Akron Community Foundation
Circle of Empowerment
In 2018, the Women's Endowment Fund created the Circle of Empowerment to maintain continued sustainability of the fund and increase its grantmaking impact each year. The Circle of Empowerment is a special group of donors who support the Women's Endowment Fund with an annual leadership gift of $1,000 or more. Donors can join at the following tiers: Empower – $10,000, Uplift – $5,000, Inspire – $2,500, and Support – $1,000.
Donors to our Circle of Empowerment receive:
- Special recognition at our events
- Advance First-to-Know communications about the fund's latest news
- An invitation to our annual Circle of Empowerment gathering
- Opportunities to get involved with the fund's various committees
- The knowledge that their gifts uplift women in our community now and forever
To learn more about the Circle of Empowerment, please contact Deb Hoffman.
Give Online Pledge Form WEF Grantees
For online gifts, please select "This is a campaign gift" on the giving form.
Circle of Empowerment Donors
Reflects donors as of April 1, 2026
Virginia Addicott
Sally & Roger Read
Katie & Mark Smucker
Cheryl Venarge*
Laurie Zuckerman*~
Elizabeth Bartz & John Chames
Emily Browning
Paula Christ
Kittie Clarke*
Marie Covington*~
Naomi Ganoe
Pamela Kiltau
Susan Kinnamon*
Dianne Newman*
Monica Vinay
Jody Bacon~
Ann Amer Brennan*
Joan F. Wessman
Barb & Mike Abbott
Marcia Adair*
Anonymous (2)
Drs. Sandy & Mark Auburn
Sandra & Bruce Bailey
Holly Harris Bane
Sarah Watts Beneke
Beth Boggins
Susan Boggs
Wendy & Mike Bolas
Kathryn Booth*
Tifanie Botzer
Diane Bray
Judge Alison Breaux
Julie Carneal
Theresa Carter
Donna Cerdas-Delgado
Judith Clapsaddle
Regina & Robert Cooper
Laura Culp
Robyn Cutler
Anita Davis, Esq.
Laura DiCola
Linda Diefendorff
Kathryn (Kitty) Dindo*
Jennifer DiSalvo
Constance Dubick
Dr. Cynthia Ederer
Betsy Engels
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Lashawrida Fellows
Jerilynn Ferguson*
Joni Fitch
Susan Flowers
Nicole & Alan Gaffney
Ruthie George
Toby Gorant
Barb Greene
Dr. Vivian von Gruenigen
CJ Haines
Louise Kuhns Harvey*
Carrie Herman~
Laura Hnat
Ramona Hood
Kimberly Huff
Margaret Watts Hunter
Rachel Hurst
Ashlee James
Gizelle Jones
Laura B. Kiick
Lisa King
Jill Kolesar
Lori & Mark Krohn
Carla Kun
Pamela R. Leeson
Karen Lefton*
Margaret Lloyd
Dr. Leia' Love
Rita Kelly Madick
Holli Mallak
Jackie & Greg McDermott
Hope & Chuck McGonigle
Margaret Medzie
Kendra Myers, CPA
Sherry Neubert
Judy Nicely
Cheryl Nilsen
Susan Novak*
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield
Dr. Ann K. Otto
Erin Leppo Palmer
Jill Penrose
Cindy & John T. Petures Jr.
Susan Ratzer
Kathryn Ress
Norma Rist~
Alita & Rick Rogers
Nan Ryerson
Kristen Scalise
Renee Lucas Scherick
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
Ilene Shapiro~
Debra Shifrin
Sandra Smith
Shirley A. Smith
Dr. Kathy Stafford
Alice & George Strickler
Valerie Bailey Stutler
V. Rena Suber
Judge Jennifer D. Towell
Sylvia Trundle
Pamela Valentine
Marcy Venarge
Jessica Walsh
Jan Weaver
Bernett L. Williams
Dr. Christine Williams
Dr. Evelyn S. Williams
Holly Wilt
Becky Guzy Woodford
Christine Yuhasz
Empower tier donor of $10,000+ annually
Uplift tier donor of $5,000+ annually
Inspire tier donor of $2,500+ annually
Memorial donors
*Founding donor
~Founding Mother
Legacy Donors
We're grateful to those who have named the Women's Endowment Fund in a planned gift, such as a bequest, charitable gift annuity or life insurance policy. Their foresight and generosity ensures the fund will continue to empower women and girls in perpetuity. For information about becoming a legacy donor, contact Deb Hoffman.
Anonymous
Dr. Suzanne T. Allen
Drs. Sandy & Mark Auburn
Jody Bacon*
Tracy Carter
Marie & Harry Covington
Sylvia R. Davis
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Louise Kuhns Harvey
Pamela J. Kiltau
Thomas & Angelina Milo
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer
*Deceased
Memorial Gifts
From Oct. 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
Patricia Bigelow by
Leila & Tony Vespoli
Linda Houston by
Jodi Hack
Honorary Gifts
From Oct. 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
The Honorable Judith Nicely by
Kathryn A. Belfance
Former Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor by
Kathryn A. Belfance
Katie Smucker by
Tim & Jenny Smucker
Bernett L. Williams
Julie Carneal
Tracy Carter
John Garofalo
Ruthie George
Montrella Jackson
Patricia McKay
Marquita Mitchell
Joy Malek Oldfield
Sylvia Trundle
Christine Young
All Donors
From Oct. 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
Anonymous (3)
Virginia C. Addicott
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Museum
Akron Community Foundation
Akron Inner City Soccer Club
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Community Action Network
Akron Paint & Varnish Inc.
