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With this vision, Center of Hope established a 501©(3) in
2007 and implemented the first Children’s Defense Fund
Freedom School in the area. As an afterschool and
summer-only program, Tracee and collaborators Dr. Staci
Perryman-Clark and Willetta Perryman created a culturally
centered curriculum tailored to students’ age and
development, while including life skills and
character-building principles.
Illustrating the concept, Tracee explained, “Our students
expressed an interest in athletic shoes. Because it was
important to them, we developed a lesson called, ‘What’s in
a shoe?’ Kindergarteners are able to recognize the letters
in words like shoe, and draw or color a shoe for display.
But, our 3rd-5th graders developed marketing plans, and
learned about the costs associated with manufacturing shoes.
We structure content so that it is culturally relevant,
while integrating a continuum of learning benchmarks so that
every child has the opportunity to contribute and feel
smart.”
Tracee’s personal dedication had an impact on the Toledo
Community Foundation’s decision to fund the program. “During
the on-site visit, the Foundation asked, ‘What if we gave
you partial funding?’ I said I’d donate my time to the
project, and they approved the grant in full.”
But children don’t learn when their family life is unstable
– so the Center has also embraced opportunities to support
parents and siblings through workforce development,
parenting education, support and advocacy. These programs,
including Workforce Support, Parent Support, Elevate and
Family Navigator, all received support for launch from
Toledo Community Foundation.
Commenting on Center of Hope, TCF’s program officer, Chris
Dziad, said, “Tracee really knows her community, and knows
what works. And, she is committed to doing the research and
analysis that shows what works. Supporters want to know they
are having an impact – and she can demonstrate that.”
Tracee’s perspective on data collection is similar. “What we
do needs to be intentional. We work hard to identify what
data we need,” she said. “I look closely at the data on a
weekly basis and ask, ‘Who is being served? Who is NOT being
served? Are we meeting the community’s real needs?’ Our
research shows our programs are aligned with best practices
and are producing results.”
Collaboration supports sustainability
Tracee also credits the Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit
Resources as a partner in Center of Hope’s success. “I’ve
received consultation from The Center, and call regularly
with questions. We’ve done their training in accounting and
regulations. We want to learn from people who’ve been there
and done that. My focus is on assuring the programs are
sustainable, because so many families have been disappointed
by good programs that come and go.”
Describing their involvement with the Foundation, Tracee
said, “I always feel like TCF’s decisions are about what is
good for the community. Some funding agencies come at you
with low expectations. Toledo Community Foundation does not
do that. They have high expectations – but they also help
you meet them.”
Ed. Note: This article and photographs
are reprinted from the Toledo Community Foundation’s 2018
Annual Report with permission from the Foundation. The
following is quite from that report.
“Forty-five years of inspired giving
has resulted in the awarding of grants and scholarships of
more than $233 million to nonprofit organizations in our
region and beyond. In 2018, Toledo Community Foundation
awarded more than $16.1 million in grants and scholarships
(the most grants awarded by the Foundation in a single year)
and received nearly $20 million in donations.
“In 2018, the Foundation awarded 3,015
grants totaling $16,138,401 to 1,013 different nonprofit
organizations including support for Health & Human Services
(33 percent), Education (26 percent), Arts & Culture (nine
percent), Animal Welfare (seven percent), Religious
Organizations (seven percent), Environment/Conservation
(five percent) and Economic Development (one percent). This
is double the amount of grants Toledo Community Foundation
awarded just nine years ago.”
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