Akron Community Foundation

In June, our board of directors formally approved our officers and board leaders for the next year. We were happy to also share the update at our annual meeting in July. Our board officers and leaders for the next year include: Jim Pickard, Chair; Theresa Carter, Vice Chair; Kendra Myers, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair; Brian Moore, Secretary; Tracy Dowe, Governance Committee Chair; Mark Bachmann, Community Relations Committee Chair; Brian Moore and Laura Culp, Community Investment Committee Co-Chairs; Angelina Milo, Audit Committee Chair; Bret Treier, Strategic Planning Committee Chair; and Marty Hauser, Immediate Past Chair. Congratulations to these incredible leaders. We’re thankful for their commitment to ACF and the community.

We’d like to thank Donte Cargill, founder of Patricia Ann Cargill Charities, an ACF grantee, for stopping by earlier today with the nonprofit’s new Mobile Children’s Empowerment Vehicle (MCEV), a mobile ambassador to help share the organization’s mission of providing nutritious food for local families in need. During our visit, we also learned more about the book “The Heart Helpers,” co-authored by Donte’s son, DeCarter, which captures the values and mission of the nonprofit, along with helping to empower children to be philanthropy-minded. For more info about the organization, visit patriciaanncargillcharities.org.

RePlay for Kids ensures that children with disabilities can enjoy the act of playing with toys, just like their peers. The nonprofit hosts workshops where participants adapt battery-operated toys so that children with disabilities can power them using external switches and other alterations.

The adapted toys are also used by therapists and teachers to motivate students and to help them learn independence. "The feedback we get from the families, teachers and therapists about the smiles the adapted toys bring to the kids is very motivating," said Bill Memberg, founder of RePlay for Kids, which has been in operation for more than 25 years. "We also receive very positive feedback from the workshop volunteers, so the whole process is rewarding."

Funding from Akron Community Foundation, through our Community Fund and the Millennium Fund for Children, has helped RePlay for Kids host toy-adapting workshops at local schools, where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students adapt toys for Summit County children.

In some instances, the student volunteers also get to distribute the toys to children, allowing them to experience the rewards of their work firsthand.
"Akron Community Foundation has been very supportive of our program where we bring the toy-adapting workshops into local schools, helping to show students a fun application of STEM concepts," Memberg said. RePlay for kids is also featured in our current issue of Foundations magazine. To learn more about RePlay for Kids, visit replayforkids.org.

We’d like to wish a Happy Work Anniversary to our President and CEO John F. Garofalo, who today celebrates 15 years with Akron Community Foundation! Since taking the reins of the foundation last summer, his leadership transition has been seamless, and his strategic focus has led us through another successful year of charitable gifts, grants and overall community impact. John previously served for 14 years as Vice President of Community Investment, where he directed the allocation of more than $125 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and community initiatives throughout Summit County and beyond. His compassion for his work and for the community is evident, and his leadership over the years has fostered several pivotal relationships, like our many programs in partnership with the city of Akron and Summit County, along with key regional coalitions. John can often be seen spending his downtime supporting arts events, games, and other local happenings. We’re very thankful for his leadership, his vision, and his authenticity. Happy Work Anniversary, John!

At our recent annual meeting, we were happy to introduce six new board members who begin their terms this fiscal year, bringing expertise in business leadership, finance, human resources, technology, communications, design, and community engagement. Our new ACF board members include: Jennifer Venarge DiSalvo, Vice President of Human Resources at APV Engineered Coatings; Rev. Ron Fowler II, Executive Pastor of Arlington Church of God; Jesse Hurst, CFP®, AIF®, CEO of Impel Wealth Management; Eric Jones, President of Jones Group Interiors; Quinnie Lane, retired from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company after 45 years of service; and Jim Nilsen, former president of Albrecht, Incorporated and longtime community leader. Congrats to our new board members. We look forward to working with you to continue improving our community!

In 1999, a small group in Akron gathered to discuss LGBTQ+ issues and how to address them locally, which led to the formation of the Gay Community Endowment Fund in 2001. Now, 25 years later, the fund has made a significant impact and investment to local LGBTQ+ causes, with assets approaching $3 million and more than $1 million in grants back into the community. You can read more about the Gay Community Endowment Fund’s 25-year milestone in our latest issue of Foundations Magazine, which can be accessed through the “Publications” section of our website, or read the article at https://www.akroncf.org/story/a-legacy-of-pride-and-purpose-the-gay-community-endowment-fund-marks-25-years-of-investing-in-greater-akrons-lgbtq-community/.

Thank you to our Professional Advisor Council for joining us for a successful Summer Soiree yesterday at the Akron Zoo. Thanks also to our discussion panelists -- Pam Holtz, Chief External Officer at the Akron Zoo; Phil Montgomery, Finance and Capital Management Committee Chair at Akron Public Schools; Jen Harvey, Chief of Philanthropy, Summit Metro Parks Foundation; Michael Derr, Development Director, Akron-Summit County Public Library; and Moderator Taylor Papiernik – for sharing with our professional advisors how to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing our current funding environment. For info about our Professional Advisor Council, please visit https://www.akroncf.org/advisors/overview/.

If you missed our 71st Annual Meeting last week, we were pleased to share our updated financials: during the fiscal year that ended on March 31, our community’s philanthropy generated $21.1 million in gifts to our more than 900 charitable funds, delivering $18.5 million in grants throughout our community. We also announced $340 million in charitable assets. We are so thankful for the generous people who help create lasting community impact and future generations of charitable giving.

In just a few weeks, Akron’s neighborhoods will participate in the 43rd National Night Out. Held Tuesday, August 4, National Night Out is a community-building campaign sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch that promotes police-community relations and neighborhood unity. Akron’s Night Out will comprise several neighborhood-level celebrations with refreshments, music, and family friendly activities. See the accompanying flyer for dates and times.