The board of the Akron Community Foundation ratified grants totaling more than $1.3 million during its recent quarterly meeting.Among the awards was $15,000 to Oriana House to connect former offenders in Summit County with social services and employment opportunities through the Summit County Reentry Network.A new Ohio law aimed at reducing prison crowding — decreasing the number of inmates by about 7,000 in the next four years — took effect Friday.Beginning next year, many low-level offenders will be released early and placed under parole with GPS monitoring, the foundation said in announcing its awards. This influx of former offenders returning to Summit County will increase the demand for services.Grants also went to:• Akron, $65,000 for the 2012 Neighborhood Partnership Program.• Akron Community Service Center & Urban League, $20,000 for operations.• Akron Inner City Soccer Club, $10,000 for free youth soccer camps.• Akron Marathon Charitable Corp., $15,000 to recruit participants, enhance the course and improve signs for the race in 2012.• Akron Regional Development Board Educational Fund, $10,000 to build a website for the Young Professionals Network.• Akron Rotary Camp for Special Children Inc., $20,000 for operations.• Akron Zoological Park, $10,000 for the Mike & Mary Stark Grizzly Ridge exhibit.• Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, $15,000 for the Camp Manatoc Fitness & Aquatic Center.• CASA Board Volunteer Association Inc., $12,500 to recruit and train volunteers.• Cascade Locks Park Association, $10,000 for operations.• Charisma Community Connection, $12,500 to help noncustodial fathers overcome the barriers preventing them from being involved in their children’s lives.• Cleveland Restoration Society Inc., $10,000 for the Heritage Home Program.• Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, $25,000 for operations.• Crown Point Ecology Center, $10,000 for operations.• Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association, $5,000 to replace air brake hoses and hand brakes.• Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, $5,000 to teach students at three Akron high schools about the negative effects of stereotypes and discrimination.• Downtown Akron Partnership Inc., $10,000 for local artists and performers for First Night Akron.• East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp., $20,000 for the Emergency Home Repair Program.• Foundation Center Cleveland, $2,500 for operations.• Friends of Metro Parks, $10,000 for the Outside Is In overnight camping program.• Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, $20,000 to teach girls in AMHA housing about financial literacy, math and science careers, healthy relationships and youth leadership.• Good Shepherd Athletic Club, $10,000 for operations.• Habitat for Humanity of Summit County Inc., $10,000 for the capital campaign.• Humane Society of Greater Akron, $7,500 to support an exercise area for abused and neglected animals.• Keep Akron Beautiful, $10,000 for the 2011-12 Flowerscape program.• Leadership Akron, $12,500 for the annual orientation retreat and Torchbearers College.• Partnership for the Minority Business Accelerator, $20,000 to mentor minority business owners.• Rebuilding Together Summit County Inc., $20,000 for safety modifications and home repairs for low-income elderly and homeowners with disabilities.• Summit County Children Services Board, $5,000 for the Child & Family Leadership Exchange Program.• Western Reserve Land Conservancy, $15,000 to develop a land bank in Summit County.In addition, the foundation ratified $868,000 in grants and scholarships as directed by various donors and committees.The Akron Community Foundation began in 1955 with a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw. For information about its grants, call 330-376-8522.