Saint Luke’s Foundation awards more than $1.7M to 20 local groups working toward health equity
Saint Luke’s Foundation awards more than $1.7M to 20 local groups working toward health equity
Yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Saint Luke’s Foundation board of trustees approved in its fourth-quarter board meeting grants to 20 organizations totaling $1,769,760.
These investments advance the foundation’s mission to achieve health equity by addressing social determinants of health, including:
• Educational attainment
• Financial stability
• Healthy eating and active living
• Safe and affordable housing
• Social connections
• Strengthening neighborhoods surrounding the former Saint Luke’s Hospital
“At the Saint Luke's Foundation, we strive to invest in work that directly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community,” St. Luke’s Foundation president and CEO Tim Tramble said in a statement. “This quarter’s strategy partners represent a powerful cross-section of organizations addressing critical needs.
“They collectively serve as a testament that the talent and power needed to forge change reside within the community,” Tramble continued. “The initiatives supporting this funding cycle embody resilience, creativity, and determination within our neighborhoods. We are proud to support these efforts as they tackle the social determinants of health and create a brighter tomorrow.”
St. Luke’s Foundation board chair Terry Allan says The Saint Luke’s Foundation continues to focus on listening, learning, and the inclusion of community voices in the foundation’s community work.
“This quarter’s board grants exemplify the strength within the communities we serve, as they reflect a deep understanding of the challenges faced and a shared vision for solutions that promote equity, health, and opportunity,” Allan said in a statement.
St. Luke’s Foundation officials say these grants exemplify the foundation’s commitment to fostering positive change and improving community health and well-being.
The 20 grants awarded (all grants are for one year unless otherwise noted):
Beat the Streets Cleveland: $30,000
The grant will provide program support to provide free youth development, mentoring, and wrestling programs for 200 underserved K-12 students in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant, Buckeye, and Woodland Hills neighborhoods, aiming to boost school attendance, academic performance, confidence, and leadership skills. The program leverages sports to engage youth while fostering social capital through mentorship, with measurable outcomes tracked via attendance records, report cards, and pre- and post-program surveys.
Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC): $100,000
The grant will support BBC's comprehensive, culturally grounded services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, including perinatal support, doula training, parenting education, and mental health resources. The intended impact includes increasing full-term births and breastfeeding rates, expanding the doula collective, and equipping families to combat systemic stressors, ultimately promoting health equity and reducing racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality.
Buckeye Christian Collaborative: $50,000
The grant will provide program support to pilot a Workforce Training Program providing construction pre-apprenticeship certification, life skills training, and case management to young adults in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. The 12-week program will equip participants with classroom learning, coaching, and on-the-job training to secure employment in the construction industry, enhancing both financial stability and potential community revitalization.
Buckeye H.E.A.L (fiscal sponsor is Fairhill Partners): $54,910
The grant will provide general operating support for Buckeye HEAL to increase access to healthy food, cooking demonstrations, and exercise programs.
One program includes partnering with City Fresh to deliver weekly fresh produce to 75 residents and connect 200 residents to fitness resources. Additionally, funds will support staffing expansion, enhanced community outreach, and contracting residents to lead exercise programs and participate in Community Health Worker training.
Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.: $133,850
The grant will support BBC's efforts to implement the Purpose Built Communities neighborhood plan, focusing on housing, economic opportunities, wellness, and strengthening community connections through a resident engagement strategy.
The intended impact includes fostering collaboration across neighborhoods, reducing service gaps through an asset map, and building partnerships to execute the long-term vision for the Buckeye/Woodhill and Buckeye/Shaker areas.
Case Western Reserve University: $96,000
The grant will support the Social Justice Law Center's continued coordination of the Youth Justice Collaborative (YJC), fostering collaboration among community partners, policymakers, and youth to advance systemic reform in youth justice.
The intended impact includes driving actionable steps, sharing best practices, and building partnerships to address key issues, ultimately promoting equitable outcomes for at-risk youth.
City Club of Cleveland: $60,000
The grant will support the City Club's forum series on health equity and its connections to social determinants of health, with plans to convene up to six forums, livestream them, and reach more than 1,000 participants through in-person and virtual access.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority: (CMHA): $200,000
The grant will support CMHA in aiding Woodhill Homes residents during and after relocation by addressing barriers to housing stability, such as transportation, childcare, utilities, and security deposits, and by establishing a peer-to-peer support network to maintain community connections.
