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A Common Theme

Akron Community Foundation is a library of personal stories. Their authors? Charitable people just like you who want to enrich the community in their own unique way, now and forever.

Some are fundholder stories, which feature charitable individuals, families and organizations that find purpose, ease and fulfillment by giving through Akron Community Foundation. Others are grantee stories about nonprofits that are leveraging generous gifts from our donors and fundholders to improve life all over Summit County. Still others are advisor stories about legal and financial professionals who have expanded their services and strengthened client relationships by offering philanthropic services through Akron Community Foundation.

Ready to write your own story? Learn how you can start a charitable fund and leave your mark on the community for generations to come. You can also read our publications for more inspiring stories about philanthropy in Greater Akron.

Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Believe it or not, preschool isn't all fun and games. A nationwide study by Yale researchers found that preschoolers in state-funded programs are expelled at least three times more often than students in grades kindergarten through 12th combined. Most of...
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Horizon House
Horizon House
Just a few short years ago, Frankie Betancourt was wandering through life. His mother was battling a drug addiction, forcing Frankie and his brother Donni to fend for themselves. "I didn't have a foundation. I was living house to house, day by day," Frankie...
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Barbara D. Mathews Ladybug Fund
Barbara D. Mathews Ladybug Fund
As Mark Mathews' mother, Barbara, neared the end of her two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, she looked at him and said, "I've got a lot more stuff to do." "She wasn't accepting of the fact that maybe she had an illness that was going to shorten her life,"...
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Rose Mary Picciotti Fund
Rose Mary Picciotti Fund
As the eldest child of two Italian immigrants, Rose Mary Picciotti grew up with a challenge before her: to learn English and set an example for her four siblings. The lifelong Akron resident met this challenge head on, becoming not only fluent in the language...
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Sue and Mal Ames Fund
Sue and Mal Ames Fund
Lifelong Akron residents Mal and Sue Ames are acutely aware of the staggering need for food assistance in the greater Akron community.  Local residents seek out assistance an average of 52,012 times each month, which, "at times, is overlooked," Sue said....
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Mustard Seed Development Center
Mustard Seed Development Center
Linda was living the American dream. She had a stable job and owned a home, but disaster struck. An injury on the job forced her out of work and onto disability. But the checks ran out, and her injury limited her work prospects. Soon, she couldn't afford her...
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Early Childhood Resource Lab
Early Childhood Resource Lab
Every year, teachers must dig deep into their own pockets to purchase extra materials for their classroom.   Bulletin boards, puppet materials and laminating fees can quickly add up to an additional $500 over the course of a school year,...
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Margaret Thorp Crown Point Fund
Margaret Thorp Crown Point Fund
A fund established at Akron Community Foundation will permanently support the passion of local veterinarian Dr. Margaret Thorp. The Margaret Thorp Crown Point Development Endowment Fund was established in 2010 by Crown Point Ecology Center, which shares...
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William C. and Elizabeth Brainard Sandwick Fund
William C. and Elizabeth Brainard Sandwick Fund
Betty Sandwick opened a fund at Akron Community Foundation to support the Akron Art Museum forever in her and her husband's name. "(My) grandmother was one of the founders of the Pasadena Playhouse," Betty said. "She took me when I was 3 years old to see Lily...
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