Dr. Sandra K. Auburn
Autism Society of Greater Akron
Axess Family Services Inc.
Jody Bacon Fund of Akron Community Foundation
The Bagnoli Family Endowment Fund of Stark Community Foundation
Baird
Baird Foundation Inc.
Holly Harris Bane
Elizabeth Bartz
Kathryn A. Belfance
Theresa Berg
Wendy Bolas
Tami Bolder
Jane Bond
Mary K. Booth Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Tifanie L. Botzer
Roxia Boykin
Diane Bray
Alison Breaux
Emily Browning
Frances Seiberling Buchholzer
Marian Calvin
Dr. Cynthia Flynn Capers
Julie Carneal
Margaret T. Carroll Memorial Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Tracy Carter
CASA Board Volunteer Association Inc.
Donna Cerdas-Delgado
Judith Clapsaddle
Kittie B. Clarke
The Cleveland Orchestra
Cohen & Co.
Leora Cohen
Sharri Roper Comernisky
Committee to Elect Veronica Sims
Community Legal Aid Services Inc.
Stephen A. Comunale Jr. Charitable Foundation
Becky & Bill Considine
County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board
Marie Covington
Christine L. Croce
Laura B. Culp
Robyn Cutler
Anita Davis
Lisa Dean
Carol J. Dezso
Laura A. DiCola
Linda Diefendorff
Jennifer DiSalvo
Fran Doll
Barry C. Dunaway
Cindy Ederer
Emmanuel Christian Academy
Elizabeth Engels
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Family Promise of Summit County Inc.
Farming With Friends
Sue & John Fassoles
Debbie Feiler
Lashawrida Fellows
Kenya Fike
Joni Fitch
Susan Flowers
Jean F. Gadd Estate
Naomi Ganoe
GAR Foundation
John F. Garofalo
Ruthie George
Nancy Walker Gerbetz
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Grace House Akron Inc.
Barb Greene
Greenleaf Family Center
Barbara Griesmer
Jodi Hack
Wendy Hart
Louise Harvey
Susan Berg Herman
Herzing University
Judi Hill
Ramona M. Hood
Hope Meadows Foundation
Kim Huff
Ann Hull
Humane Society of Summit County
Humility of Mary Housing
The David and Margaret Hunter Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Rachel Hurst
IBH Addiction Recovery
Insurance Service Agency Inc.
Montrella Jackson
Debbie Jacquin
Ashlee James
Johnson Controls
Judge Amy Corrigall Jones
Johnson-Kazer Foundation
Gizelle Jones
Kent State University
Pamela Kiltau
Danielle J. Kimmell, Elliott Davis Advisors LLC
Susan Kinnamon
Sandra Kurt
Karen C. Lefton Endowment Fund for Survivors of Domestic Violence of the Women's Endowment Fund
LaRhonda Leonard
Glenn and Karen Leppo Family Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Leppo Inc.
Margaret McDowell Lloyd
Shammas Malik
Holli Mallak
The Maynard Family Foundation
Jackie & Greg McDermott
Hope & Chuck McGonigle
Patricia McKay
Meaden & Moore
Metro Regional Transit Authority
Marquita Mitchell
Kendra Myers, CPA
Dianne R. Newman
Judith Nicely
Cheryl Nilsen
OE Strategies
Alisa Benedict O'Brien
Tamara A. O'Brien
Joy Malek Oldfield
Ann Otto
Erin Leppo Palmer
Debbie Plate
Presper Financial Architects
Project GRAD Akron
Project Learn of Summit County
RAHAB Ministries
The Read Family Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Scott T. Read
Maureen Regan
Kathy Ress
Isabel Rodriquez
Roetzel & Andress
The Richard and Alita Rogers Family Foundation
Lillian and William Rosenblatt Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Bruce & Ann Rowland
Renee Lucas Scherick
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
The Sherwin-Williams Foundation
Shirley A. Smith, CFRE
Mark and Katie Smucker Family Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Tim & Jenny Smucker
Willard E. Smucker Foundation
SRS Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Stark State College
State & Federal Communications Inc.
Stewart's Caring Place
Valerie Stutler
Summa Health
Summit County Department of Job & Family Services
Summit County Prosecutor's Office
Sheriff Kandy Fatheree/Summit County Sheriff's Office
Summit Legal Defenders
Symbiotic Collective
Synthomer Foundation
Catherine Timko
Stephanie Torok
Judge Jennifer Towell
Trailhead Community Health Foundation
Sylvia Trundle
The University of Akron School of Law
Urban Ounce of Prevention Behavioral Health Services Inc.
Pamela Valentine
Marcy Venarge
Leila Vespoli
Kathy Vidakovics
Monica Vinay
Jessica Walsh
The Well Community Development Corporation
Phyllis Behrle West Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Bernett L. Williams
Deborah Williams
Evelyn Williams
Lorna Wisham
Bonnie Lass Wojno
Valerie Wolford
Rebecca Guzy Woodford
Christine Young
Laurie Zuckerman & Steve Johnson