy $75,000
- Lincoln Theatre Association: Activity Assistant Program $30,000
- Look Ma No Hands-Summer Series $75,000
- Mezzacello Columbus: Sustainability Series $28,000
- Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children: See More Want More $125,000.00
- Nationwide Children's Hospital & Safety City Columbus $20,000.00
- Neighborhood Design Center & Youth CoLab $47,000.00
- New Birth Christian Ministries & New Birth Summer Enrichment Program $78,000
- Ohio Hispanic Coalition: Niños en Acción Summer STEAM Academy $180,000
- Ours Brothers Keepers $290,000
- Project Redeem -The Me I see $5,500.00
- Proyecto Mariposas: Summer of Mariposas Exploring Your Creative Self $54,500.00
- Pyramid Community Development Corporation (CDC) $150,000
- Reaching Higher Heights 4 Life: Back2 Basic Summer Camp $25,000
- Remember Us Urban Scouts $160,000
- Rickenbacker Woods Foundation: STEAM Explorers $33,940.00
- See Brilliance: Experience Columbus STEAM Adventures $76,225.00
- Seeds of Caring: Hands-on, Service-Centered Summer Programming $18,000.00
- Southside Hope Community Development Corp-Bridge to Your Future $65,000.00
- St. Stephen's Summer STEM Camp $36,020.00
- St. Vincent Family Services-Summer Program $25,000
- The Actions that Matter for Youth $80,000
- The African American Male Wellness Agency $220,000.00
- The Buckeye Ranch: The Buckeye Ranch Summer Programming $15,780.00
- The Cordelion Performing Arts Project-LionHeart Corp $50,000
- The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business $250,000.00
- The Ohio State University Foundation-OSU Life Sports $50,000.00
- Trades of Faith-Project Genesis $117,000
- Warriors Karate Academy-EJs Warrior Academy $97,000
- We Amplify Voices: We. The Change Summer Camp $130,126.86
- We Are Linden $98,000
- Women's Leadership Academy $48,000.00
- YMCA of Central Ohio & YMCA Summer Teen Experience $120,000
- Youth Over Us Summer Experience $200,000.00
- YWCA Columbus: YWCA 2024 Kids Place Summer Camp-USN $50,000.00