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 nearly $5 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 Strategic Initiatives and Policy, Summit Education Initiative
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 Delgado
Senior Digital Marketer, Summa Health
Melissa Fashinpaur
Principal, EY Consulting
Lashawrida Fellows
Deputy Director, Human Resources, County of Summit
Joni Fitch
Community Engagement Manager, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Gizelle Jones
Director of Behavioral Health, VANTAGE Aging
Christine Neigh
Sr. Manager, Global Diversity & Inclusion, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Joy Malek Oldfield
Judge, Summit County Common Pleas Court
Kendra Philon
Immediate Past President Senior Manager, Assurance Services, Meaden & Moore
Antha Poleondakis
Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Kathy Ress
Mental Health Therapist, Private Practice
Diana Selzer
Vice President, Commercial Banking, S&T Bank
Pamela Valentine
Director of Community Development, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Marcy Venarge
Community Volunteer
Monica Vinay
Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasurer, Myers Industries Inc.
Bernett Williams
Vice President of External Affairs, Akron Children’s Hospital
Lorna Wisham
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement, FirstEnergy Corp.
News & Events
News
This year’s SHEro Campaign has officially concluded, just in time for Mother’s Day! We are excited to report that 405 donors collectively gave nearly $50,000 as of May 9, [...]
Proceeds support women and girls in Greater Akron The Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation announced its annual "Who Is Your SHEro?" campaign will run [...]