24th Annual Sugar Plum Tour will benefit the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Holiday fundraiser features festively decorated homes throughout Greater Akron
The Gay Community Endowment Fund, an Akron Community Foundation LGBTQ+ fund, invites the public to save the date for its 24th annual Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes. The Sugar Plum Tour is Akron's premier holiday home tour and the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
This year's event features both live and virtual tours, with the live tour taking place on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. The live tour will feature five homes, both historic and contemporary, all festively decorated for the holiday season. This year's virtual tour will be available to enjoy throughout the holiday season, beginning on Saturday, Dec. 13, and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 4. Virtual tourgoers will enjoy intimate video tours of seven homes, including the 2025 Patron Party location and two homes filmed exclusively for the virtual tour.
Corporate and individual sponsorships for the Sugar Plum Tour are available starting at $750. All sponsors receive full access to both tours, tickets to the private Patron Party, and many other benefits. Sponsors at the $2,500 level and above will also be invited to a special brunch and preview tour with this year's homeowners on the day before the live tour. A complete list of sponsorship opportunities can be viewed at akroncf.org/SPTSponsor.
"The Sugar Plum Tour is a treasured holiday tradition, but more importantly, it's the Gay Community Endowment Fund's largest fundraiser," said Toby Liechty-Clifford, Sugar Plum Tour co-chair. "Your support allows the fund to continue making impactful investments in local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in our community."
Proceeds from the Sugar Plum Tour support the Gay Community Endowment Fund's grants to programs and services that positively impact the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community. In 2025, grants from the fund provided housing assistance for LGBTQ+ youth, supported gender-affirming health care services, and expanded learning opportunities for students, among other initiatives.
Tourgoers who purchase tickets before Nov. 1 will receive a special early bird discount. Discounted tickets will go on sale during the Akron Pride Festival on Aug. 23. To receive a reminder when tickets are available, sign up for the Sugar Plum Tour email list at akroncf.org/SugarPlumNews.
To volunteer for the 2025 Sugar Plum Tour, please complete the form at akroncf.org/SPTVolunteer. If you would like to showcase your home on the tour or host a future Patron Party, please complete the form at akroncf.org/SPTHomes.
About the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. The fund supports the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community by providing grants and scholarships that advance the right to live safely, openly and authentically. Since its inception, the fund has grown to more than $2.5 million while reinvesting nearly $920,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Checks should be sent to Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307, with Gay Community Endowment Fund in the memo line. Donations may also be designated for the GCEF Scholarship Fund. For more information, or to contribute, call 330-376-8522 or visit gaycommunityfund.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 nearly $324 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 $259 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.