Akron Community Foundation

Please join us in congratulating Tracy Burt, who has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Akron Community Foundation. As part of her new position, Tracy will continue leading our marketing and communications team along with focusing on the community foundation’s operational systems, people, and resources to ensure they are aligned to support our mission, donor engagement, community partnerships, and strategic priorities. This new position builds upon a solid history of her exemplary leadership -- especially throughout our strategic planning and systemwide database transition, among other projects -- to help better strengthen our internal processes, while maintaining our external communications and branding. Congratulations Tracy!

Akron Symphonic Winds will host an America250 free concert series in Summit County that begins with a performance Thursday, July 9, 6:30 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St, in downtown Akron, followed by Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m., at Lake Anna, in Barberton, located at 615 W. Park Ave. And on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m., the ensemble will perform at the Richfield Historical Society, on 4586 W. Streetsboro Road, in Richfield. The America250 series honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. Akron Symphonic Winds, which we support through our arts & culture grantmaking, brings free, professional live concerts to schools and public places throughout Northeast Ohio. For info, visit https://akronsymphonicwinds.mystrikingly.com/

We’re incredibly grateful for the panelists and attendees of last Thursday’s Community Issues Session, which focused on arts and culture and its significant financial benefits to the community. Our panel members discussed ways to empower artists, along with better connecting fundholders to both artists and arts programs. Thank you to Harvey Nelson, Kimberly Beckett, Brian Lamoda‑Genet, Rita Aggarwal and Natalie Grieshammer‑Patrick for your valuable insight on the impact of the arts and artists in our community. Special thanks to Akron Art Museum for providing an ideal venue for this topic. If you missed the event, you can find this and other Community Issues Sessions on our YouTube channel. To view the recent session, visit https://youtu.be/YMTI6565H5E

Congratulations to Guys & Gals Community Partnership for another successful Hoop for Coop event, which included a basketball tournament, health fair and civic and wellness resources and education for the community. Congrats also to ACF Board Member Carla Chapman, who received a community impact award, and thanks to Brian Reitz, our VP of Community Investment, for representing the community foundation at the event. We’re a proud supporter of Guys and Gals Community Partnership and its mentoring work, and it’s inspiring each year to see wellness, civic education and community health intersect, engaging multiple generations of community members.

On this , we proudly honor and respect those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

There's still time to get tickets for our Community Issues Session, which takes place Thursday, May 28 at the Akron Art Museum. The event explores how arts and culture have helped shape ideas and investments in Summit County and have fueled a dynamic economy across the region. The panel discussion features Harvey Nelson, Retired Co‑Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Main Street Muffins; Kimberly Beckett, Executive Director of Downtown Akron Partnership; Brian Lamoda‑Genet, General Manager of 750ml Wines; Rita Aggarwal, Executive Director of Proyecto RAICES; and Natalie Grieshammer‑Patrick, Executive Director of Summit Artspace. The event is free to attend but RSVP is required. We’ll also livestream the event here on our page. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-culture-as-an-economic-driver-tickets-1986316287486

Thanks to the Buckeye Flame for highlighting our Gay Community Endowment Fund for reaching a philanthropic milestone of $1 million in grants awarded. Tickets are still available for “exhALE: Advancing Lived Equality,” the Fund’s 25th anniversary celebration featuring activist Jim Obergefell, which takes place Friday, June 5 —

Akron’s Gay Community Endowment Fund celebrates 25 years of enhancing the right to live safely, openly and authentically The philanthropic fund recently surpassed more than $1 million in grants awarded since 2001.

Congratulations to the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition on the opening of Summit Lake NorthShore Park. What an incredible transformation of the property with a resource designed by Summit Lake residents. The Coalition and all its partners continue to beautify and enhance the Akron Civic Commons and its many natural assets.