Other recipients are Beatitude House, Festival of Nations and OCCHA

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The International Institute Fund has awarded more than $21,000 in grants for 2015, including $14,300 for the English Center, which teaches English to foreign-born Youngstown-area residents.

The grant represents almost a third of the annual budget for the English Center at 1119 Elm St.

The center also provides classes in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills that help its students adapt to American culture, find employment, qualify for college or trade school courses and prepare for and pass tests and licensing exams. The language program expects to assist 90 to 120 people with their English skills this year.

Other grants awarded by the International Institute Fund are:

$1,800 to the Beatitude House: English Language Learners Program there includes English as a Second Language classes for adults and tutoring for children; food distribution; a summer camp, and other services to families whose first language is not English.

• $2,700 to the Festival of Nations. It is a set of ethnic group performances and food and memorabilia showcases at the Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts.

• $2,700 to the Organizaci ≥n Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana (OCCHA). Its Multi-Level Practical English for Speakers of Other Languages Project teaches English to adult immigrants with an emphasis on elements of daily life, such as banking, house and apartment rentals, schooling options and doctor’s office visits.

The IIF, established in 1985, promotes the interests of foreign-born people and encourages the social integration of all United States citizens. The fund’s grants are administered by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.