The GAR Foundation recently awarded 28 grants totaling more than $1.2 million to agencies and organizations serving the Greater Summit County area.With the latest awards, the foundation has surpassed $200 million in giving since its first grant was distributed to the Akron Art Museum in 1967.“We are thrilled to have reached this important milestone,” GAR Foundation President Robert Briggs said in a news release. “That $200 million represents dollars that have been thoughtfully invested in our region to strengthen our communities now and for future generations.”Fourth-quarter awards went to:• ACCESS Inc., $50,000 for operations.• Akron Civic Theatre, $50,000 for operations.• Akron Community Health Resources Inc., $50,000 for the ACHR-NEOMED Pharmacy program.• Akron Council on World Affairs, $5,000 for its Global Scholars program.• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, $75,000 for a consultant to facilitate collaboration at the Summit Lake Family Opportunity Center.• Akron SCORE, $25,000 for operations.• Akron Urban League, $50,000 for operations.• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties, $20,000 for operations.• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, $100,000 for the KidsNOW capacity-building campaign for after-school programs.• Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeast Ohio, $25,000 for Summit County Hope Prep scholars.• Foundation Center, $6,000 for operations.• Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, $100,000 for its 100-year anniversary campaign.• Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, $75,000 for operations.• Invent NOW, $70,950 for Camp Invention sites in Akron Public Schools.• Leadership Akron, $15,000 for operations.• Let’s Grow Akron Inc., $20,000 for operations.• Mature Services Inc. $15,000 for its Homecare Services program.• MAPS Air Museum, $7,500 for operations.• Northeast Ohio Dance Inc., $6,000 for scholarships for needy students.• Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, $50,000 for scholarships for Summit County students and the Akron Bridges program.• Oriana House Inc., $20,000 for the Summit County Office of Re-Entry.• Project: LEARN of Summit County, $45,000 for operations.• Rebuilding Together Summit County, $65,000 for operations.• Summit Choral Society, $40,000 for operations.• Summit Education Initiative, $135,000 to implement its strategic plan.• Truly Reaching You, $20,000 for its transitional housing program.• Waiting Child Fund, $40,000 for its Summit Permanency Collaborative.• Western Reserve Land Conservancy, $25,000 for the Summit County land bank.The GAR Foundation was established as a charitable trust by Galen J. Roush, co-founder and chief executive of Roadway Express, and his wife, Ruth.Funding priorities include education, health and social services, arts and arts education, civic enhancement and nonprofit enhancement, with a preference for organizations serving Summit County.For information, go to www.garfoundation.org or contact Kate Harmon, operations and support coordinator, at 330-576-2926 or kharmon@garfdn.org.