Akron Community Foundation

Thanks to Akron Roundtable for featuring Valaida Fullwood, the author of “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists” and creator of the traveling artistic exhibit The Soul of Philanthropy, at their luncheon this afternoon. We’re excited to work with our Black Giving Collective Fund and The Soul of Philanthropy Akron steering committee to bring this coveted exhibit to Akron in November 2025. The exhibit will be housed at the Akron Art Museum. More information is available on our website and you can sign up to receive information about the Black Giving Collective and its initiatives at https://www.akroncf.org/newsletter-signup/.

Congratulations to Canine Companions for being featured in a new Netflix documentary, “Inside the Mind of a Dog,” which explores the human-dog relationship and its complexities, along with helping to better understand dog behavior and psychology. Canine Companions, an ACF grantee, provides trained service dogs to residents with disabilities at no cost to the recipient. The nonprofit, which operates in 14 states, also matches dogs with their companions and provides comprehensive training and follow-up resources. For more, visit https://canine.org/news/canine-companions-featured-in-netflixs-inside-the-mind-of-a-dog/.

This Saturday's art-A-palooza event at Boettler Park in Green features live music, children’s activities, food vendors and more than 70 artists, and proceeds from the art raffle tent will help benefit our Green Community Fund. This is the 20th annual art-A-palooza event, and prizes include more than 60 art pieces donated by exhibitors. Learn more at

Art-A-palooza returns to Boettler Park Aug. 17 - Akron.com Art-A-palooza is hosted by the City of Green and the Green Arts Council, which was formed in 2003 to promote participation in and appreciation of the arts in Green. In addition to putting on events like art-A-palooza, the group offers scholarships to Green High School graduates pursuing art in colle...

Please join us in wishing a Happy Work Anniversary to Deb Hoffman, our Affiliate Fund Engagement Manager, who works closely with our many affiliate funds to help them achieve their goals in fundraising, marketing, volunteer management and grantmaking. In particular, Deb supports each fund's endowment-building strategies by assisting them in cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors who are passionate about a particular cause or geographic region. Deb has been integral to the success of our affiliate funds by fostering these many relationships, and we appreciate her impact on these funds and in the community. Congratulations, Deb!

Congratulations to our dear friends and fundholders, Drs. Mark and Sandy Auburn, for being selected as the 2024 Read Family Difference Maker Award recipients! Join Leadership Akron for its annual meeting on Aug. 22 to celebrate Mark and Sandy's distinguished community service and leadership achievements. More information is available at https://www.leadershipakron.org/2024annualmeeting.

Makeshift Theater offers an accessible arts experience, meeting people where they’re at, along with providing performance theater opportunities for older adults. The organization has launched an elder theater series, supported by a recent arts and culture grant from ACF. Read more about this group and its unique programming at

Akron’s Makeshift Theater features performances by and for older adults Makeshift Theater is currently located at 833 Carroll St. in a converted church, but the theater is on the lookout for a permanent home.

Individual tickets to our Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award dinner honoring Father Norm Douglas will be available later this summer, but you can reserve your seats now by becoming an event sponsor. Corporate and individual sponsorships start at $2,500 and may be reserved online at www.akroncf.org/PolskySponsor.

For more information about sponsorship availability and benefits, call Laura Lederer, vice president and chief development officer, at 330-436-5611.

Thank you for your generosity as we celebrate the lifetime philanthropic achievements of Father Norm!

Fighting to Understand is an area nonprofit that specializes in finding common ground among community members who may disagree on issues. The organization, a grantee of ACF, has launched a new community engagement project, called "We Can Disagree!," that uses an app with survey questions to help find things we can agree on. To check out the Polis app, visit https://pol.is/6mhvipxs2z -- For more about this partnership, visit https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/columns/2024/07/28/beacon-journal-joins-media-partnership-launches-election-coverage-editor-cheryl-powell/74542853007/

What do you need to have a better life? We want to hear from you | Cheryl Powell You can help shape the Beacon Journal's election coverage plans. Here's how:

Congratulations to Better Kenmore CDC, which is celebrating the grand opening of its new headquarters and small business resource center. The grand opening takes place tonight at 6 p.m. during this month's Kenmore First Friday festival. Akron Community Foundation is a proud supporter of this project, with recent grant funding supporting the renovation, furnishings and equipment. Many other community partners also made this transformed space possible, including the City of Akron, GAR Foundation and the Summit County Land Bank. We look forward to seeing the growth that local small businesses will experience as a result of this new neighborhood resource center!

Better Kenmore CDC to unveil new headquarters, resource center Friday Better Kenmore CDC will hold a ceremony for its new headquarters and small business resource center Friday.

