Akron Community - Knight Foundation

Community Archives

2010
- January (1)

Knight Foundation in Akron

Join the conversation about Knight's investments in Akron.

Learn More About Grant Opportunities in Akron

Once the "Rubber Capital of the World," Akron continues to reinvent itself. As it recovers from years of decline after tire manufacturers and other industries left town, Akron is developing a new regional economy focused on medicine, technology, education and innovation. Akron has a healthy sense of community, strong leaders and a lively cultural environment. Its residents understand race relations and work hard at unity.

[ Read More ]

Program Director

January 28, 2010

Beacon-Journal: Vivian Celeste Neal to Retire

Filed under: Communities Program, Akron — Webmaster

Ohio.com, January 28, 2010:

Local Knight Foundation leader will retire

Vivian Celeste Neal, Akron program head, praised for diplomacy

"Forty years ago, Vivian Celeste Neal's trip to Akron was to be a short-term visit to help a sibling with a new baby. Instead, the Pennsylvania native stayed, earned a graduate degree from the University of Akron, married and raised two children in her adopted city.

"Her most recent job was community liaison and program director developing grants awarded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to Akron and Northeast Ohio. She has recommended $67 million in grants over seven years for Akron; Lexington, Ky., and Fort Wayne, Ind. In Akron alone, the grants have totaled $57 million. "

Source: Akron Beacon-Journal / Ohio.com

Comments (0)

1 of 1

Akron

The 2009 Soul of the Community Survey explores the link between residents' emotional ties to where they live and the community's economic growth. Three main factors emotionally connect residents to Akron: social offerings (fun places to gather), aesthetics (an area’s physical beauty and green spaces) and openness (how welcoming a place is). The study also found that the Akron area needs to be seen as more open, particularly to young, talented college graduates who can help fortify the region’s economic future, to further encourage resident attachment to the area.

See survey details for Akron at http://www.soulofthecommunity.org/akron .

help rss

Akron News Releases

Monday, February 1, 2010: National Contest Calls on Community Foundations for Local Information Experiments
Wednesday, January 13, 2010: Knight Foundation Spurs New Round of Local News and Information Projects Nationwide
Thursday, January 7, 2010: Knight Foundation Commits $70 Million to Community Foundations

More News Releases

Community Grants in Akron

Akron-Summit County Public Library
Amount: $240,000
To meet the growing demand for job training via mobile computer labs at 17 branch Akron-Summit County Public Libraries, an additional 3300 people per year will have access and will receive training per year, because of Knight's investment
National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $1,250,000
To support the transformation, planning, development and operation of the Visiting Inductee Program and National Inventors Hall of Fame Invention Gallery located in the National Inventors Hall of Fame Community Learning Center
Orthopaedic Research Institute of Northeast Ohio
Amount: $20,000,000
To create the Bioinnovation Institute (formerly Knight Research and Education Collaborative) in Akron to manage six research, educational and clinical initiatives expected to improve Akron's economy and quality of life by bringing in more than $125 million dollars and creating 2,100 jobs.
Service Corps of Retired Executives Association
Amount: $180,000
To help meet the GAR Foundation challenge to support SCORE's expansion of marketing and administrative activities to startup, entrepreneurs, and existing businesses in Akron and Summit County
University of Akron Foundation
Amount: $440,600
To help underwrite the development of a 10-year business plan for a planned Academic Health Center in Akron.
University of Akron Foundation
Amount: $250,000
To develop a strategic plan for a planned Academic Health Center in Akron that will help it achieve systemic change in health-care education, research and clinical services.

See all grants