Upcoming Events

The Work Behind the Outcomes: How Summit County Has Built a Cradle-to-Career Education Strategy

For decades, leaders across philanthropy, education, finance, higher education, and local government have worked together to strengthen educational outcomes in Summit County. Co-hosted by Akron Community Foundation and the City of Akron, the next installment of our Community Issues Session series offers an opportunity to step back and examine how that coordination has taken shape over time and what it has made possible.

Designed for donors, civic leaders, and public officials, the conversation will explore how long-term alignment, shared priorities, and sustained investment have supported progress from early learning through college and career readiness. Panelists will reflect on the systems and partnerships that operate across stages of education, highlighting both long-standing collective impact efforts and newer initiatives informed by decades of shared learning, and how these efforts contribute to regional prosperity.

Save the date for Akron Community Foundation's third annual conference geared toward nonprofit executives and senior staff. Hear from Aleda Gagarin, vice president of influence at Candid, and join breakout sessions on topics such as fundraising, board relations, finances, leadership and more. Invitations will be distributed in early 2026. To ensure you receive an invitation, sign up for our Nonprofit News list.

Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating women as philanthropists and the collective impact we are making for women and girls as we announce this year's grant recipients. This year's theme, Strength in Action, reflects the leadership and momentum behind this work.

Sponsors and VIP guests are invited to a VIP reception at 5 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for all other guests, and everyone should be seated for dinner by 6:30 p.m. The main program will begin at 6:50 p.m. During the program, 2026 Judith A. Read Tribute Award Recipient Bernett L. Williams will join journalist Debra Adams Simmons for a fireside chat exploring leadership, service, and strength in action.

All tickets include a plated dinner, a commemorative mug, and a drink ticket redeemable for one complimentary drink. We expect this event to sell out, so buy your tickets today.

Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities for the Women's Endowment Fund's "For Women, Forever" event range from $2,500 to $25,000. Proceeds from the event support the fund's grantmaking to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls throughout Summit County.

More information about the event is available at forwomenforever.org.