Our Bath Community Fund is featured on the cover of this month's Bath Country Journal magazine! Check out the full story to learn how the fund is kicking off its 10th anniversary year by celebrating with its grantees and supporters: https://www.scriptype.com/2024/07/30/bath-community-fund-celebrates-10-years-of-giving/

And if you haven't already registered for Bath Community Fund's annual meeting on Aug. 15, there's still time to RSVP. The event takes place at Crown Point Ecology Center and will feature exciting announcements about the fund's future plans: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bath-community-funds-annual-meeting-10th-anniversary-celebration-registration-936456786457

Congratulations to Summit Metro Parks for completing new trails and river access at the Cascade Valley Metro Park. New amenities will include a new shelter with fireplace and tables, scenic gardens, play area and bike service and bike rack, among other features. Special thanks to the staff and board members who represented ACF at yesterday’s River Access Opening event and to the many community foundation fundholders who supported the project!

We're thrilled that Akron's first shower bus has officially launched! This new mobile hygiene facility will allow people without housing to take a shower, access clean clothes and fresh toiletries, and connect with community resources. This creative facility is the result of a collaboration among Forever R Children, Akron Metro RTA and other community partners.

The shower bus will be in the parking lot across from First Congregational Church on the first Monday of each month from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Read more about this new project that Akron Community Foundation is proud to support -

'There are people who care about you': Mobile shower facility launches in Akron The shower bus was an idea from the nonprofit Forever R Children.

Join us on Thursday, Aug. 15, for an Akron Roundtable presentation by Valaida Fullwood, a recognized thought leader on African American philanthropy and community-led philanthropy. In 2015, Valaida collaborated with HBCUs, museums and other cultural institutions to launch the multimedia, touring exhibition "Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited." The exhibit has attracted major funding, been hosted by 30 communities, and continues to tour cities nationwide, including a scheduled exhibit in Akron beginning in November 2025.

This luncheon presentation is proudly sponsored by Akron Community Foundation and our Black Giving Collective Fund. Learn more and register at https://www.akronroundtable.org/speakers/valaida-fullwood/22810/

The Cuyahoga Valley Art Center - CVAC provides an inclusive community hub for visual artists in Cuyahoga Falls, with over 150 classes and workshops annually, helping 1,400 students refine their skills and showcase their creations through seven community exhibits.

Originally started in 1934 as The Arts and Crafts Club, CVAC provides an array of programs, exhibits, and educational offerings. Executive Director Danielle Dieterich said she is motivated each day by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community through the arts. “Seeing the joy and growth that art brings to individuals of all ages and backgrounds is incredibly rewarding,” she added. “I am driven by the mission to enhance the cultural fabric of our community, support local artists, and provide accessible and high-quality arts education.”

ACF funding through the arts and culture grant cycle has enabled CVAC to expand its programs and outreach and provide more opportunities for community engagement. Additionally, the nonprofit has increased its educational programming and professional development of local artists.

Community members can support CVAC by participating in and supporting the organization’s programs and events. “Financial contributions are also essential, as they enable us to sustain and expand our programs, provide scholarships, and support local artists,” said Dieterich. “In-kind donations of art supplies, volunteer time, and expertise are equally valuable. By becoming members of CVAC, community members can directly contribute to the growth and success of our organization. Additionally, partnerships with local businesses and organizations can help us broaden our reach and impact, furthering our mission of fostering a vibrant arts community.” For more info, visit www.cvart.org.

We recently welcomed a new slate of officers and board leaders to our board of directors. Please join us in congratulating these 10 dedicated community leaders: Marty Hauser, chair; Jim Pickard, vice chair and audit chair; Ernest Pouttu, treasurer and finance chair; Theresa Carter, secretary; Jody Miller Konstand, governance chair; Dr. Carla Chapman, community investment co-chair; Steven P. Schmidt, Ph.D., community investment co-chair; Kimberly Haws Falasco, community relations chair; Keeven White, strategic planning chair; and Sylvia Trundle, immediate past chair. We're grateful to each of them for their leadership and expertise. See a complete list of our board members at https://www.akroncf.org/about-us/our-board/

Ideastream Public Media is hosting a discussion around downtown Akron’s Innerbelt, Tuesday, July 30, at the Akron Civic Theatre's Knight Stage. The “Sound of Ideas” discussion will cover the 2.2-mile stretch of road whose construction displaced homes and businesses, and its historic impact on Black residents, along with potential future development plans as it sits vacant. The event is free to attend and will be recorded in front of a live audience. To RSVP, visit
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sound-of-ideas-community-tour-reimagining-akrons-innerbelt-tickets-938774187867

Legacies of Success recently hosted an open house for a renovated property in the North Hill neighborhood. As part of the project, 178 volunteers spent more than 1,700 hours restoring the home, which included fixing the roof and gutters and providing significant electrical updates, 22 new windows, full plumbing, a new high efficiency furnace, and a new shed and privacy fence, among other amenities.

