Cincinnati, Ohio, November 11, 2026 – The Charles H. Dater Foundation awarded nine grants in October totaling $280,000, pushing grantmaking since its 1985 inception above the $90 million plateau.  Grants included a $25,000 award to Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation for the Mercy Serves AmeriCorps partnership.

Now in its tenth year, the program leverages the national service movement and places a diverse, energetic Volunteer corps members in Mercy Health emergency departments through the Cincinnati and Springfield Regions.  

They assist with patients struggling with substance use disorder and work alongside nurses, providers, and addiction counselors to ensure any patient who is ready for treatment receives the necessary resources and follow-up throughout their recovery. 

The program provides services in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Brown, Warren, and Clark counties, all of which have been greatly affected by our country's current opioid crisis. 

Grants made in October

1001 Colors, $30,000.  The year-round Youth Employment Program employs diverse teams of youth, ages 14-24, and helps over 150 young people build 21st century career-readiness skills through hands-on, engaging projects. 

Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, $25,000.  See above.

Cancer Support Community, 20,000.  The Healing Hearts program helps young people and their families confront the impact of cancer by encouraging them to share their feelings and experiences with others as they deal with the change that a cancer diagnosis brings in their lives.

Clifton Cultural Arts Center, $25,000.  The Youth Arts Education Program offers inclusive, accessible arts education to children from infancy to age 13, primarily serving Cincinnati’s Uptown neighborhoods and their low-income households.  The goal is to reach 7,000 children and increase tuition assistance through scholarships and a fair share pricing program.

Edge Teen Services, $30,000.  The EDGE Afterschool Program provides high school students with a welcoming place to connect with caring adults and peers, build skills, and prepare for the future.  Over 1,000 teens are impacted annually at two centers in the Liberty Township and West Chester area.

Santa Maria Community Services, $75,000.  The Dater4Kids program fosters social skills development and service learning activities that teach youth to contribute to the improvement of their neighborhood.  The program integrates both a Life Skills Training program for at-risk youth along with a Student Strengths Assessment social emotional skills set survey. 

Scouting America Dan Beard Council, $30,000.  Scouting provides comprehensive youth development programs that build leadership, character confidence, mental wellness and workforce readiness among youth ages 5-18.  Programs serve more than 11,000 young people annually. 

Special Olympics Ohio, $20,000.  The United Champions Schools Program brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together through unified sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement. Eight schools and 4,300 students are expected to participate as the program is introduced in Hamilton, Buuler, Warren and Clermont counties. 

YMCA of Great Cincinnati, $25,000.  The Music Resource Center is a multifaceted after-school music and recording studio for teens.  Formerly independent, MRC merged into the YWCA for greater organizational support.

 

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 $90 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.