Gay Community Endowment Fund to host annual celebration June 6
Akron Pride Festival Steering Committee to be honored with the 2025 Paul Daum Award
Tickets are now available for the Gay Community Endowment Fund's 2025 annual celebration, "exhALE: Advancing Lived Equality." The event will take place on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. General admission tickets start at $75 and can be purchased online at akroncf.org/exhale.
This annual fundraising event celebrates the Gay Community Endowment Fund's impact in the community and recognizes its most recent grant and scholarship recipients. Proceeds from the event support academic scholarships for LGBTQ+ students and allies in Greater Akron.
This year's celebration will feature remarks from Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and drag queen and activist Nina West. Guests may also purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes donated by the Akron Art Museum, Akron Zoo, Cleveland Orchestra, Mountaineer Casino Resort and more.
The event will culminate with the presentation of the 2025 Paul Daum Award to the Akron Pride Festival Steering Committee for its contributions to the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community.
"exhALE is not only a celebration of all that the Gay Community Endowment Fund has accomplished over the past year, but it's also a celebration of what the LGBTQ+ community has accomplished," said Mar-quetta Boddie, who is co-chairing this year's event with fellow Gay Community Endowment Fund Advisory Board member Kim Rivers. "The Akron Pride Festival Steering Committee has brought activists and allies together for many years, and we're excited to celebrate them," added Rivers.
Major sponsors of this year's event include Raymond Dental Group; Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE; State and Federal Communications; Symbiotic Collective; Gregory Hail & Matthew Culler; The Read Family; Akron Community Foundation; Bridgestone; Ed & Audrey Kancler; McKenica & Associates Agency – Adam & Tracy Besenyodi; Jim & Cheryl Nilsen; and Stillpoint Therapeutics.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available and range from $500 to $1,500. Sponsors receive complimentary tickets and recognition in event materials, among other benefits. A complete list of sponsorship opportunities can be viewed at akroncf.org/exhale-sponsorship. For more information, contact Malia Rivera-Speer at 330-436-5649 or mrivera@akroncf.org.
About the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. The fund supports the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community by providing grants and scholarships that enhance the right to live safely, openly and authentically. Since its inception, the fund has grown to nearly $2.5 million while reinvesting nearly $920,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Checks should be sent to Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307, with Gay Community Endowment Fund in the memo line. Donations may also be designated for the GCEF Scholarship Fund. For more information, or to contribute, call 330-376-8522 or visit gaycommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
For 69 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 more than $305 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.