Give Cleveland 200: Give Where Your Heart Is to Build a Stronger Community

The pickleball courts were teeming with teens, paddles ready, some wobbly dinking of Nerf balls and a whole lot of laughter. 

Gabriel Amsih, 16, partnered with a friend from St. Ignatius and the pair wheeled their new friend toward the net to navigate how he could first throw then gently lob the ball despite limited mobility.

“Now?” he asks his new friend, Gabriel.

Arms stretched wide, he signals in response a “yes.” His stance looks as if he is embracing the entire court and all of the good vibes within it with a giant hug. 

“I realized he had a lot more confidence than I did,” says Amsih, a junior who has volunteered with Youth Challenge since seventh grade when his mom introduced him to the nonprofit, which provides free adapted sports, recreation and arts activities to young people with physical disabilities and their volunteer teen partners.

Youth Challenge breaks down barriers. Giving back starts with getting uncomfortable, sometimes. 

“Inclusion is our superpower,” says Chris Garr, Youth Challenge CEO. Its fleet of seven accessible vehicles provides more than 4,000 rides to 350-plus programs per year across Northeast Ohio. Participants do not pay for anything, which is somewhat of an anomaly in a world where disability services can be pricey and even cost prohibitive, blocking access. 

“We rely 100% on charitable giving from foundations, corporate partners and individuals,” Garr explains. “But what is really imperative for Youth Challenge is our people. We are creating leaders of teen volunteers and participants with disabilities alike.

Spending time at Youth Challenge events ignites a deeper level of understanding — compassion and camaraderie. “It gives me a new perspective on life,” Amsih says. 

Giving Is Personal 

To give is to refresh one’s mindset, explore a different world, maybe feel uncomfortable enough to grow and learn. 

“Volunteering is good for the soul,” says Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Food Bank. “Not only do our volunteers have an opportunity to roll up their sleeves, get some exercise and have a chance to meet other likeminded people who are committed to supporting the community, they are making meals possible for neighbors across our six-county service area who need extra help.” 

Last year, 16,000 volunteers contributed about 110,000 hours of service to the food bank, saving the organization several million in operational costs. 

Across the region, a landscape rich with cultural institutions, recreational opportunities, education and organizations that touch every need and interest, from literacy to animals, thrives only because of philanthropic support. 

“In Cleveland, we are so fortunate to walk around any of our major institutions, including the zoo, and see the impact of philanthropy. There isn’t a place you can go without seeing that impact,” says Sarah Crupi, CEO of the Cleveland Zoological Society. Membership from more than 42,000 households is wildly evident at the zoo.  Elephants lift their trunks to eat from elevated feeders, for example, thanks to donations — and beyond, with international conservation initiatives. 

Small steps make a difference, says Crupi, who emphasizes to her own children: “Give back to the things you love, or else a generation from now, they may no longer be here. It could be a museum you love, the lakefront, the Metroparks and a trail you run on every day. These resources are not here by accident, and we all have to contribute.”

For organizations like the Cleveland Foundation, helping to shift and recouch what giving looks like has meant putting a stake in the city center. “Our move to MidTown and Hough marks a deeper commitment to being in, and of, the community,” says Lillian Kuri, president and CEO. “We’re investing in people, in long-standing neighborhood leaders, and in the possibilities that emerge when we work together.”

She continues, “We believe that giving should reflect your values, your passions, your purpose and your connection to community.” 

As a differentiator, Cleveland Foundation connects individuals, families and organizations to opportunities to “drive real, lasting change” across the region, Kuri explains. “And we aim to make sure every gift, no matter the size, can make measurable, community-driven impact.” 

There are so many ways to give where your heart is. And giving is personal. Explore the ways to make an impact.

Explore some ways to make an impact.

Express Yourself 

A cultural anchor and pioneer in the Gordon Square arts district, Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is ingrained in the community as a professional alternative theatre that represents diverse voices, playwrights who have been historically marginalized from mainstream theater, and groundbreaking performances. 

