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For Women Forever
The Women’s Endowment Fund supports programs that benefit Summit County’s women and girls.
...they asked 100 women to donate $1,000 each to establish the fund.
Each year this annual dinner helps Summit County’s women and girls by raising money for the Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.
By: Mimi VanderhavenDate: 03/05/2010
Right or wrong, there are a number of implied promises in the fairy tales we tell our daughters, like if you’re good and kind, someone will be there to take care of you—a loving father, a fairy godmother, a handsome prince.
But many princesses never get a fair shot at happily ever after. The loving father moves out; the fairy godmother never mentions the importance of managing household finances; and the handsome prince, it turns out, hits with his fists.
Today, there are many local nonprofit organizations—above and below the radar—dedicated to helping endangered and disillusioned women and girls. And there is one fund specifically dedicated to advancing this important work—the Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.
The Fund’s History
One Sunday morning in the early 1990s, Marie Covington and Norma Rist were sitting on Marie’s back porch, chatting about life and their community. Both women were part of the Women’s Network, so the conversation turned to the needs of women and girls in Summit County. As Marie noted, there were, in fact, too many needs to count, and very little funding to support any of them.
“And I said, ‘You know what we need? A women’s foundation,’” Marie recalls.
Both women were immediately attached to the idea and began brainstorming with other like-minded women in the community, including Ilene Shapiro, Carrie Herman, Laurie Zuckerman and Jody Bacon. None knew exactly what she was doing, but they didn’t let that stop them. “I always say, anything worth doing is worth doing imperfectly,” Marie said. “We didn’t know how to [start the fund] perfectly, so we just did it.”
Jody Bacon, president of Akron Community Foundation (ACF) at that time, suggested that Marie and Norma set up their fund as a part of ACF so they wouldn’t have to worry about any of the administrative concerns. “It was a blessing from heaven,” Marie says of their affiliation with ACF.
With that bit of direction, they asked 100 women to donate $1,000 each to establish the fund. That was a large commitment to ask, particularly in the early ’90s, but a total of 106 women stepped forward and pooled their money to create a $106,000 endowment. “We think so often of philanthropists as people who give millions, but we all can be philanthropists, no matter what level we’re giving,” Marie said.
For Women Forever
Today, the Women’s Endowment Fund has grown to more than $1 million and has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to support the physical, educational and personal growth of women and girls in Summit County. Due to its innovation and success, the Women’s Endowment Fund has served as a model for many other women’s funds in Ohio, including the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund and the Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation.
“The fund is a permanent endowment,” explains Katie Smucker, who along with Ruthie George is co-chairing this year’s “For Women Forever” event, an annual fundraising dinner in support of the Women’s Endowment Fund.
“That means each gift is invested and its earnings are combined with those of many other donors to enrich the lives of local women forever.”
More than 300 women will attend this year’s dinner, which is being held Wednesday, March 24, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. The guest speaker will be Renee Powell, one of only three African-American women to play on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (see sidebar on next page).
“Attendees will have the opportunity to find out more about local agencies that help women and girls in the greater Akron area,” Katie says. “There will also be plenty of networking, fellowship, and coming together for a worthwhile cause. Best of all, it’s a chance to connect with agencies on the front line.”
“It’s not black-tie and there is no silent auction,” she continues. “The Hilton is a fabulous venue for this event. Expect a delicious dinner, an inspiring speaker, wonderful company, and the opportunity to learn about giving back.”
2010 Grant Recipients
This year, six local organizations received $64,000 in grants from the Women’s Endowment Fund:
• Akron Community Service Center &
Urban League for its ASSET program
(Akron Selected Skills Enrichment
Training program), $10,000;
• Mustard Seed Development Center
for its Pathway Out of Poverty Program,
$20,000;
• Greenleaf Family Center for its Physical
& Financial Empowerment Program,
$8,500;
• Rape Crisis Center for its Victim to
Survivor program, $10,000;
• Victim Assistance Program, Inc. for its
child victim advocate program, $10,000;
• Shelter Care, Inc. for its Cowgirl U
program, $5,500.
It Takes Sponsors
“The For Women Forever dinner would not be possible without the support of our sponsors,” Katie Smucker adds. “Their support is essential and greatly appreciated.”
At press time, this year’s sponsors were:
Champion Level
• Shifrin Newman Smith Inc.
• Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
• Dr. Teresa J. Koenig, MD, MBA
Par Level
• Judy and Roger Read
• Akron Community Foundation
• CF Bank
• Buckeye Community Health Plan
Caddy Level
• Akron Children’s Hospital
• GOJO Industries
• CommonGood Consulting
• S.A. Comunale
• The Patricia & J. Harvey Graves Family
Foundation
In-Kind Sponsors
One-to-One Communications
For more information about For Women Forever or the Women’s Endowment Fund, contact Akron Community Foundation at 330-376-8522.
***************************************************************************************
WHAT: For Women Forever, a dinner in celebration of women and girls
WHEN: Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Hilton Akron/Fairlawn
SPEAKER: Renee Powell, LPGA Tour and PGA Teaching Member
TICKETS: Advanced tickets are required.
To order, call Akron Community Foundation at 330-376-8522.
About Renee Powell:
Former professional golfer Renee Powell joined the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour in 1967, becoming one of only three African-American women to play on the tour. As the daughter of the late William Powell, owner of Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Renee grew up playing at the course her father built in 1946. Her father’s course is still the only golf course designed, built and operated by an African-American.
By the time Renee made her LPGA debut she had competed in more than 100 amateur golf tournaments. In 1967 she stepped into the professional ranks amid high racial tension, and emerged as a role model for young athletes across the country.
Renee has won multiple awards, including the PGA’s First Lady of Golf Award. In 2007, she became the first recipient of Rolex’s For the Love of the Game Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to women’s golf. She holds an honorary doctorate from St. Andrews University and is a Class A member of both the LPGA Tour and the PGA of America, as well as an honorary member of the LPGA Teaching & Club Division. Powell is a member of the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame.
At the local level, she uses her love of golf to connect with inner-city youth through the Renee Powell Youth Golf Camp Cadre Program in Cleveland and the LPGA/PGA Girls Golf Program in East Canton.
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