Tickets on sale for 20th annual Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes
THIS IS A PAST EVENT
Live and virtual tours of exquisite homes will benefit the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Some of the area's finest historic and contemporary homes will open their doors in December for the Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes. Tickets are on sale now for the 20th anniversary event, which will include both live and virtual tours of exquisitely decorated homes throughout Greater Akron.
The Sugar Plum Tour is Akron's premier holiday home tour and the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation. Since 2002, thousands of tourgoers have experienced the twinkling lights, roaring fires, sparkling trees and dazzling holiday decorations of homes nestled in neighborhoods throughout Greater Akron.
Last year's Sugar Plum Tour raised more than $100,000 for the fund, which supports programs that positively impact the local LGBTQ+ community, as well as Greater Akron as a whole. Recent grants from the fund have created safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combated phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and supported mental health and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ people, among other initiatives.
This year's live tour will feature five spectacular homes on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m., while the virtual tour will feature professionally filmed and narrated tours of eight homes during the weekend of Dec. 11-12. Among the homes showcased on this year's tour are a magnificent Tudor with an outdoor summer house in Bath Township; a newly renovated Georgian mansion in Fairlawn Heights; a massive brick home with luxury features in the heart of Bath; a whimsical and eclectic colonial in West Akron; and a custom-built, sprawling country house on a private cul-de-sac in Bath.
Following the live tour, sponsors will also be invited to a private party at the new Chateau Fifty event center, located in the former Firestone estate in Central West Akron. Built in 1927, the 14,000-square-foot neoclassical French chateau boasts antique marble fireplaces, an ornamental wrought-iron grand staircase, embellished crown moldings, and other recently restored period furnishings in the style of Louis XVI and the Palace of Versailles. Sponsors will enjoy catered food and beverages while exploring both the main house and carriage house on the property.
General admission tickets are $35 each for the live and virtual tours, or $60 for both, and can be purchased at www.sugarplumtour.org. Guests who purchase tickets before Nov. 1 will receive a special early bird discount. Sponsorships begin at $500 and include tickets to both the live and virtual tours, admission to the private Patron Party, a commemorative holiday ornament, and many other benefits. Sponsorships must be received by Nov. 1 to be included in promotional materials.
Tickets for the live tour can also be purchased the day of the event at Angel Falls Coffee Company, 792 W. Market St. in Akron. Both printed and digital tour guides with maps of the home locations will be available to tourgoers. Event guidelines will comply with all current CDC, state and local regulations for COVID-19. For more details, visit www.sugarplumtour.org.
The 2021 live Sugar Plum Tour is presented by Matt and Lisa Kaulig. The virtual tour is presented by Fran Bittle. This year's tour homes are sponsored by Gregory Hail and Matthew Culler; Chad Immel, Edward Jones; Jones Group Interiors Charitable Fund; Robert and Babette Medcalf, Net Revenue Associates LLC; Dr. Kate Raymond and Michelle Krocker, Raymond Dental Group; and the Read family. All proceeds from the event benefit the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.
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 advances a lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Akron by investing in strategic and responsive grantmaking that empowers the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Since its inception, the fund has grown to nearly $2 million while reinvesting more than $630,000 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 www.gaycommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 66 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $290 million with a growing family of more than 750 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 more than $198 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 www.akroncf.org.