The Shook Foundation Distributes $63K in its Seventh Grant Cycle

The Shook Foundation is a nonprofit organization funded and operated by the employees of Shook Construction and seeks to be an enduring resource for those they serve. With a vision to enrich the communities where the employees live and work through engagement and investment, all employee pledges and donations to the Foundation are used to contribute to nonprofit organizations for transformational causes within the community.

In its seventh grant cycle, The Shook Foundation awarded grants to 19 community organizations, distributing a total of $63,375. Grant recipients include:

• ALS United Ohio, Columbus, OH, $5,000 ALS United Ohio’s mission is to provide comprehensive support and advocacy for people with ALS and their families. The group supports patient care, creates public awareness, and advances research for new treatments to end the neurodegenerative disease.

• Arizona Repertory Ballet, Phoenix, AZ, $1,600 Arizona Repertory Ballet’s mission is to inspire and empower through dance, championing artistic excellence and inclusivity while celebrating diversity, creativity, and technical mastery. The organization is committed to creating community within, as well as beyond, its space.

• Callie’s Giving Heart Foundation, Versailles, OH, $1,000 Callie’s Giving Heart Foundation is dedicated to walking alongside families who have experienced the loss of a child. Rooted in faith, the group offers comfort, resources, and remembrance, bringing families together to heal hearts and honor the love that lives on.

• Clothes That Work, Kettering, OH, $3,300 Clothes That Work will clothe, educate, and empower individuals to prepare them for employment success. The organization focuses on those re-entering the workforce, people new to employment, and military members transitioning to the public workforce.

• Dear Rebecca Foundation, Huber Heights, OH, Dayton, OH $4,200 The Dear Rebecca Foundation’s mission is to improve healthcare delivery and expanding access to education for disadvantaged communities in Cameroon. The requested funding will support two critical areas of need: medical infrastructure and educational opportunity. 

• Global Water Consortium Projects, Troy, OH, $7,500 The group’s mission is to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water systems to at-risk Indigenous communities abroad through a self-sustaining model. By providing initial technical support, training, and operational guidance, GWC empowers local partners to lead and manage their systems independently, eliminating long-term reliance on external support.

• Jacques Pefoubou Foundation Inc., Fredericksburg, VA, $2,500 The organization provides free health, social, and educational assistance in the rural areas of Cameroon. The foundation is in contact with hospitals and medical centers in the U.S. and France, and collects donations, which will be distributed to the health centers in rural areas of Cameroon.

• LIFE, A Dementia Friendly Foundation, Wellington, OH $3,275 The group support individuals living with dementia and those who care for them by creating safe, engaging, and joyful spaces where all are treated with dignity and compassion. Its mission is to provide dementia-friendly community through education, advocacy, and connection. The group provides weekly Memory Cafés and engagement programs in seven Northeast Ohio locations.

• Make-A-Wish, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky Chapter, $7,000 Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. A wish experience can be a game-changer for the child and the family alike. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. And parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic.

• May Dugan Center, Cleveland, OH, $2,500 The center assists more than 25,000 people and families who need effective and meaningful programs to improve their lives and communities. The center provides food and clothing assistance, education and workforce development programs, trauma recovery services, and more.

• Movimiento Juan XXIII USA, Inc, Bronx, NY $2,000 Ayuda Social, through the Movimiento Juan XXIII, is the first sponsorship and donor program of Puerto Rican origin, created to support hundreds of children through its community kitchen program in the poorest areas of Peru, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The group provides food and a safe place for the children, many of whom are orphans or must work at a young age to survive.

• No Child in Tears, Inc, Jersey City, NJ $1,900 The organization’s mission is to “promote literacy, improve education in rural areas, uplift youth, empower women and girls, and reduce maternal mortality through education.”  The group believes that sustainable development and social transformation begin with a strong foundation in education. No Child in Tears fosters inclusive learning environments and provides access to essential resources to help break cycles of poverty and inequality.

• Project NICU, Broadview Heights, OH $3,000 Project NICU is a parent-led nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emotional, financial, and peer support to families with children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), as well as the medical professionals who care for them. Founded by NICU parents, the organization exists to ensure that no family navigates the NICU journey alone. Programs are designed with firsthand experience and guided by medical professionals.

• Rising Latino Professionals Inc., Westlake, OH, $4,900 The group’s mission is to create a network of Latino construction professionals. By connecting emerging Latino construction professionals with established leaders, the group raises awareness of industry opportunities while providing access to mentorship, education, networking, and growth resources. The network includes local construction industry leaders, design professionals, and business owners.

• SAM Ministries, Wilsonville, OR, $4,700 This faith-based group supports communities and in Mozambique and Brazil that have been trapped in poverty for generations. Through healthcare, education, skills training, and spiritual discipleship, the organization equips individuals to overcome challenges, realize their potential, and break the cycle of poverty. A new school was recently built in Chinjunju, where recently drilled well supports the community, to serve 300 children.

• The Buckeye Ranch, Whitehall, OH, $3,800 The group provides healing for children and families through behavioral health, education, and child welfare services. From trauma-informed care to motivational interviewing, Buckeye Ranch provides a continuum of care, with services that include integrated care services, residential community-based mental health services, and more. The group serves thousands of children and families through six locations in Ohio.

• Wounded Healers International, South Portland, ME, $1,400 Wounded Healers International restores hope and dignity to communities affected by trauma through culturally grounded mental health care. Its mission is to empower local leaders, many of whom are survivors themselves, to become agents of healing in their own communities.

• 3Wheel Therapy, Carolina Beach, NC, $800 Using an adaptive tricycle, 3Wheel Therapy provides a free, therapeutic riding experience to those who cannot ride a traditional bicycle. Volunteer pedalers provide the legwork for a unique ride as the group partners with nursing homes, day programs, schools and senior centers. The team rides along with conversation, appreciation of the natural environment, smiles and laughter.

• 143 Mission, Castalia, OH, $3,000 143 Mission is a faith-driven nonprofit dedicated to meeting the basic needs of individuals and families facing hardship while restoring dignity, confidence, and hope. 143 Mission focuses on serving children and families through community outreach initiatives, including a “free store” model that allows individuals to choose needed new items at no cost in a respectful and empowering environment

In total, the Shook Foundation has distributed over $241,000 to 80 community organizations since launching in January 2022.

To learn more about the Foundation and receive the latest updates on grant awards, fundraising events, community outreach, and more, visit www.theshookfoundation.org and follow The Shook Foundation on LinkedIn and Facebook.