TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Millions of dollars are going to dozens of non-profit organizations throughout northwest Ohio. The grants came from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation, which focuses on helping strengthen families and communities.
Since 2012, the foundation has awarded just over $5 million in grants to more than 100 non-profit organizations in 12 northwest Ohio counties. It was started by a man who built a successful business empire and was always focused on helping others along the way.
Urban Wholistics grew out of Sonia Flunder-McNair’s love of the earth. It’s a beautiful oasis in Toledo’s Junction neighborhood.
“We are an organization that wants places that have been historically excluded from holistic green spaces to have access not only to better and usable spaces, but also for food and job development,” said Flunder-McNair, the founder of Urban Wholistics.
Some of the most important things that happen in this green space are the camps and events focused on kids.
“The goal is to expand and get our children more opportunities beyond here with urban agriculture, and to make sure we continue the movement with making spaces more beautiful and usable,” said Flunder-McNair.
Urban Wholistics is one of dozens of northwest Ohio non-profits that received money from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation this spring.
“I’m a very emotional being. I take what I do seriously and I take the kids that I serve seriously. What I want to say to the foundation is thank you. Thank you for believing in grassroots organizations, thank you for not only believing but investing. Now, we’re partners,” said Flunder-McNair.
John Henry Eldred Jr. was a successful local businessman who died in 2021.
“John was the founder of Midwest Tape, one of the largest distributors of media to public libraries across the country,” said Maria Iafelice, the foundation’s community impact officer.
Iafelice said rural, low-income libraries across the country were the first focus of John’s charitable giving. The mission has since expanded.
“The foundation now invests in initiatives related to food security, youth education and housing stability. We believe thriving communities and thriving neighborhoods need those three components,” said Iafelice.
The garden in the middle of the city is proof of that philosophy. It’s the perfect place for so many to see the fruits of their labor.
“Urban Wholistics is not only building a beautiful green space in the junction neighborhood, but they’re giving more people access to fresh, nutritious food grown right here and they’re also educate the next generation of farmers and gardeners,” said Iafelice.
“We were supported enough to sustain the foundation of our organization. It’s been a blessing to be blessed and then, for us to bless others,” said Flunder-McNair.
The foundation has helped more than 100 non-profits around northwest Ohio. The list also includes TARTA’s summer program that provides free rides to kids, the YWCA, Partners in Education, the Open Door of Delta and Connecting Kids to Meals.
Grants also continue to be given to libraries in rural, low-income areas and those donations are given to libraries in Ohio and around the country.
https://www.13abc.com/2025/06/11/local-foundation-help-plant-seeds-strong-future/