Spring 2017
Tickets are on sale now for GCEF's May 7 annual gathering at the Akron Art Museum. This year's theme is "We are One in 2017: Spring Forward." While we've made tremendous strides in equality in recent years, there are concerns that progress may be stalled or reversed, particularly with regard to transgender rights. Our keynote speaker reflects this message of moving forward. Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen is a nationally recognized transgender policy expert and the first openly transgender child of a member of Congress. As the public education director for Freedom for All Americans, Rodrigo works to shift public opinion about transgender Americans to build support for critical nondiscrimination protections. We hope you'll join us for this timely discussion on equality. Tickets are $40 for individuals or $75 for couples. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
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The Gay Community Endowment Fund played a key role in the March 27 passage of Akron's new nondiscrimination ordinance, which protects residents from discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and city contracts based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. The #AkronUnited ordinance will also establish a civil rights commission. Akron City Council officials credited GCEF as being instrumental to the new law's unanimous passage and said it cements Akron's reputation as a Welcoming City. "Akron has so much to offer
--- and this legislation will be one more tool we can use to strengthen our neighborhoods and spur economic development across the city," said Mayor Dan Horrigan in a news release.
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In 2016, GCEF awarded a $2,000 grant to Weathervane Playhouse for the production of "A Kid Like Jake." The intent of this play was to advance the community dialogue about gender identity development in children. Directed by Bob Belfance, "A Kid Like Jake" is about a husband and wife struggling to select an elementary school for their son. It su
ccessfully ran in January 2017 and prompted many extemporaneous discussions on gender identity in children. In conjunction with the play, Weathervane also hosted a workshop developed by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). GCEF was proud to support this important initiative in the community.
Other grants in 2016 provided education, counseling and social support for LGBT senior citizens; raised awareness about the persecution of LGBT individuals during the Holocaust; and more.
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We're thrilled to welcome four more talented community leaders to our advisory board:
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Michael Byun joins us with a wealth of experience in nonprofit management. He is currently the CEO of Asian Services in Action, where he has been employed since 2008. Among other important positions, Michael served as development director for the Asian Counseling and Referral Service in Seattle, Washington, after serving as director of major gifts at Oberlin College. Michael also served on President Obama's White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
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Phil Montgomery possesses huge talents in the management, political and financial arenas. He is the manager of Risk Advisory Services at BDO USA LLP. Phil is the board president of CANAPI, past chair of the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board, and has served in numerous positions with the City of Akron and Summit County. A member of Torchbearers and Leadership Akron, Phil brings a multitude of resources to GCEF.
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Nicole Mullet is the executive director of ArtsNow, a nonprofit aimed at advancing arts and culture in Summit County. She previously worked as a language arts teacher and the director of tech prep at the University of Akron. Nicole is the immediate past president of Torchbearers and was selected as a 30 for the Future Award recipient by the Greater Akron Chamber. She is passionate about her city and is connected to just about everyone in Akron. |
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Heather Roszczyk is the Akron entrepreneurship fellow for the Fund For Our Economic Future, where she connects entrepreneurs to community resources and promotes entrepreneurship in Akron. Prior to her current position, Heather served as director of marketing and PR for the Akron Symphony Orchestra; education and marketing manager for Countryside Conservancy; and product line manager for Nike. Her marketing and community engagement skills will be invaluable in her role with GCEF.
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This year, eight students applied to the GCEF Scholarship Fund, which provides academic scholarships to LGBT and allied students who live or study in Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties. Priority is given to students who have made a positive difference in the LGBT community. In 2016, the fund awarded $7,800 to
three students. This year's winners will be announced in the coming months, so stay tuned!
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Dec. 4, 2016, was a beautiful day in Akron to tour five festively decorated homes. From bathtubs filled with ornaments to a real live Santa Claus, over 1,000 guests were treated to eye candy as our wonderful homeowners showcased the way they celebrate the season. A fantastic online auction prior to the tour featured vacation packages, dinners and a host of other items. Combined with the live auction at our fabulous Patron Party and many generous sponsorships, last year's tour raised a record $107,000 in net proceeds for the Gay Community Endowment Fund. This successful fundraiser will allow GCEF to grant an additional $5,000 a year to nonprofits that improve life for LGBT people in Greater Akron. Thank you to all who graciously shared their homes and holiday spirit, as well as those who attended the event to support inclusion and enhance our grantmaking in the years to come.
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Save the date for the next Sugar Plum Tour on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017!
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The Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. To date, it has granted nearly $450,000 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.
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