Akron Community Foundation
Circle of Empowerment
In 2018, the Women's Endowment Fund created the Circle of Empowerment to maintain continued sustainability of the fund and increase its grantmaking impact each year. The Circle of Empowerment is a special group of donors who support the Women's Endowment Fund with an annual leadership gift of $1,000 or more.
In 2022, the fund introduced a four-tier model for the Circle of Empowerment: Empower - $10,000, Uplift - $5,000, Inspire - $2,500, and Support - $1,000. Donors to our Circle of Empowerment receive:
- Special recognition at our events, including being listed in all event programs
- Advance First-to-Know communication about the fund's latest news
- An invitation to our annual Circle of Empowerment gathering
- Opportunities to get involved with the fund's various committees
- The knowledge that their gifts uplift women in our community now and forever
To learn more about the Circle of Empowerment, please contact Deb Hoffman.
Give Online Pledge Form WEF Grantees
For online gifts, please select "This is a campaign gift" on the giving form.
Circle of Empowerment
Reflects donors as of Jan. 5, 2026
Sally & Roger Read
Katie & Mark Smucker
Cheryl Venarge*
Laurie Zuckerman*~
Marcia Adair*
Virginia Addicott
Elizabeth Bartz & John Chames
Emily Browning
Paula Christ
Marie Covington*~
Pamela Kiltau
Susan Kinnamon*
Dianne Newman*
Monica Vinay
Jody Bacon~
Ann Amer Brennan*
Joan F. Wessman
Barb & Mike Abbott
Anonymous (2)
Drs. Sandy & Mark Auburn
Sandra & Bruce Bailey
Holly Harris Bane
Julie Carneal
Sarah Watts Beneke
Beth Boggins
Susan Boggs
Wendy & Mike Bolas
Kathryn Booth*
Diane Bray
Judge Alison Breaux
Theresa Carter
Donna Cerdas-Delgado
Judith Clapsaddle
Kittie Clarke*
Regina & Robert Cooper
Laura Culp
Robyn Cutler
Anita Davis, Esq.
Laura DiCola
Linda Diefendorff
Kathryn (Kitty) Dindo*
Jennifer DiSalvo
Constance Dubick
Dr. Cynthia Ederer
Betsy Engels
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Lashawrida Fellows
Jerilynn Ferguson*
Joni Fitch
Susan Flowers
Nicole & Alan Gaffney
Naomi Ganoe
Ruthie George
Toby Gorant
Barb Greene
Dr. Vivian von Gruenigen
CJ Haines
Louise Kuhns Harvey*
Carrie Herman~
Laura Hnat
Ramona Hood
Kim Huff
Margaret Watts Hunter
Rachel Hurst
Ashlee James
Gizelle Jones
Laura B. Kiick
Lisa King
Jill Kolesar
Lori & Mark Krohn
Carla Kun
Quinnie Lane
Laura Lederer - in memory of Shirley P. Stein
Pamela R. Leeson
Karen Lefton*
Margaret Lloyd
Dr. Leia' Love
Rita Kelly Madick
Holli Mallak
Jackie & Greg McDermott
Hope & Chuck McGonigle
Margaret Medzie
Kendra Myers, CPA
Judy Nicely
Cheryl Nilsen
Sherry Neubert
Susan Novak*
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield
Dr. Ann K. Otto
Erin Palmer
Jill Penrose
Cindy & John T. Petures Jr.
Kathy Ress
Norma Rist~
Alita & Rick Rogers
Nan Ryerson
Kristen Scalise
Renee Lucas Scherick
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
Ilene Shapiro~
Debra Shifrin
Sandra Smith
Shirley A. Smith
Dr. Kathy Stafford
Alice & George Strickler
Valerie Bailey Stutler
V. Rena Suber
Judge Jennifer D. Towell
Sylvia Trundle
Pam Valentine
Marcy Venarge
Jessica Walsh
Jan Weaver
Bernett L. Williams
Dr. Christine Williams
Dr. Evelyn S. Williams
Sonya Williams
Holly Wilt
Becky Guzy Woodford
Christine Yuhasz
Empower tier donor of $10,000+ annually
Uplift tier donor of $5,000+ annually
Inspire tier donor of $2,500+ annually
Memorial donors
*Founding donor
~Founding Mother
Legacy Donors
We're grateful to those who have named the Women's Endowment Fund in a planned gift, such as a bequest, charitable gift annuity or life insurance policy. Their foresight and generosity ensures the fund will continue to empower women and girls in perpetuity. For information about becoming a legacy donor, contact Deb Hoffman.
Anonymous
Dr. Suzanne T. Allen
Drs. Sandy & Mark Auburn
Jody Bacon*
Tracy Carter
Marie & Harry Covington
Sylvia R. Davis
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Louise Kuhns Harvey
Pamela J. Kiltau
Thomas & Angelina Milo
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer
*Deceased
Memorial Gifts
From April 1 - Sept. 30, 2025
Charles & Mary Booth by
Anonymous
Honorary Gifts
From April 1 - Sept. 30, 2025
Dr. Sandy Auburn by
Angelina Milo, CPA
Diane Bray by
Angelina Milo, CPA
Karen Lefton by
Marcie Groesbeck/Bryan Hecht charitable account
of DAFgiving 360
Jackie McDermott
Angelina Milo, CPA
Dr. Deborah Plate by
Angelina Milo, CPA
Cortney Rosinski by
Angelina Milo, CPA
Gabriele Seidel by
Angelina Milo, CPA
Debra Shifrin by
Scott A. Newman
Katie Smucker by
Sherry & Charles Neubert
All Donors
From April 1 - Sept. 30, 2025
Marcia B. Adair
Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Community Action Network
Jessica L. Alloggia
Anonymous (2)
Sandy Bailey
Judge Alison Breaux
Emily Browning
Julie Carneal
Tracy Carter
Robyn Cutler
Anita Davis
Laura A. DiCola
Linda Diefendorff
Elizabeth Engels
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Lashawrida Fellows
Joni Fitch
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Holly Harris Bane
Louise Harvey
Ramona M. Hood
Gizelle Jones
Laura B. Kiick, CFP
Mark E. Krohn
Dr. Leia' Love
Rita Kelly Madick
Greg & Jackie McDermott
Hope & Chuck McGonigle
Kendra Myers, CPA
Sherry Neubert
Cheryl Nilsen
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield
Jill R. Penrose
June Refine
Kathy Ress
Peter & Nanette Ryerson
Kristen M. Scalise, CPA, CFE
Renee Lucas Scherick
The Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby
The Sherwin-Williams Foundation
The J.M. Smucker Company
Dr. Kathy Stafford
Stark State College Foundation
Valerie Stutler
Veronica R. Suber
Summit County Department of Job and Family Services
Synthomer Foundation
Judge Jennifer Towell
Jessica Walsh
Christine C. Williams
Evelyn Williams
Todd & Bernett Williams
Wilt Family Fund
Christine C. Yuhasz