Erie County Community Foundation 2022 Annual Report

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT Nehemiah Partners Center MISSION | To create safe spaces for children to learn and grow while being surrounded by caring adults. VISION | To see families restored and communities changed through the love of Christ. NEED | Strategically located in the heart of Sandusky with over 6,500 individuals living within a 6-block radius, the center is within walking distance of many kids who benefit from the available programs. In addition to the tangible assistance received at Nehemiah Partners, kids are offered a more robust support system by connecting with role models and making new friends. ACTIVITIES | After-school programs, mentoring, tutoring, family resources, hunger alleviation, and summer camps. WHAT ERIE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUNDED | In May 2022, NPC received a grant from ECCF to launch the “Future Artists” program to give kids the opportunity to explore music and the arts. Over an 8-week period, students try a variety of musical instruments purchased with this funding. If they discover an interest in continuing with private lessons, those can be arranged at no cost. Students also participate in various art projects that involve mediums like paint- ing, drawing, and pottery. At the end of the school year, all projects are collected and included in a community art show. This program has been a popular and important addition to the activities available at the community center, giving neighborhood kids access to different forms of creative expression that may not have been available to them otherwise. “Our overall goal is to help build a sense of community. Everythingwe do centers around being a good neighbor.” CHRIS SOMMERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR