People of every race, ethnicity and background deserve the opportunity to achieve their goals. That was the philosophy of Vernon Odom, one of Akron’s most recognized civil rights leaders.
As president of the Akron Urban League for nearly 30 years, Odom spent much of his career improving the lives of Akron’s minority communities through education, advocacy and mentoring.
Today, his legacy lives on through the Vernon L. Odom Fund of Akron Community Foundation. The fund accepts grant applications for programs that promote diversity and enrich the quality of life within local minority communities.
Since its founding in 1993, the fund has awarded nearly $215,000 in grants to programs that empower everyone from Bhutanese refugees to Black youth.
Our Recent Grants
By the Numbers
Committee
Committee members serve without pay to help the fund enrich the quality of life within local minority communities.
Kim Huff
Community Relations Representative, Synthomer Foundation
Brant Lee
Professor of Law, The University of Akron
Teresa LeGrair
President & CEO, Akron Urban League
Shaleeta Smith
Community Health Supervisor, Summit County Public Health
Anoo Vyas
Co-Director, EXL Center at The University of Akron
Sonya Williams
Executive Director, Office of University Outreach and Engagement of the Provost, Kent State University
News & Events
News
On Friday, March 4, the Vernon L. Odom Fund of Akron Community Foundation awarded $9,300 in grants to programs dedicated to enriching the quality of life among local minority [...]
On Friday, March 5, the Vernon L. Odom Fund of Akron Community Foundation awarded $14,500 in grants to programs that promote diversity and enrich the [...]