Additionally, the grant will fund initiatives to bridge the digital divide through resident Digital Navigators and support the Police-Assisted Referral program, connecting residents to services that mitigate the impacts of violence and trauma.
Enterprise Community Partners: $140,000
The grant will support Enterprise Community Partners in advancing equitable housing policies, preventing childhood lead poisoning, expanding affordable housing, and increasing financial stability for low-income families through programs like VITA and advocacy for renter protections.
Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC): $100,000
The grant will support GCC's work to address critical community issues in Cuyahoga County, including advancing health equity for aging residents, promoting criminal justice reforms to reduce racial disparities, and empowering local leaders to address voter suppression and depression.
Additionally, GCC will continue to foster economic democracy by leveraging collective purchasing power to achieve significant cost savings for vulnerable nonprofit organizations in the region.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): $100,000
The grant will support LISC Heirs’ Property Resolution Program in the Buckeye/Woodhill neighborhood, helping households resolve title issues to preserve homeownership, build generational wealth, and address the racial wealth gap.
This program aligns with the foundation's strategy to advance household financial stability by providing essential tools for low-income homeowners.
Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI): $110,000
The grant will support NLI's leadership development programs, including its 16-week flagship training for grassroots leaders, community engagement efforts in the Saint Luke's Foundation footprint, and its Community Book Club that addresses systemic racism.
With a new leader, the organization aims to deepen community organizing efforts, enhance resident engagement through the L.E.V. 216 platform, and continue fostering civic participation and social connections.
East 66th Street Services, Inc. (dba Neighborhood Connections): $100,000
The grant, which is comprised of $75,000 for general operating support and $25,000 for capacity building, will support Neighborhood Connections' efforts to build a resident-led, interdependent network in Greater Buckeye through Neighbor Nights, door-to-door organizing, and civic initiatives that foster mutual support and collective action.
Funding will support a neighborhood summit, supporting 20 to 25 civic associations and enhancing communication efforts to strengthen community engagement and advocacy.
New City Cleveland: $35,000
The grant, which is comprised of $30,000 for general operating support and $5,000 for capacity building, will enable New City Cleveland to expand programs and hire a part-time development specialist. This will strengthen the organization’s core initiatives, including the Winter Workday, SummerStrong, and MamaStrong programs, while also increasing revenue through improved fundraising efforts.
New Era Cleveland (fiscal sponsor is East End Neighborhood House): $150,000
The grant will support New Era Cleveland's programs focused on trauma recovery, community violence intervention, and civic engagement, including recruiting and training an 11-member Trauma Response Team and hosting safety-focused community events.
Funds will also support the expanding Safe Zone Partnerships in local business corridors and enhancing their new building to better serve participants' needs.
Ohio Transformation Fund (fiscal sponsor is Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association): $60,000
The grant will provide general operating support to transform Ohio's criminal legal system by advancing legislative reforms, such as the Ohio GROW Act, and reducing the impact of collateral sanctions on justice-impacted individuals, particularly Black Ohioans disproportionately affected by these policies.
Philanthropy Ohio: $50,000 for two years
The grant will be used for general operating support to continue advancing equitable, community-centered philanthropy through 80 programs, events, and resources, while fostering collaboration with policymakers, stakeholders, and members on key issues like health, education, and housing policy. A $2,000 grant add- on will be used for capacity building.
Providence House: $75,000
The grant will support the launch of Providence House East Campus Family Preservation services, including hiring key staff, opening 10 beds by late 2024, and providing crisis nursery care to approximately 80 children from 25 families within the first eight months of operation.
By 2026, with full staffing and operations, the East Campus aims to serve 250 children and 125 parents annually, alongside expanded community engagement and resource events.
Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center: $50,000
The grant, which includes $40,000 for general operating support and $10,000 for capacity building, will provide operating support to Pregnant with Possibilities to strengthen the M.O.M. prenatal program, aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes for mothers in low-wealth communities. This funding will enhance services, increase program participation, and address disparities in access to care and resources.
Towards Employment: $65,000
The grant will provide operating support to help individuals complete career readiness training, with them placed in above-minimum-wage jobs, while advancing career progression through education, technical training, and leadership development programs for alumni.
The organization also aims to enhance economic mobility and social capital—particularly for Black and brown individuals—by expanding outreach in underserved neighborhoods, integrating financial and wellness services, and fostering community-driven recruitment efforts like the "On The Ground Network" and Young Adult Ambassador peer programs.
