Unwrapping Generosity: Donor's Birthday Benefits Local Children
The youngest of five siblings, Momoe Garland was born on March 4, 1944, in Fukuoka, Japan, but for the past 53 years has built her family, career and life in Akron, Ohio.
After arriving in the United States in the 1970s, Momoe worked for a time at a grocery store. She was inspired to attend the University of Akron after working with several young people who split their time at the store and pursuing higher education. Momoe earned a master's degree in computer education in the early 1980s, a time when the field was still emerging and growing rapidly. She went on to work for Texas Instruments and then created and taught Japanese language courses at the University of Akron until 1994.
In addition to her professional career, Momoe has been an avid volunteer and donor in the Greater Akron community. She volunteered at Akron General for more than 15 years and was one of the founders of an autism-focused organization in the early 2000s. Fundraising for that cause exposed her to philanthropy.
"It was amazing, American people's generosity," said Momoe. "Every American business I asked gave me something."
In that spirit, when her 80th birthday approached this past March and her two daughters started planning her celebration, Momoe had one request: no presents. She requested friends and family give to the Millennium Fund for Children in her honor instead and she would match their gifts.
Thank you to Momoe and her loved ones for their $5,000 contribution to benefit children in our community!