Bath Community Fund raises more than $540,000 through endowment campaign
Fund donors and volunteers celebrate 10 years of impact in Bath Township
Bath Community Fund donors, volunteers and grantees gathered on Aug. 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn to celebrate the conclusion of their successful endowment-building campaign. Advisory Board Chair Rev. Mark Frey announced that the fund raised $540,688 in gifts and pledges and received donations from 61 new donors during its "For Bath, Forever" 10th Anniversary Campaign.
The evening was the culmination of a nearly two-year campaign, providing guests with an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of the fund's contributions to Bath Township. Guests were greeted by Willie Nelson, Victory Gallop's therapeutic pony, before visiting exhibits from seven of the fund's 35 grant recipients and dining to the music of the Bourbon Sour Quartet.
During the program, a video highlighted Bath Community Fund's support of local nonprofits such as the Bath Township Police Department, Crown Point Ecology Center, Victory Gallop, the Heart of Revere, The University of Akron Field Station, and Western Reserve Playhouse. Frey honored outgoing advisory board member Jim Bernard for his 10 years of volunteer service to the fund. Additionally, founding donor and 10th Anniversary Campaign Co-Chair Jody Konstand received a standing ovation and award for her continued commitment to the fund.
Major sponsors of the event included True Wealth Design, the Read Family, Dr. Ernie & Bonnie Estep, Jim & Diana McCool, Brian & Torina White, Jim & Cheryl Nilsen, and Zumpano Design & Construction.
Fund leaders also announced that beginning on Sept. 1, Bath Community Fund will accept grant proposals from nonprofit organizations that enrich the Bath and Revere communities and improve residents' quality of life. Grant applications will be considered for programs that demonstrate a commitment to preserving Bath's historical and environmental legacy, enhancing the local arts and culture landscape, serving youth, providing educational and recreational resources, and meeting residents' social service needs.
In 2024, the fund awarded 17 grants totaling $50,000 to local nonprofit organizations serving the Bath community. In doing so, Bath Community Fund surpassed $300,000 in cumulative grants since 2016.
Detailed information about the fund's grantmaking priorities and a complete list of historical grants can be found at BathCommunityFund.org. Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply online from Sept. 1 through Oct. 1. A link to the application is available at akroncf.org/applyBCF.
A committee of Bath Community Fund Advisory Board members, donors and community leaders will review the vetted grant requests and make award determinations. Grant decisions will be announced in early December.
Questions about the application process should be directed to Brian Reitz, director of agency engagement and endowments, at [email protected].
About Bath Community Fund
Established in 2014 by a group of committed Bath residents, Bath Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the Bath community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration, and creating a legacy of charitable giving. The fund is committed to responding to community needs, helping the less fortunate, supporting local nonprofits, and reinforcing and preserving Bath's historical and environmental legacy. Since its inception, the fund has grown to nearly $1.7 million and reinvested more than $300,000 into the Bath community. For more information, contact Affiliate Fund Engagement Manager Deb Hoffman at 330-436-5614 or [email protected].
About Akron Community Foundation
For 70 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $324 million with a growing family of more than 900 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $259 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.