The homeowners, who fled their home country of Burma due to threats of violence and resettled in Akron in 2020, will move into their forever home in August.

This marks the organization’s 13th house renovation in North Hill. ACF is a proud supporter of Legacies of Success through our grantmaking, and we’re appreciative of the nonprofit’s hard work to help provide affordable housing and homeownership in North Hill.

Earlier today, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition celebrated the first phase of the Rubber City Heritage Trail, a 6-mile recreational trail that will connect Goodyear Heights, Middlebury, downtown Akron, Firestone Park, Kenmore and Summit Lake, while highlighting Akron’s rich tire history. Congratulations to the partners who helped develop the Rubber City Heritage Trail: the City of Akron, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Knight Foundation, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, County of Summit and Summit Metro Parks.

If you attended our annual meeting on July 16, you may have heard that Akron Community Foundation and our Black Giving Collective Fund have joined together to secure the coveted Soul of Philanthropy national touring exhibit, an inspiring showcase that delves into the rich history and impactful stories of philanthropy in the Black community. The exhibit will be coming to Akron in November 2025 and will be available to view at the Akron Art Museum for three months. A steering committee for this endeavor has been selected and has begun meeting to plan educational and fundraising efforts surrounding this exciting exhibit. More information is available on our website at https://www.akroncf.org/grantmaking-initiatives/affiliate-funds/black-giving-collective/the-soul-of-philanthropy-akron/.

Our next Community Issues Session, Wednesday, July 31, will feature Third Spaces, which have become trusted environments for young people outside of home and school, ranging from after school programs at community centers to meetups at churches, parks and libraries. Speakers at the event include Akron Dream Center, The Vincent House and First Serve at First Congregational Church of Hudson, who will each share their experience and expertise on different aspects of Third Spaces. The event also will explore strategies to create and leverage more Third Spaces in our community. The session will take place at Akron Dream Center, and although the event is free to attend, RSVP is required by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-issues-session-third-places-in-action-tickets-943672017407

Akron Community Foundation, and our President and CEO John Petures, will be recognized with the Foundation Leadership Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northeast Ohio’s (AFP Northeast Ohio Chapter) upcoming National Philanthropy Day event, Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Doubletree Fairlawn (formerly the Hilton Akron Fairlawn). A number of individuals and organizations who make a positive impact in our community will be recognized at the event. For tickets, visit https://buff.ly/3RO69zY

Today is the anniversary of the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Endowment Fund, which helps the Medina County SPCA protect local animals from abuse, cruelty, neglect, injury and abandonment. To make a gift to the fund, please visit www.akroncf.org/give/MedinaSPCAFund.

We're proud to welcome three new community leaders to our board of directors. Please join us in congratulating Tim Able, executive vice president and partner at SeibertKeck; Dennis Butts Jr., partner and health strategy/innovation leader at Guidehouse; and Kendra Philon, vice president of the Assurance Services Group at Meaden & Moore. We also want to thank outgoing board member Dr. Rachel Talton for her many years of dedicated service to Akron Community Foundation. See a complete list of our board members at https://www.akroncf.org/about-us/our-board/.

Our President & CEO John Petures was honored by Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra at the ensemble’s "Vivaldi in the Vineyard" performance last Friday at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. Petures and Rick Kellar, President & CEO of Peg’s Foundation, were recognized as Apollo’s Fire Champions, while the beautiful summer weather provided a fitting backdrop for Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” performed adeptly on historic instruments. Apollo’s Fire is an internationally known, Grammy-winning ensemble, and we appreciate its unique contributions to arts and culture in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Today is the anniversary of the Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio Endowment Fund, which supports Girls on the Run's programming, helping local girls develop confidence, kindness and decision-making skills through evidence-based activities, along with connecting physical and emotional health through running. To make a gift to the fund, please visit www.akroncf.org/give/GirlsOnTheRun.

At our recent annual meeting, we announced grants totaling $19.1 million for the past fiscal year – the second-highest amount awarded in our nearly 70-year history. As you can see from this graph, grants from Akron Community Foundation have steadily climbed over the past 10 years, averaging about $13 million annually. We're grateful to the thousands of donors who make these grants possible, and to our nonprofit partners who put these dollars to work in our community each and every day.