Women's Endowment Fund to host annual "For Women, Forever" celebration on March 26, 2026
Bernett L. Williams to accept Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service & Advocacy for Women
The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation invites community members and leaders to save the date for its annual "For Women, Forever" celebration on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. at Quaker Station. The event will be hosted by emcee Sara Shookman, a career journalist and founder of Storyglow Studio.
This year's theme, "Strength in Action," is embodied by the 2026 Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service & Advocacy for Women recipient, Bernett L. Williams, chief engagement officer at Akron Children's. In addition to being honored as this year's award recipient, Williams will participate in a fireside chat, where she will share her own journey of strength.
In her role at Akron Children's, Williams is responsible for leading the hospital's community partnerships and collaborations, patient and family engagement efforts, community benefit strategies, and efforts to foster a culture of belonging, respect and equitable access across the hospital system.
Williams currently serves on the boards of the Akron History Center, Greater Akron Chamber and Minerva Fund of Akron. She has been recognized with many awards throughout her career, including Crain's Cleveland Business' 40 Under 40 Award and Summit County Children's Services' Champion for Children Community Leader Award. Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland inducted Williams into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. In October 2020, she was honored with three prestigious community awards: Love Akron's Brenda Burnham Unruh Servant Leader Award, Project GRAD Akron's Community Leader Award, and Leadership Akron's Read Family Difference Maker Award. In 2022, the American Red Cross honored her with the H. Peter Burg Community Leadership Award.
Named for one of Greater Akron's most influential philanthropic leaders, the Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service & Advocacy for Women was created in 2016 to honor Judy Read's lifetime of service and extraordinary commitment to empowering women and girls. It is presented annually to the individual or couple who best exemplifies Judy's service, advocacy, leadership and passion in the community. Williams was selected as the 11th recipient of the award by a committee of current and former Women's Endowment Fund Advisory Board members and past award honorees.
"This year's event will highlight the strength of some incredible women philanthropists, but perhaps more importantly, our collective strength when we come together around a cause. Our committee was inspired by the iconic Rosie the Riveter poster, and we're excited to celebrate with the Women's Endowment Fund's donors and supporters," said event chair Holli Mallak, a Women's Endowment Fund board member and real estate project manager at Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities for the Women's Endowment Fund's "For Women, Forever" event range from $2,500 to $25,000. Proceeds from the event support the fund's grantmaking to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls throughout Summit County. For more information about becoming a sponsor, visit akroncf.org/ForWomenForever-Sponsorship or contact Affiliate Fund Event & Volunteer Coordinator Malia Rivera-Speer at 330-436-5649 or [email protected].
To be notified when individual tickets go on sale in January 2026, register for the Women's Endowment Fund's e-newsletter at akroncf.org/WEFNews. More information about the event is available at forwomenforever.org.
About the Women's Endowment Fund
The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation was established in 1993 as a permanent endowment committed to encouraging the advancement of women and girls in Summit County. To date, it has grown to more than $5.7 million and awarded nearly $2.5 million in grants. Contributions of any amount are welcome and can be made online at akroncf.org/give/WEF or mailed to Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307. For more information, call 330-376-8522 or visit womensendowmentfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
For 70 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of $330 million with a growing family of more than 900 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $263 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.