Support Birthing Beautiful Communities with Macy's Round Up!
Support Birthing Beautiful Communities with Macy's Round Up!
We are excited to announce that Birthing Beautiful Communities is partnering with Macy's Round Up program! From October 16, 2024 through October 31, 2024, when you shop at Macy's, you can make a difference by rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar. Every cent from your Round Up supports our mission of providing critical care and resources to birthing persons and families in our community.
When you’re shopping in-store, this simple action helps us continue creating healthy, thriving futures for moms and babies. Head to your Macy’s in University Square today and be part of the change!
Shop Macy's University Square: 2201 Warrensville Center Rd, University Heights, OH 44118
Thank you for your support!
Mothering Together | Episode 1 – Birth Stories🎙️
Welcome to “Mothering Together,” an original podcast series part of the Maternal Outreach Movement, powered by Birthing Beautiful Communities. In this episode, Ro and Bijou dive deep into unique and powerful birth stories, featuring natural births, C-sections, and home births. Joining them is Jazmin Long, CEO of Birthing Beautiful Communities.
Jeff Bezos’ Ex-wife MacKenzie Scott Is Going Viral for Using Part of Her Fortune to Help Black Maternal Health
After divorcing Jeff Bezos in 2019, MacKenzie Scott has been showing everyone that you can and should donate to important causes, especially when you have money out of the wazoo. This time, her latest donation is going viral on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
Recently, Scott donated a $2 million grant to the Birthing Beautiful Communities, which is a doula program in Ohio dedicated to Black mothers, babies, and families.
BBC’s President & CEO, Jazmin Long said, via Black Enterprise, “We’re overjoyed and deeply grateful for this transformative gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. This generous support propels Birthing Beautiful Communities into an exciting new chapter, empowering us to amplify our impact and further our mission of ensuring every mother, baby, and family receives the care and support they deserve.”
Long added, “With this funding, we’re poised to continue transforming maternal health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and beyond, ushering in a future where every birth is a beautiful and healthy experience.”
BBC provides families by helping mothers through the pregnanct, labor, and helping with the first year of the baby’s life.
The CDC revealed over 80 percent of maternal mortality deaths are preventable, and after Roe v Wade was overturned, it’s only worsened. The organization found that the group most affected by maternal mortality is Black people, saying “Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.”
The reason behind this varies, with the biggest issues with lack of quality healthcare, structural racism, and implicit bias, to name a few.
Per Kiplinger, after Scott landed a $38 billion settlement from Bezos, it made her the richest woman in the world. As of 2024, she has given away at least $650 million, gifting $1M to $2M to over 360 nonprofit groups. Along with helping maternal mortality rates decrease, she has donated money to arts, education, affordable housing, public health, and more.
SheKnows.com | Delilah Gray
FY23 Annual Report
It Takes A Village -- This is our Village of Joy
On October 12th, BBC held our annual meeting to share the progress we have achieved this fiscal year. The work could not be done without the support of our community, our doulas and staff, and our donors. Our annual report highlights a few stories from our clients and their doulas; it also celebrates our team and honors our generous donors.
Psst! You can view our featured video at the end of the report by click on the text "Village of Joy"!
Support BBC this weekend at Kendra Scott - March 17 through March 19, 2023
Got plans this weekend?
If not, save the date and stop by Kendra Scott boutique in Woodmere, OH between March 17-19th for some sips, sweets, and jewels! Kendra Scott will be hosting a Kendra Gives Back fundraiser where they will dedicate 20% of their proceeds from this weekend to Birthing Beautiful Communities.
On Saturday, March 18th, BBC will be present at the boutique from 12-3pm for a shopping party where we will share more about our current work with mothers and babies. Join us for the event at: 28699 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere, OH 44122.
Can't make it in-person but still want to support BBC? No problem! You can shop online from March 17th - 19th and be sure to use our online code: GIVEBACK-DQMMR
BBC MiraCLE Flier - FINAL
Birthing Beautiful Communities Present MiraCLE: Celebrating Those That Give Life, Love & Support
We're excited to present MiraCLE: Celebrating Those That Give Life, Love & Support on Saturday, November 12th! This celebration will honor four community leaders working to advance maternal and infant health in our region while raising funds for Birthing Beautiful Communities. To learn more about this event and sponsorship oppotunities, please visit www.birthingbeautiful.org/miracle/.