Research shows that one in five young people deals with a mental health issue. These safeguards reduce or erase the stigmas that surround mental illness, normalize conversations surrounding it, and help drive those in need toward services much sooner, resulting in better outcomes.

 

Building Resiliency is a multi-faceted approach to mental health education and suicide prevention that involves students, teachers, school staff, and parents/caregivers.  Based on a school's needs, culture, and environment, 1N5 creates a customized solution using evidence-based programs proven to be both safe and effective for youth. The program currently serves 335 partner schools in 16 counties in Ohio and Kentucky and in 2024 impacted 282,730 students.

Grants made in March:

1N5, $40, 000 – See above.

American Diabetes Association, $30,000.  Camp Korelitz makes a week at summer camp possible for about 100 young people ages 8-17 who struggle with Type 1 diabetes.

Cincinnati Ballet, $35,000.  Cincy Dance! is a collaborative effort between the Ballet and local schools that provides free, long-term dance instruction to students in the community. The three-phase program starts with dance instruction to third graders and includes scholarships to a more intensive training program for those who excel. 

Cincinnati Public Radio:

• WGUC/Classics for Kids, $75,000. Classics for Kids is designed to introduce elementary students to classical music in a fun way and features weekly radio programming and a comprehensive, interactive web site.

• WVXU/Democracy and Me, $75,000.  This program is an initiative to give young people a sense of their civic responsibility by providing teachers with tools and curriculum and students with concrete learning experiences. 

• Additional children’s programming support on both WGUC and WVXU includes announcements that promote the good work being done by other Dater grantees.  $25,000.

Down Syndrome Association, $20,000.  Early Matters programming supports families who have received a Down syndrome diagnosis and provides guidance, encouragement and information.   

East End Adult Education Center, $25,000.  Free GED education and job readiness skills instruction is available to young people and adults who have dropped out of school and need credentials to improve their opportunity for success in life.

Gigi’s Playhouse, $20,000.  The 1:1 Literacy Tutoring Program provides free lessons from trained tutors for 10 to 15 weeks at a time for students and family members.

Go Pantry, $35,000.  GO Bags and GO Boxes are part of a Summer Special Program for elementary students in Covington Independent Schools, helping to ensure they have reliable access to food when they are away from school and its free or reduced lunch program. 

Great Parks Forever, $30,000.  Free and reduced cost educational programs include a Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo and the Nature Center at the Summit.

Inter Parish Ministry, $50,000.  Drive-through food pantries and mobile pantries as well as a 12,000 square foot consolidated pantry site and distribution center help IPM deal with increased demand from clients experiencing food insecurity.  More than two million pounds of food were dispensed in 2025, up from 360,000 pounds in 2019.

Know Theatre, $25,000.  A Youth Devised Theatre Education Program serves children and teens in Grades 3-12 using the full theatre-making process in developing creativity, confidence, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Network for Hope, $25,000.  The Celebrate Life Calendar is a publication distributed strategically in the community to raise awareness levels about the organ donation network, including teens who are coming of age and beginning to drive..   

Ohio River Foundation, $35,000.  River Explorer and the Mussels in the Classroom are hands-on programs that introduce about 9,000 students to the benefits of environmental stewardship.

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Price Hill Will, $25,000.  The MYCincinnati program uses music to promote social change and youth development in Price Hill through a free, daily orchestra program for 120 students during the school year.  A free four-week summer camp program serves about 50 young people and features a performance for the entire Price Hill community.

University of Cincinnati Foundation – Urban Health Project, $25,000.  About 20 University of Cincinnati medical students spend their only open summer working full-time in internships at non-profit organizations, where they gain an increased understanding of the social factors that impact healthcare.

Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center, $50,000.  Schoolchildren in the Upper Mill Creek Valley neighborhoods of Hamilton County benefit from new backpacks and supplies as they return to school and additional supplies and outreach throughout the school year.  Financial literacy workbooks and educational presentations are provided.

The Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs that benefit young people 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 4,000 grants totaling over $85 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 700 Walnut Street, Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202.