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In the heart of Parker, Arizona, a town of just over 3,400 residents spanning roughly one square mile, Parker Public Library plays a critical role in daily life. Under the leadership of Library Director Fenix Markel, the library has become far more than a place to check out books. It is a community hub, a safe space, and often the only accessible resource for families navigating poverty, transportation barriers, and low literacy rates.

TOLEDO, Ohio — A $1 million housing initiative is launching in Toledo’s Old South End, bringing together several organizations in an effort to rebuild the neighborhood and address long-standing housing challenges.

City leaders and community partners say the initiative is the result of more than a year of planning and collaboration focused on coordinating housing efforts and improving neighborhood conditions.

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Housing is a critical part of any successful neighborhood. And there’s a new pilot program focused on continuing the work to strengthen the foundation in the Old South End.

It’s called the Old South End Partnership. It’s described as a coordinated approach to housing solutions. And it’s focused on helping make Toledo better for all of us.

Housing is the foundation of any strong community. A team is now working to strengthen the housing infrastructure and use reliable data to guide long-term decision-making in the neighborhood.

“The problems didn’t show up overnight and they won’t be fixed overnight. We will be working on this for many, many years and we are all committed to doing that,” David Mann with the Lucas County Land Bank said.

Six nonprofit and county organizations have formally partnered to build upon the existing revitalization in the Old South End.

On Thursday, leaders from Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Toledo, Historic South Initiative, LadderUp Housing, Lucas County Land Bank, and the John Henry Elred Jr. Foundation announced a $1 million pilot program to share data and resources for projects in the historic neighborhood.

TOLEDO, Ohio — March 19, 2026 — Today, the newly formed Old South End Partnership (OSE Partnership) hosted a press conference at Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center to announce the launch of a coordinated housing pilot in Toledo’s Old South End.

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - One of the partners in the new Old South End project is the John Henry Eldred Junior Foundation. It is a Toledo-based foundation focused on improving life for people throughout Northwest Ohio and beyond.

The John Henry Eldred Junior Foundation is focused on helping build solid foundations in communities throughout Northwest Ohio. It has awarded millions of grant dollars to local nonprofits in the last few years, money that is changing lives on a number of levels.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Feb. 5, 2026 — The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for its Growth and Resilience grants will open on Feb. 2, 2026. These one-year grants are designed to support nonprofit organizations in Northwest Ohio as they strengthen operations, expand programs, and build resilience in the face of ongoing community challenges.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Jan. 29, 2026 — The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and the Health Council of Northwest Ohio (HCNO), in partnership with a coalition of community organizations, have come together to ensure the continued operation of Schools as Community Hubs across seven high-need Toledo neighborhoods through the end of the 2025–2026 school year.

In Lordsburg, New Mexico, a rural, close-knit community where many families have lived for generations, the public library plays a role far bigger than books alone. For a town shaped by slower living, limited funding, and fewer educational resources, access to technology, life skills, and safe spaces for young people is not a given.

That’s where the Lordsburg Hidalgo Library steps in. Under the leadership of Library Director Collista Jensen, the library is actively redefining what a rural library can be and who it’s for.

PROWERS COUNTY, Colorado (The Prowers Journal)-- Thirty-nine small public libraries across the Western United States are receiving a combined total of $220,050 in new grants, announced the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. These libraries, spanning Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah, collectively serve more than 247,000 individuals in rural communities, with populations ranging from 180 to 17,310 residents.