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 $4.3 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 $1.7 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.
Kendra Williams
President Senior Manager, Assurance Services, Meaden & Moore
Laura DiCola
Vice President Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy, Summit Education Initiative
Marcy Venarge
Treasurer Community Volunteer
Lashawrida Fellows
Secretary Deputy Director, Human Resources, County of Summit
Holly Harris Bane
Partner, Kokopelli Coaching and Consulting
Wendy Bolas
Community Volunteer
Emily Browning
Market Research Analytics Coordinator, Akron Children’s Hospital
Donna Delgado
Senior Digital Marketer, Summa Health
Kim Huff
Community Relations Representative, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation
Gizelle Jones
Director of Behavioral Health, VANTAGE Aging
Pam Kanfer
Educational TherapistThe Lippman School
Pamela Kiltau
Vice President, Private Wealth Management, Robert W. Baird & Co.
Christine Neigh
Sr. Manager, Global Diversity & Inclusion, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Joy Malek Oldfield
Judge, Summit County Common Pleas Court
Erin Palmer
CFO & In-House Legal Counsel, Leppo Group Inc.
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
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
With the help of 18 SHEro ambassadors, the Women’s Endowment Fund exceeded its goal and raised more than $50,000 during its "Who Is Your SHEro?" campaign throughout the [...]
I continue to be amazed by how quickly time passes. We are already close to halfway through 2021 and it’s refreshing to hear how so many are focused on positivity. [...]