“The vast majority of our plays are brand-new, world premieres — never been in front of an audience before, and we are celebrating innovative storylines and contemporary social justice themes,” says Melissa Waddell, director of development. 

Eleven years ago, CPT established Teatro Público de Cleveland, the city’s first Latina ensemble. Inspired by its success and a growing Arabic-speaking population in the Gordon Square area, CPT launched Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, one of the country’s only theatres  dedicated to Arabic language and stories. 

“We’re dedicated to the neighborhood,” says Waddell, relating how its current $12-million capital campaign will “re-up investments in the community” to expand its campus, upgrade classrooms and enhance accessibility, increasing footprint and capacity. 

CPT partnered with nearby organizations including Near West Theater, Capitol Theater and the Northwest Neighborhoods CDC (formerly Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization) for the capital campaign, which has furthered the district’s position as an arts destination, along with its impact on local students. Educational programming is always free for every participant, thanks to funding from grants and donations from individuals, corporations and community partners. Since its inception, CPT has hosted programs with Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). On-site programming for youth extends behind the CMHA footprint — and any student from anywhere in Northeast Ohio is invited to partake in CPT’s offerings.  

Educational programming is always free for every participant, thanks to funding from grants and donations from individuals, corporations and community partners. Since its inception, CPT has hosted programs with Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). On-site programming for youth extends behind the CMHA footprint — and any student from anywhere in Northeast Ohio is invited to partake in CPT’s offerings. 

The easiest way to support CPT is to purchase a show ticket and be an audience member. For a bigger helping of alternative theater, mark your calendars for Sept. 12, 2026, to make sure you can check out next year’s Pandemonium, a multifaceted visual and performing arts experience.    

Nourish Neighbors 

The numbers are staggering. Hunger is in your neighborhood. 

“The need remains very high for emergency food and food assistance, and we set a new record for the number of people served by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank,” says Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO.

These aren’t records you want to break. 

In partnership with more than 1,000 partners across six counties, 424,000 individuals last year relied on the food bank. One quarter had never asked for help before. “We are seeing more seniors, more working families and this is the quickest growth — households where someone is working, but wages are not keeping up with the cost of living over time,” Warzocha says. 

There are three ways anyone can help fight the battle against hunger, one that “no organization can solve alone,” she acknowledges. “We need to do this together.” 

Two-thirds of the food bank’s operating budget comes from donations. Annually, more than 30,000 donors give from $1 to significant gifts. The dollar matters.

Last year, the food bank distributed 18,000 turkeys, about 126 tons, but the need is year-round and persistent. The holidays can be a reminder of hunger and ignite a spirit of yearlong giving, because we need to eat every day. 

“Volunteering is one critical way of getting engaged in the fight against hunger,” Warzocha says. Two-hour shifts are easy to block online, including Saturdays and some evenings, and those who want to start a food drive in their communities can tap into a simple digital tool. “It’s really easy to help.” 

Stopping Silence to Address Need 

“The power to stay connected changes lives,” says Jennell Vick, president and CEO of the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, which provides speech-language, hearing, language interpreting and deaf services, along with outreach that addresses disparities and “little things” like approximately 3,000 hearing aids distributed last year. 

Without this resource, 90% of individuals who received a hearing device could not otherwise afford one. And we know from Johns Hopkins research that people with moderate to severe hearing loss have a 61% higher prevalence of dementia. 

What many do not realize is adults in the deaf community struggle with safe, secure housing and access to food, Vick says. “It’s a community that is literally silenced and not seen as being in need,” she relates, sharing the experience of a couple wanting to support its Signs of Growth campaign for its freestanding Community Center for the Deaf in Parma Heights. 

The fully accessible hub will offer case management, training, employment support, social spaces and services related to communications and assistive technology. American Sign Language classes will be held here as well. “There are big ‘aha moments,’” Vick says. “People are surprised about the struggles this community faces. Health literacy and access to care is a struggle every single day in a world that is all about hearing and the spoken language.”

The center’s headquarters is in MidTown on Euclid Avenue.

