SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council approved a $500,000 grant for the Akron Community Foundation’s Opioid Healing Fund, bringing their total support for the program to $1.25 million. County Executive Shapiro and Council previously provided $750,000 for three rounds of funding. The grants funds are available through the County’s legal settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Since launching the fund in 2021, ACF has awarded 41 grants to 28 local non-profits working on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. Due to the size and mission of these organizations, many are not able to apply for state and federal funding. Recognizing the important role they play in supporting individuals and families in Summit County, however, Executive Shapiro and Council have made providing them financial aid a key priority.
“Summit County is committed to ending the ongoing and tragic opioid epidemic and we know we cannot do it alone. We must engage and support all the partners working alongside us in this fight, especially the small, grassroots groups working on the frontlines,” said County Executive Shapiro. “We are grateful for ACF’s continued willingness to help us distribute these critical funds to our community.”
The grant to ACF was made in consultation with the Opiate Abatement Advisory Council, the group of experts and individuals with lived experience convened by County Executive Shapiro. The County has now distributed nearly $15 million in settlement funds and lifesaving medications to local organizations and hospitals in the County based on guidance from the OAAC.
Grant applications will open July 10 and close on August 1. To apply for a grant and learn more, visit https://www.akroncf.org/applySCOH.
More information about the OAAC and the County’s abatement plan is available at https://summitoaac.org/.
