Stories

Adapted toys bring joy to children with disabilities

Interactive toys like Hokey Pokey Elmo are among the most popular items on children's Christmas lists. Kids of all ages light up when they see Elmo dance and are eager to squeeze his hand for more. But what happens when a child isn't physically able to press...

Pajama Program warms kids' heads, hearts for the holidays

Unwrapping a pair of cozy pajamas is a beloved Christmas tradition in many families. But for children in homeless shelters and impoverished neighborhoods, pajamas are often an impossible luxury. It's not unusual for these children to spend the holiday season...

Fatherhood initiative brings more focused resources to Summit County fathers

Having active fathers in children's lives can make all the difference between success and failure for that child. And a new Fatherhood Initiative facilitated by Akron Community Foundation will combine the services of three prominent organizations to provide...

Hudson resident's legacy lives on through fund

Everett Shumate had a heart for Hudson. In the 1930s, he grew up as one of the few African Americans in the small town. After graduating from Hudson High School, Everett joined his father as an employee of the Peterson Nut Company, and for five years,...

The Allard family preserves nature for Medina County residents

Conservation of nature has been an important focus of the Allard family for many generations, both in general and also specifically to Allardale Park in the Medina County Park District. Before the park became the go-to place for Medina County residents to...

Preservation of the Abolitionist Movement Fund

Although most people study history in school, it was at the dinner table that longtime Akron native Marna Becker started gathering her vast knowledge of U.S. and world history. Becker grew up listening to her father talk about the stories he learned in...

Donovan Veterans Fund

For four days and nights, Harry Donovan was lost at sea. His entire crew had been attacked, so there he sat, stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where hope seemed as distant as the shoreline. Deliverance came in the form of a U.S. landing ship. Its...

Local nurse cares for community through fund

When Mary DiDonato thinks of home, she thinks of her mother, a kind and caring woman who served others while never asking for anything in return. Mary has many fond memories of her mother's charity, including how she started every day by serving...

New Year's charity launches family's legacy

New Year's Eve is a time of reflection and planning for many, including the Mike and Susan Zeleznik family. On Dec. 31, 2012, at the end of what had been a rewarding year, the Hudson residents chose to express their gratitude by planning for the future:...

Couple serves up entrée for cancer cure

For most parents, a child's graduation marks a monumental milestone: with their child and with one another. Nothing could have been truer for Bath residents David and Lisa Craine when their oldest son, Jake, graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in...

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