Gay Community Endowment Fund Newsletter Donate Now A fund of Akron Community Foundation
Fall 2 016


On Friday, Nov. 18, the Gay Community Endowment Fund awarded $42,850 to nonprofit organizations throughout Greater Akron. Since awarding its first grants in 2005, GCEF has reinvested more than $435,000 into the community. This year's grants will provide housing for homeless LGBT youth, offer counseling and support groups for LGBT students and senior citizens, and provide HIV testing and education, among many other important programs. 
  



GCEF is proud to announce the first winners of our post-secondary scholarship. Natalie Conrad is a transgender freshman at Kent State University majoring in hospitality and tourism management. Marcus Wilde is a transgender student at Cleveland State University studying chemical engineering. And Julie Boylen, president of LGBTUA at the University of Akron, is majoring in computer information systems and business management. 




In September, GCEF Board Chair Cindy Christman attended the two-day Out in Ohio Tour in Cleveland. Organized by the Funders for LGBTQ Issues, the event was an opportunity for funders to get immersed in local culture and gain an understanding of the experience of LGBTQ people in our community. Attendees toured a variety of local landmarks, including the LGBT Community Center, while learning about art and social justice issues, cultivating a diverse neighborhood, and place-based philanthropy.  
 



Kent State University's LGBTQ Student Center is a critical source of support for students from all walks of life. Recently, GCEF awarded a grant for its QUEST mentoring program, which pairs LGBTQ students with a supportive adult role model to help them navigate social and academic challenges. The program focuses on newly "out" students, students of color, and students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may have difficulty transitioning to college. 
  



Don't miss this year's fabulous holiday home tour as GCEF kicks off the holiday season with its 15th annual Sugar Plum Tour on Sunday, Dec. 4. The tour will showcase five exquisitely decorated homes in West Akron, Fairlawn Heights and Bath. Proceeds from the event support grants to programs that positively impact the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or by calling 330-376-8522. 




When you give to an endowment like GCEF, you're making a permanent investment in bettering the community. Your gift is applied to the fund's principal, which is protected forever, while the income is used to support critical nonprofit programs that improve the lives of LGBT people in Greater Akron. This year, GCEF awarded nearly $45,000 to such programs. By making a gift to the endowment, you can help us increase that amount every year.
   




Building a Better Future. That's Our Mission.

The Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. To date, it has granted more than $435,000 to nonprofits in the Greater Akron area that support or positively impact the LGBT community. The fund serves as a catalyst for the full participation of LGBT people in our society and promotes philanthropy within the LGBT and allied communities. Since 2001, the fund has grown to more than $1 million. The earned income from this balance is distributed through annual grantmaking.

345 W. Cedar St - Akron, OH 44307 - 330.376.8522 - www.akroncf.org TRIAD Design 4 Good