“We’re easy to find and easy to visit,” says Vick, relating a far deeper purpose to acknowledge and directly address social determinants of health vulnerabilities as a point of personal responsibility. “We can collectively think differently about how we approach improving conditions for the entire region,” she says. 

Of giving where your heart is, Vick says, “Curiosity requires courage.” 

American Sign Language students can practice. Anyone who wants to donate holiday gifts to the Community Center for the Deaf can make holiday shopping a high-integrity and accessible experience within reach. Hearing aids open pathways to social, emotional and health improvement. 

A Zoo of Impact, a Home for Animals 

“You can see the impact of giving everywhere you go at the zoo,” says Sarah Crupi, the Cleveland Zoological Society’s CEO. Camp scholarships offer students summer behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn about wildlife and conservation — and transformative gifts preserve the zoo as a treasured asset, paving the way for permanent exhibits such as the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve. 

Membership, alone, is a gift. The zoo has the largest membership program in Northeast Ohio, with more than 42,000 households involved, and everyone contributing to zoo operations and even supplies guests might not think about. “When you watch the elephants reach up to get hay out of a net, those feeders are 100% from philanthropy,” Crupi points out. “The fire hoses gorillas climb on are donated from local fire departments.”

Families who participated in the Name the Giraffe campaign extended their engagement to the dinner table, deciding on names to submit with a small donation to help the zoo. “We hope our memberships help people feel not only connected to the zoo and all the research, science-based decision making and educational programs that take place here, but that it inspires them to continue making a difference in the community,” Crupi says. 

The Cleveland Zoological Society is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic arm of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and of the roughly 250 accredited U.S. zoos and aquariums, fewer than 30 have this public-private structure, which Crupi says ensures financial resilience and sustainability.  

Every dollar makes a difference, she emphasizes. “We really cherish members who help support the zoo, and we know budgets are tight. We take every donation seriously, and being engaged with the zoo is vital for us as a community asset.” 

Meanwhile, animal lovers can make a difference on a global and local scale at the zoo — and in a grassroots way — with Tails from the City, a nonprofit, no-kill, all volunteer rescue that formed in late 2011 when a group of acquaintances responded to a call for help with a hoarding situation. More than 100 cats were rescued and brought to a hastily acquired shelter located on the near west side of Cleveland.  

Most of the cats have been placed in forever homes, and Tails from the City is in a permanent residence with a shelter capacity of about 35 and a foster program that involves about 50 to 75 more kittens. The rescue organization has cats stay at PetSmart locations, and the cats are available for adoption to the public. 

“Helping an animal in need is a way to make the world a better place,” says Michelle Wheadon, president. Fostering is a month-long commitment, and volunteers can give as much or as little time available. “You can just sit with the kittens and interact with them, simply feeding them is a rewarding experience,” she says, adding that anyone can sign up for a monthlong cage sponsorship for $20, which covers the cost of basic supplies. 

Connecting with Stories 

“Books create bridges to connect people,” says Natalie Friedl, executive director of Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, which celebrates 10 years in 2026 and distributes about 50,000 books per month into the community, mostly collected from 22 bins situated across Northeast Ohio.  

“It takes a lot to move the needle on literacy, but first and foremost is having books in the home,” Friedl says, relating how books expand horizons and improve academic success. 

Books are access. “You can put yourself in someone else’s shoes — you’re part of a story, you’re imagining what a place could be like,” Friedl says, noting that children who have access to books have better chances of academic success.  

Book bank volunteers help collect donated books, sort and prepare books in the nonprofit’s warehouse for distribution and disperse them to schools, nonprofit partners like youth centers and after-school programs, health care providers, little free libraries and outreach partners like housing shelters, food pantries and summer camps. 

This year, the book bank hit a milestone of 5 million books distributed since its founding and will expand to a 24,000 square-foot office and warehouse in the Jefferson-Puritas neighborhood of Cleveland. The Mandel Literacy Hub opened Oct. 6, following a successful Next Chapter capital campaign. 

“Our whole goal is to emphasize books as bridges,” Friedl says of a far-reaching mission. “Every organization can have literacy as part of their mission.”