Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank Announces $6.7 Million in 2018 Grants

Heidi B. Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank (Photo: Business Wire)

CINCINNATI--()--The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank has announced gifts of more than $6.77 million in 2018 through eight foundations for which it serves as trustee or agent. Grants were given to organizations that focus on education, arts and culture, civic and community programs, health and human services, and community reinvestment activities that benefit low-to moderate-income populations, small businesses, affordable housing, financial literacy and workforce development efforts.

“The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank is committed to making a significant impact on programs and initiatives that create strong, vibrant communities and provide pathways to opportunity,” said Heidi B. Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office. “Through the Foundation Office, the visions of individuals, families and institutions are realized, and legacies are attained by allocating the resources of their respective foundations in support of innovative programs and organizations in our communities.”

The Foundation Office’s charitable grants help a wide variety of people and are far-reaching in their impact. Stepping Stones Ohio, a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities create pathways to independence, received a grant from the Patricia Kisker Foundation for its Adult Day Services program. That program provides people between ages 22 and 70 the opportunity to explore employment and volunteer experiences. Participants also get hands-on training in a technology center to give them real-world experience with tools and equipment.

Chris Adams, executive director of Stepping Stones, said grants like the money received from the Patricia Kisker Foundation are extremely helpful in bringing opportunities to the people it serves. “The funding we receive from grants helps us procure equipment, purchase supplies and expands our ability to provide technology and training that we have,” he said. “The funding also gives us an opportunity to tap into community resources and to make our programming the best it can be.”

The eight foundations and trusts accept letters of inquiry from qualifying nonprofit organizations seeking grant support from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 each year. For guidelines on the inquiry process, visit www.53.com/content/dam/fifth-third/docs/education/guidelines-for-grantseekers-trustee-foundations-092518.pdf. The eight are listed below with brief descriptions of their focus areas and the total amount distributed from them in 2018 to charitable organizations.

Fund and description

  2018 Grants

Charles Moerlein Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

 

$95,000

Supports religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes.

 

Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$1.51 million

Supports initiatives that empower and assist women and girls in achieving self-sufficiency.

Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$170,000

Supports charitable and educational purposes for the city of Cincinnati, with a focus on the arts.

 

Helen G., Henry F., & Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$510,000

Supports nature and the conservation of nature’s beauty, as well as organizations that are beneficial to children, with a preference to organizations that Miss Dornette identified during her lifetime.

 

Patricia Kisker Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$365,000

Supports organizations that benefit or serve children, and educational, musical or arts organizations, as well as organizations which Patricia Kisker supported during her lifetime.

 

Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$3.43 million

Supports charitable or educational purposes; for relief in sickness, suffering and distress; for the care of young children, the aged or the helpless or afflicted; for the promotion of education, and to improve living conditions.

Ohio Valley Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Agent

$390,000

Funds small equipment and capital improvement projects in the Ohio Valley.

 

Stillson Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

$305,000

Helps children and provides assistance to those charities the Stillsons supported during their lifetime.

 

Total   $6.775 million

The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank also serves as trustee, co-trustee or agent for more than 100 private and corporate foundations that grant millions of dollars annually to worthy charities across the United States. The foundations support a variety of causes, from education to the arts and from basic-needs organizations like shelters and counseling centers to environmental projects and animal rescue. In addition, the Foundation Office manages the Fifth Third Foundation, one of the first corporate foundations established by a financial institution. The Fifth Third Foundation awarded $11.7 million in grants in 2018.

To learn more about the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, please visit:. http://go.53.com/foundation.

Contacts

Danielle Jones
513-534-0162
513-534-NEWS

Contacts

Danielle Jones
513-534-0162
513-534-NEWS