The Greater Alliance Foundation is committed
to improving the quality of life for residents in
the greater Alliance area. Since its inception in
1999, the Foundation has supported more than 70 local
organizations with almost $1,800,000 in grants. This year,
$1,135,000 in new funds was invested in the Foundation.
Foundation executive director Doug Schwarz encourages
area residents to be participants in the process of
changing the community.
"It is my hope that the grants, initiatives, and programs
of the Greater Alliance Foundation will spark a specific
interest that individuals hold dear for our community,"
Schwarz said. "The Foundation can turn your interest from
a spark to a fervent fire of opportunity for our community."
It is the Foundation's goal to match charitable interests
with specific community needs. Early in the Foundation's
history, founders Jack Peters and Charles Grove had
dreams of the Foundation becoming a significant financial
force to address and support community capital needs.
Peters noted the community pride that began to arise following
projects completed by the Foundation.
Since its founding in 1999, the Greater Alliance Foundation
has initiated the R.T. White School of Practical
Nursing, the Early Education Alliance, Inc., start-up for
the Alliance Family YMCA Learn to Swim for all second
graders in Alliance and Marlington schools, and the Adult
Career Training Assistance program. All four initiatives are
successful community assets today.
This year, the foundation assisted Stark State College
to start up a new local program enabling licensed practical
nurses to become practical nurses. The new associate
degree program is housed at the Robert T. White School
of Practical Nursing, which will enable Stark State College
to share facilities, laboratory and equipment.
"We are really excited about this new program," said
Peters. "We initiated the R.T. White School of Practical
Nursing to help people earn a decent living wage to better
support their family. Now they can step up to an even better
income as a registered nurse."
More than 50 non-profit organizations benefitted by
Foundation grants during this fiscal year as well.
Previous projects funded by the Foundation include Interfaith
Child Development, construction for Rodman Library, class
tuitions for the Alliance Career Centre, support for housing for
the Stark Interagency on Homelessness and the Alliance High
School "Play-It-Smart" program in cooperation with the National
Football League to help athletes get better grades.
Additional information may be obtained by calling The
Greater Alliance Foundation at (330) 823-8560 or at www.
greateralliancefoundation.org.