A 24-lesson curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions.  Girls ages 8 to 15 meet twice a week in small teams.  Completing the 5K gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. 

Grants made in March:

American National Red Cross, $10,000.  Leadership Development Camp for 150-200 rising eighth grade through high school juniors.  High school and college counselors volunteer their time to select participants and serve at the four day, three night summer camp held at Xavier University.

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, $10,000.  The Adopt-a-School program connects mentors with at-risk youth in a school setting.  Many mentors are upper class high school and college students.

Cincinnati Recreation Commission, $10,000. RiverTrek is a week-long program of self-discovery and team building for teens ages 12-17 that features a supervised five-day, four-night 65-mile canoe trip along the Little Miami River. The program celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016. 

Girls on the Run, $10,000.  A Dater grant will provide scholarships for underserved girls to participate in this program that teaches life lessons using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

iSpace Inc., $10,000.  Subsidies for program fees and transportation enable underserved students in the urban core to access extra-curricular STEM programs designed to engage and excite participants.

Milestones Inc., $10,000.  The Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program teaches basic horsemanship skills and grooming to nurture emotional health and improve cognitive, physical and psychological function for young people with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome and other similar diagnoses. 

Ohio Valley Voices, $10,000.  The Family Center Program is the first step for deaf children to have the opportunity to speak and includes infant-parent and toddler groups.  The program features early intervention program provides intensive speech and language therapy, audiology services, parent education and support groups.  

Philanthropy Ohio (formerly Ohio Grantmakers), $3.771.  Grant-seeking resources are made available to non-profit organizations. 

Roundabout Opera for Kids Cincinnati (ROK Cincy), $12,500.  Roundabout Opera for Kids (ROK) connects eager grade school audiences to opera through high quality outreach programs presented by volunteer student and other performers.  Programs are provided to schools and community centers at no charge. 

The Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs that benefit children and focus in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs. Information about the grantmaking process and guidelines and links to an online grant application website are available at www.DaterFoundation.org.

The private foundation was established by fourth-generation Cincinnatian, businessman and philanthropist Charles Dater (1912-1993) to ensure that his resources would continue to fund worthwhile community programs after his death. The foundation has made more than 2,500 grants totaling over $40 million since its inception in 1985. 

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For additional information regarding this news release, contact Roger Ruhl (513/598-1141).

The Charles H. Dater Foundation, Inc. is located at 602 Main Street, Suite 302, Cincinnati, OH 45202.