Frohring Foundation Awards $22,000 in Grants to FGP

The William O. and Gertrude L. Frohring Foundation awarded the Foundation for Geauga Parks two grants in 2025 - $20,000 for the Nature Scopes program and $2,000 for the Dan Best Nature Awareness (Thompson Ledges) Fund.

"We are so grateful to receive these grants," says Foundation Executive Director Christine Davidson. "The William O. and Gertrude L. Frohring Foundation has a long history of philanthropic work locally, and their generous donation will help support a popular nature education series that has served schools and students since 2003, and also allots funds for the future of parks in Geauga County through enhancement at Thompson Ledges."

Students in the Nature Scopes program for fifth graders in Geauga County schools.

The $20,000 grant will support Nature Scopes - a Foundation for Geauga Parks and Geauga Park District nature education program. For 22 years, this unique initiative has engaged an average of 600 Geauga County fifth-grade students annually through a series of educational experiences led by professional naturalists on staff at the Geauga Park District. The hands-on exploration enhances school science curriculum in a way book or video learning cannot. The Foundation for Geauga Parks funds purchase of the learning tools at the center of the curriculum - binoculars and field guides - that each participant keeps in the hope they will be used for life long exploration in nature.

Trail in Thompson Ledges

The $2000 grant for the Dan Best Nature Awareness Fund will support the long-term care of Thompson Ledges Township Park, including its natural areas, infrastructure, and the Frances Spatz Leighton Nature and Learning Center. Managed by the Foundation for Geauga Parks, the endowment will fund ecological restoration, educational displays, and park enhancements—ensuring a lasting impact for future generations.

The William O. and Gertrude Lewis Frohring Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established in 1958 that supports health, education, and human services, primarily in Northeast Ohio (Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga counties) and parts of Michigan.