The Portage Foundation is offering financial resources to the county’s LGBT community through a fund created after a new law forced campuses to close centers devoted to scholarships and emergency assistance.
The foundation’s board of trustees voted to create the LGBTQ+ Fund on June 20, responding to community members’ concerns about the shutdown of Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center as a result of Senate Bill 1. The new law bans multicultural centers at public universities, many of which provide critical resources to students facing homelessness, food insecurity or mental crisis.
The Portage Foundation’s fund is “a dedicated resource for funding and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community in Portage County,” its website states. The fund includes both grants for organizations providing resources for the LGBT community and student emergency aid for LGBT college students who may need financial, housing or food assistance.
Portage Foundation Executive Director Janice Simmons-Mortimer said that even though the Kent State LGBTQ+ Center was on campus, it wasn’t just serving Kent State students.
“When we were approached, it was the idea of what can we do, not only to help the Kent State students that are no longer being served, but the whole community that also is no longer being served,” Simmons-Mortimer said. “We want this to be Portage County focused, whether it’s NEOMED or Hiram College or high school students or adults who are challenged or struggling with wanting to be an ally or part of the community and the challenges that are happening right now.”
Ivory Kendrick, a Kent State student and president of University Student Government,, traveled to Columbus earlier this year to express dissatisfaction to legislators about SB1.
“Because of [SB1] a lot of universities have taken it upon themselves to close a lot of their initiatives or get rid of a lot of things just so they don’t lose their funding. Here at Kent State we lost our LGBTQ+ Center, our Student Multicultural Center, and the Women’s Center. It’s upsetting to see them all crumbling because of just one bill,” Kendrick said.
Kent State student Bry Bookman had utilized the Kent State LGBTQ+ Center throughout their college experience, and was sad to see it go.
“I am very glad to hear that [the Portage Foundation] is stepping up. That’s amazing. To have an organization that is willing to step up is very admirable and I’m happy to know that is an option,” Bookman said.
The Portage Foundation is the county’s community foundation, which accepts donations and bequests and applies this funding toward grants to nonprofits and scholarships.
The LGBTQ+ Fund is already available for donations, and Simmons-Mortimer hopes to have student emergency assistance ready for the fall semester.
“The LGBTQ+ Fund, think of it as a bucket. It will allow community members, whether it’s individuals or businesses, who want to support LGBTQ+ programming or students in crisis. They can donate to that ‘bucket’ knowing that that ‘bucket’ will be there to help with emergency grants to college students, or with grant-making to local nonprofits that are programming for the LGBTQ+ community or families of individuals,” Simmons-Mortimer said.
Simmons-Mortimer is also seeking out an advisory group for this fund, in order to better distribute emergency funds when needed.
“I’m open to anyone who would like to be a part of that to shoot me an email. We’re looking to build not a big board, but a small one full of folks who will be able to address the needs and be able to quickly respond if a student is in crisis,” Simmons-Mortimer said.
Kendrick expressed support for this fund.
“I’m all for it. I really do think that this is one of those things where, if the state won’t do it, the local community will. I really think a lot of alumni and a lot of people on campus and off campus will help contribute to it. I can think of like 20 people right now that I know that would love to see the fund thrive,” Kendrick said.
Simmons-Mortimer explained that the Portage Foundation’s goal is to respond to needs in their community.
“I want folks to know that the Portage Foundation is here to help build a stronger, more resilient Portage County and help community members,” she said. “We’re a community that really, when emergencies happen, folks step up to help one another to help their neighbors to help their fellow citizens.”
Those interested in contributing to the LGBTQ+ Fund can donate on the Portage Foundation’s website here.
