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Theresa Carter

2023 Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award Recipient

Theresa Carter

Theresa Carter, president of Synthomer Foundation, is the 2023 recipient of Akron Community Foundation's Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award.

Carter is a dedicated community volunteer and mentor, currently serving on the boards of Akron Community Foundation, Akron NAACP, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Cleveland State University Foundation and the Summit Metro Parks Board of Park Commissioners. She has served dozens of organizations over the past several decades, including the Akron Urban League (emeritus), American Red Cross of Summit and Medina, Greater Akron Chamber, Project GRAD Akron, and the United Way of Summit & Medina. She is also well known for her personal and professional mentorship of young women and men in the community.

Carter currently serves on the Sojourner Truth Project Committee, which is in the process of creating a statue and legacy plaza dedicated to the abolitionist and civil and women's rights activist, with plans to unveil the plaza later this fall near the location of her most famous speech, often referred to as "Ain't I A Woman?" Carter has helped the committee raise over $800,000 for the project.

Carter has received numerous awards for her community service, including three H. Peter Burg awards from the Greater Akron Chamber, the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio, and Akron Public Schools; the Lieberth Community Vision Award from Leadership Akron; and the ArtsNow Distinguished Patron Award. She is actively involved in her church, currently serving as a deaconess at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Akron. Carter is a graduate of the University of Alabama.

2023 Award Dinner

Akron Community Foundation honored Theresa Carter's lifetime of giving at the annual Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award dinner on Monday, Nov. 6, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. We're grateful to the many generous sponsors and contributors who made this event possible.

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