The Anisfield-Wolf Memorial Award is one of two awards established in 1964 by the late Edith Anisfield-Wolf – poet, philanthropist, and civic leader. Known by those closest to her as a quiet and reserved woman, Edith was ahead of her time in her thinking on social issues. She left her mark on Cleveland and its institutions with her main focus being to eliminate racial friction. A lifetime Clevelander, Edith was an independent, modern woman who pursued her own civic, artistic, and charitable interests. She was active in the Women’s City Club, the Association for Crippled and Disabled, and the Cleveland Public Library. She gained a reputation as “Cleveland’s publicity-shy philanthropist,” “a generous but shrewd businesswoman who could spot a ‘phony’ every time.” Named after her father, John Anisfield, and her husband, Eugene Everett Wolf, the Anisfield-Wolf Memorial Award fund is held by The Cleveland Foundation. The Center for Community Solutions administers the award, given annually to a nonprofit community organization for outstanding service.
Past Award Winners:
2019 Literacy in the HOOD
2017 May Dugan Center
2016 Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank
2015 EDWINS Restaurant & Leadership Initiative [re-entry]
2014 Care Alliance Health Center [homeless/health care]
2013 Ohio Guidestone [youth aging out of foster care]
2012 Seeds of Literacy, Inc. [literacy]
2011 Esperanza
2010 YWCA of Greater Cleveland
2009 Youth Opportunities Unlimited
2008 Cleveland Tenants Organization
2007 Slavic Village Development
2006 Cleveland Christian Home
2005 Adoption Network Cleveland
2004 Towards Employment
2003 AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland
2002 The Hunger Network
2001 The Gathering Place
2000 Dress for Success
1999 Applewood Centers, Inc.
1998 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
1997 Providence House
1996 Eliza Bryant Center
1995 El Barrio, Inc.
1994 Center for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
1993 Cleveland Works
1992 Young African-American Reclamation Project, Community Re-Entry
1991 Stopping AIDS Is My Mission
1990 Project: LEARN
1989 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association
1988 North Coast Community Homes, Inc.
1987 WomenSpace
1986 Child Conservation Council of Greater Cleveland
1985 Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
1984 Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Panel, Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland
1983 Bellflower House, Parents Anonymous of Northeast Ohio
1982 Beech Brook
1981 Greater Cleveland Foodbank
1980 Mental Health Outpatient Program, Center for Human Services
1979 Catholic Counseling Center
1978 Displaced Homemaker Program, Cuyahoga Community College
1977 Jewish Community Center
1976 Hill House
1975 Glenville Health Association
1974 Greater Cleveland Interchurch Council
1973 Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland
1972 Cleveland Scholarship Program
1971 Urban League of Cleveland
1970 Homemaker Service, Cuyahoga County Welfare Department
1969 Supplementary Education Center, Cleveland Board of Education
1968 Community Services Center at Mt. Pleasant
1967 Legal Aid Society
1966 Vocational Guidance and Rehabilitation
1965 PACE Association
1964 Businessmen’s Interracial Committee