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Circle of Empowerment

Circle of Empowerment logo

In 2018, the Women's Endowment Fund created the Circle of Empowerment to maintain continued sustainability of the fund and increase its grantmaking impact each year. The Circle of Empowerment is a special group of donors who support the Women's Endowment Fund with an annual leadership gift of $1,000 or more. In 2022, the fund introduced a four-tier model for the Circle of Empowerment: Empower - $10,000, Uplift - $5,000, Inspire - $2,500, and Support - $1,000.

Donors to our Circle of Empowerment receive:

  • Special recognition at our events, including being listed in all event programs
  • Advance First-to-Know communication about the fund's latest news
  • An invitation to our annual Circle of Empowerment gathering
  • Opportunities to get involved with the fund's various committees
  • The knowledge that their gifts uplift women in our community now and forever

To learn more about the Circle of Empowerment, please contact Deb Hoffman.

Give Online    Pledge Form    WEF Grantees

For online gifts, please select "This is a campaign gift" on the giving form. 

Circle of Empowerment Members

Reflects membership secured as of Dec. 1, 2024

Katie & Mark Smucker

Karen & Glenn Leppo
Sherry & Chuck Neubert
Sally & Roger Read
Cheryl Venarge*
Laurie Zuckerman*

Marcia Adair*
Virginia Addicott
Emily Browning
Paula Christ
Marie Covington*
Pamela Kiltau
Monica Vinay

Ann Amer Brennan
Joan F. Wessman

Barb & Mike Abbott
Drs. Sandy & Mark Auburn
Sandra & Bruce Bailey
Holly Harris Bane
Elizabeth Bartz
Nancy Baxter
Sarah Watts Beneke
Beth Boggins
Susan Boggs
Wendy & Mike Bolas
Judge Jane Bond, ret.*
Kathryn Booth*
Diane Bray
Judge Alison Breaux
Candice Jones Carlyon
Theresa Carter
Donna Cerdas-Delgado
Judith Clapsaddle
Kittie Clarke*
Regina & Robert Cooper
Laura Culp
Robyn Cutler
Anita Davis, Esq.
Laura DiCola

Linda Diefendorff
Kathryn (Kitty) Dindo*
Jennifer DiSalvo
Constance Dubick
Dr. Cynthia Ederer
Betsy Engels
Kimberly Haws Falasco
Lashawrida Fellows
Jerilynn Ferguson*
Joni Fitch
Susan Flowers
Nicole & Alan Gaffney
Naomi Ganoe
Ruthie George
Toby Gorant
Barb Greene 
CJ Haines
Louise Kuhns Harvey*
Laura Hnat
Ramona Hood
Kim Huff
Margaret Watts Hunter
Rachel Hurst
Mary Ann Jackson*
Gizelle Jones
Lisa King
Susan Kinnamon*
Jill Kolesar
Lori & Mark Krohn
Carla Kun
Quinnie Lane
Laura Lederer - in memory of Shirley P. Stein
Pamela R. Leeson
Karen Lefton*
Margaret Lloyd
Dr. Leia' Love
Rita Kelly Madick
Jeannine Marks
Jackie & Greg McDermott
Margaret Medzie
Dianne Newman*

Judy Nicely
Susan Novak*
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield
Dr. Ann K. Otto
Susan Pallini*
Erin Palmer
Jill Penrose
Cindy & John T. Petures Jr.
Melodie Phillips, M.D.*
Kendra Philon
Angie Remen
Kathy Ress
Alita & Rick Rogers
Kristen Scalise
Renee Lucas Scherick
Ruth Benson Scott
Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby 
Debra Shifrin
Darlene Shuler
Sandra Smith
Dr. Kathy Stafford
Arielle Steffen
Alice & George Strickler
Valerie Butler Stutler
V. Rena Suber
Judge Jennifer D. Towell
Sylvia Trundle
Pam Valentine
Marcy Venarge
Dr. Vivian von Gruenigen
Jan Weaver
Jessica Walsh
Barb Whiddon
Bernett L. Williams
Dr. Christine Williams
Evelyn S. Williams
Sonya Williams
Lorna Wisham
Becky Guzy Woodford
Christine Yuhasz

Empower tier donor of $10,000+ annually

Uplift tier donor of $5,000+ annually

Inspire tier donor of $2,500+ annually

Memorial members

*Founding donor

^Deceased



Memorial Gifts: May 14 - Sept. 30, 2024

Ann Brennan by 
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Yolanda Bujorian by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Mary Ball Gorman by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Patricia Guzy by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Lynnda Wolf Hoefler by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 


 

Arlene Huber by
Roderick Linton Belfance LLP

Grace Krochka by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Joyce Lampner by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Judith E. Marks Levine by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Tony Lombardo by
Professional Advisor Council Fund

Donna Scott by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Norma Jean Shellito by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Shirley P. Stein by
Laura Lederer

Kellie Wallerstein by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Honorary Gifts: May 14 - