Community Foundation grantmaking soars with philanthropist Harold Behnken's donation

SANDUSKY — The name Harold Behnken may not ring a bell, but it could be up there with the likes of Ruth Parker and George Mylander, as key philanthropists who made their mark on our community. Harold was a quiet hero, leaving millions of dollars to the Erie County community that will grow over time and be distributed through grants to help Erie County thrive for years to come. Harold grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., served in the Navy during World War II, and narrowly escaped death at the battle of Iwo Jima. He met his dream girl, Priscilla, and later got married and started a career in engineering. Eventually, he landed in Sandusky through his job with General Motors and rose to the rank of plant manager. Harold and Priscilla had charitable mindsets, volunteering and giving to their church and his college. In 2017, Harold received the Herbster Award from Parkvue Community noting his years of philanthropic dedication and unwavering concern for the residents of Parkvue. In the coming years, Harold's donation will significantly impact the grantmaking of the Erie County Community Foundation. With his unrestricted donation, the Community Foundation will be able to address a greater variety of needs in Erie County. The 2022 Round 2 Grant Application is officially open, and Erie County nonprofits are invited to apply. Applications are due Aug. 1 and details can be found at www.eriefoundation.org/ community-grants. The Community Foundation encourages proposals for projects that collaborate among Erie County organizations, build organizational capacity, leverage additional resources, demonstrate sustainability, and address community needs. The minimum grant awards are $1,000 with a general range of $1,000 to $20,000 and are typically awarded for one year only. Grant projects must serve Erie County residents. The 2022 Round 1 Grants cycle put $220,000 into the hands of Erie County nonprofits, schools and municipalities. Projects awarded included Vermilion's Harbor View Park Access project, Margaretta Elementary School's robotics program, Goodwill's employment re-entry program for reincarcerated individuals, Boys and Girls Club's financial literacy programs for teens, Victory Kitchen's Feeding the Hungry Project and enhanced entertainment and education at the Sandusky PRIDE festival.