A $1.1 million investment from the U.S. Department of Energy did more than fund programming in Toledo — it proved what’s possible when philanthropy, education, and community purpose align around a shared vision.
The Sustainable Communities Educational Initiative leveraged the two Overland Solar Arrays to launch a diverse collection of educational activities designed to promote the intersection between workforce development, renewable energy, and community activism — showcasing emerging avenues for greater prosperity in communities that have experienced historic disinvestment.
Seven Partners. Two Goals. One Community.
Over the course of the project, the Community Foundation partnered with seven mission-driven organizations to reach nearly 15,000 local students and weave the story of solar energy into Toledo’s classrooms, cultural institutions, and neighborhoods:
- Toledo Zoo
- Toledo Public Schools
- Washington Local Schools
- Toledo School for the Arts
- Metroparks Toledo
- Imagination Station
- Toledo Museum of Art
Together, they pursued two goals: expanding youth education around clean energy and careers, and telling the broader story of renewable energy’s role in community well-being.
Goal 1: Youth Educational Programming
Over the project period, seven educational partners served 14,668 local students from Toledo Public Schools, Washington Local Schools and Toledo School for the Arts. Students visited local manufacturing plants, heard from national subject matter experts, and completed hands-on STEM projects — building a direct connection between classroom learning and real career opportunities in the clean energy economy.
Institutions including Imagination Station, Metroparks Toledo and the Toledo Museum of Art created on-site experiences that made renewable energy tangible and personally relevant to young people across the region.
Goal 2: Storytelling Campaign for the Broader Community
The project also delivered a multi-media educational campaign connecting Toledo’s renewable energy investments to sustainable neighborhoods, community vitality, and regional philanthropy. That effort took shape across five initiatives:
Awareness Campaign
In partnership with the Toledo Zoo, the Community Foundation produced multimedia stories that generated more than 130,000 views across traditional media and organic social media and web traffic — connecting the Overland Solar Arrays to the communities they serve.
Solar Impact Dashboard
A digital impact dashboard gave the public a live look at the solar energy and carbon offset generated by the Overland Solar Arrays.
Educational Resources
An online resource hub housing 10 curated tools on solar energy and sustainability, extending the project’s educational reach beyond the classroom.
Sculpture Garden
Students from Toledo School for the Arts collaborated with local businesses to design, fabricate, and install three new sculptures at the Overland Solar Array site — a permanent, public testament to the intersection of creativity and clean energy.
Grants Program
The Community Foundation promoted two grant rounds distributing revenue generated by the Overland Solar Arrays — with no DOE dollars used. More than 60 nonprofits applied, and four funded projects have been completed to date.
A Model for Community-Driven Impact
What stands out most from this project isn’t a single number. It’s what those numbers represent: seven organizations finding common ground, 14,668 students seeing their futures differently, and a community using the power of the sun to invest in itself.
The solar panels at Overland are still generating power. The sculptures still stand. And the students who connected classroom learning to real-world careers are still out there — curious, capable and aware of the opportunities in their own backyard.