Grandview Heights Schools is excited to announce its partnership with neighborhood bridges, a 501(c)(3) charity that champions direct local giving in partnering with school district leaders to serve our most at risk students.  This partnership is the organization's 50th “Gateway for Kindness” to serve the school community of Grandview Heights Schools.

As a community resource, neighborhood bridges Grandview will aid school counselors, teachers, social workers, and administrators in meeting essential needs for at-risk and underprivileged students, and their families.  ONE Grandview will assist the partnership as well.  

Superintendent of Schools Andy Culp added, “Grandview Heights Schools is ecstatic to bring the neighborhood bridges organization to our community.  Grandview has a long history of service, support, and kindness toward others and this partnership will allow us to serve not only our students and their families but all of the residents of Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff in need.  This organization will help us fulfill our commitment to creating a community where belonging is made real.”

Neighborhood bridges drives direct support and care by inviting professionals at schools, mental health agencies, churches and other service organizations to advocate for those in need. Advocates post needs via a secure website that maintains recipient anonymity. Neighborhood bridges then shares those needs with subscribers and followers through daily emails and social media posts—engaging community members to fulfill them. Typical needs include food, clothing, shoes, coats, eye exams, school supplies, school fees, furniture, household items, and monetary donations for household expenses.

“Within the communities we serve, our ‘Gateway for Kindness’ connects those in need with those who can help. We are excited to add Grandview Heights Schools to our service area,” said Rick Bannister, CEO, neighborhood bridges. “In preparing for this launch, the efforts of local school and community leaders demonstrate that kindness has momentum. Our partnership will directly impact students and families in need in the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.  Simply put, our goal is to make sure that every student in the Grandview Heights School District has the basic resources they need to attend school every day.  We celebrate the addition of Grandview Heights to our Gateway for Kindness which now serves 11 school communities in the Central Ohio area including:  Westerville, Gahanna, Dublin, Worthington, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Southwest Licking Schools, Licking Heights, Big Walnut, and Olentangy. This is most definitely the “kindness corridor of Ohio!” 

ONE Grandview was launched in May 2020 with a vision of assisting Grandview Heights Schools in building on their already established learning attributes and further develop a strong, inclusive community and prepare our children for lives in a multicultural society. In early 2021, ONE Grandview drafted and presented a resolution to the Grandview Heights Board of Education outlining its goals for the district and it was enthusiastically received. The resolution condemning racism and committing to being an anti-racist school district was passed by the Grandview Heights Board of Education in February 2021. To date, ONE Grandview has organized annual book drives, concerts & movies, sponsored All Arts Day and Foodie Fridays, as well as assist the school district with adhering to the Anti Racism Resolution.

Heidi McAfee and Bonani Ray-Brady will team up to serve as volunteer area directors for neighborhood bridges Grandview.  Our neighborhood bridges Steering Committee includes:

Jenny Edgington

Joanne Taylor

Bonani Ray Brady

Melissa Malin

Heidi McAfee

Sheli Hill

Rob Hatta

Jennifer Voit

Molly Phillips

Anna Kalnow

Roger Fox

Ryan Starns

Greg Eisenacher

As with all communities, 100 percent of donations for neighborhood bridges Grandview will be used to help students and families in need in the community.  Community members and businesses can follow needs in the community by subscribing to neighborhood bridges Grandview https://www.neighborhoodbridges.org/community/grandview-oh) and following on social media channels: Facebook: @nbGrandview and Instagram: @nbGrandview                                                                                

For more information about neighborhood bridges Grandview, or information on Kindness Council sponsorship opportunities, email us at [email protected]

About neighborhood bridges:  A 501(c)(3) organization, neighborhood bridges’ mission is to bridge communities with schools in providing basic needs, removing barriers, and seeking equity for students so they can engage and succeed in school and life. The organization has driven direct support and care to more than 426,000+ students and families through over $8 million in giving since its founding in 2017.

Neighborhood bridges is headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, and operates its “Gateway for Kindness” in 50 communities throughout Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi.  For more information, vision neighborhoodbridges.org.