Gay Community Endowment Fund Newsletter Donate Now A fund of Akron Community Foundation
Summer 2017
 

A planned gift from Dr. Walter Sheppe will preserve the legacy of the former University of Akron professor forever. Dr. Sheppe, who helped found the university's LGBT Union, died in March at age 89, leaving more than $13,000 to the Gay Community Endowment Fund. His gift was one of the largest in the fund's history and will help increase GCEF's support of local LGBT programs.



 

GCEF supporters recently gathered at the Akron Art Museum to hear from Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, a national transgender policy expert and the first openly transgender child of a member of Congress. Rodrigo encouraged the audience to spread awareness about transgender issues by sharing stories about the challenges transgender people face in their everyday lives.  Read the Akron Beacon Journal article  and see photos from the event .


In the News:  This week, President Trump announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. GCEF believes everyone who serves our country is a hero, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Please join us in urging Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to publicly denounce this ban. Make your voice heard.

 

Mark your calendar for the 16th annual Sugar Plum Tour on Dec. 3, 2017. The tour is GCEF's signature fundraiser and an Akron holiday tradition. For the first time, tourgoers who purchase their tickets before Nov. 1 will receive a special early bird discount. Tickets will go on sale after Labor Day. Also, please note that only sponsors will receive invitations to the exclusive patron party this year, so make sure you reserve your sponsorship early to secure your spot! 




In May, the Gay Community Endowment Fund presented its second annual Paul Daum Award to Peter Schofield, a cornerstone member and longtime volunteer of the fund. The award, which is named for a founding donor of GCEF, honors those who have demonstrated a significant commitment to LGBT causes in Greater Akron. Peter, a Navy veteran and retired Firestone executive, said he was "surprised and quite honored" to receive the prestigious award.
 

 
 
On June 11, the LGBTQ community and its allies held a march in Washington, D.C., to show their unwavering support for equal rights for all Americans. Akron was well-represented, with several Gay Community Endowment Fund and Akron Community Foundation officials in attendance. Participants presented a peaceful but firm message: We will not allow our hard-won rights to be diminished.


If your nonprofit has a program that positively impacts the local LGBT community, we invite you to apply for a grant! Applications open Aug. 15 and are due Sept. 15. Guidelines and a link to apply can be found at www.akroncf.org/applyGCEF .  




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 $440,000 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 $1.1 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