One of the community foundation’s most important values is inclusiveness, and no fund embraces that more than the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
Founded in 2001, the mission of the Gay Community Endowment Fund is to advance a lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Akron. The fund accepts grant applications for programs that benefit the local LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole.
Since its establishment, the Gay Community Endowment Fund has invested more than $630,000 into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in our community. Recent grants have created safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combated phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and supported mental health and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ people.
In addition, area students can apply for a scholarship from the GCEF Scholarship Fund, which supports LGBTQ+ and allied students who live or attend school in Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties.
Read our latest newsletter | Learn about the history of the fund | Circle of Inclusion | Impact Grants
Our Recent Grants
By the Numbers
Advisory Board
Advisory board members serve without pay to help the fund impact the lives of people in Greater Akron's LGBTQ+ community.
Julie Jones
Chair Partnership Development
futureplans.com
Stephannie Garrett
Vice Chair Controller, Vocational Guidance Services
Michelle Krocker
Secretary Judicial Attorney, Eighth District Court of Appeals
Greg Hail
Treasurer Associate Attorney,
Holland & Muirden
Adam Besenyodi
Vice President, Senior Project Manager, PNC Bank
Vince Curry
Executive Director, Fair Housing Advocates Association
Ed Kancler
Attorney, Retired
Doug Kohl
Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Babette Medcalf
President, Net Revenue Associates LLC
Phil Montgomery
Director of Finance and Budget, County of Summit
Jacob Nash
Co-Owner, Nash Integrated Services LLC
Kate Raymond
Katherine I. Raymond, D.D.S., Raymond Dental Group
Beau Shaniuk
Direct Service Advocate, Rape Crisis Center of Medina & Summit Counties
Cynthia Christman
Emeritus Member Retired, Akron Police Department
John Grafton
Emeritus Member Retired, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Eric Jones
Emeritus Member President, Jones Group Interiors
Rick Krochka
Emeritus Member President, TRIAD Communications
Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands
Emeritus Member, Summit County Court of Common Pleas
Steven Schmidt, Ph.D.
Emeritus Member, Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Dean of Research, College of Pharmacy, NEOMED
News & Events
News
By H.L. Comeriato, The Buckeye Flame Each December, as the deep chill of winter settles in across Northeast Ohio, Eric Jones prepares for the most important party of the [...]
The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for programs that support the local LGBTQ+ community. Nonprofits may apply for [...]