In 1993, a group of 106 women came together with one goal in mind: to make a difference in the lives of local women and girls. Seeing a need for funding to support programs that empower this population, the women each gave $1,000 to establish the Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.
That $106,000 has since grown to more than $4 million, thanks to the generosity of donors who are committed to the advancement of local women and girls, including members of the fund’s Circle of Empowerment. To date, the Women’s Endowment Fund has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls throughout Akron and all of Summit County. The fund’s biennial forum helps define the Women’s Endowment Fund’s grantmaking priorities, which include health and wellness, safety from violence, and economic empowerment.
Read our latest newsletter | Learn about the history of the fund | Circle of Empowerment
Our Recent Grants
By the Numbers
Advisory Board
Advisory board members serve without pay to help the fund impact the lives of Summit County’s women and girls.
Laura DiCola
President Director of Innovation and Partnerships, TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
Pamela Kiltau
Vice President Vice President, Private Wealth Management, Robert W. Baird & Co.
Kim Huff
Secretary Community Relations Representative, Synthomer Foundation
Erin Palmer
Treasurer CFO & In-House Legal Counsel, Leppo Group Inc.
Holly Harris Bane
Director, Economic Development, City of Aurora; Partner, Kokopelli Coaching and Consulting
Wendy Bolas
Community Volunteer
Emily Browning
Director, Strategy and Consumer Insights, Akron Children's Hospital
Donna Cerdas-Delgado
Senior Digital Marketer, Summa Health
Melissa Fashinpaur
VP, Internal Audit; Materion Corporation
Lashawrida Fellows
Deputy Director, Human Resources, County of Summit
Joni Fitch
Community Engagement Manager, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Gizelle Jones
Licensed Independent Social Worker, Hope Behavioral Health
Jolene Lane
Principal & Founder, Equity Lane LLC
Christine Neigh
Strategic Human Resources and Organizational Development, Lockheed Martin
Joy Malek Oldfield
Judge, Summit County Common Pleas Court
Antha Poleondakis
Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Kathy Ress
Mental Health Therapist, Private Practice
Diana Selzer
Vice President, Commercial Banking, S&T Bank
V. Rena Suber, M.Ed
Chief School Administrator, Emmanuel Christian Academy
Pamela Valentine
Retired, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Marcy Venarge
Controller, APV Engineered Coatings, Inc.
Monica Vinay
Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasurer, Myers Industries Inc.
Bernett L. Williams
Vice President of External Affairs, Akron Children’s Hospital
Lorna Wisham
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement, FirstEnergy Corp.
News & Events
News
Proceeds support grantmaking to programs that uplift and empower local women and girls The Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is inviting local residents [...]
A reimagined event will feature National Geographic Media executive Debra Adams Simmons and Summa Health executive Tracy Carter Tickets to the Women’s Endowment Fund's 30th [...]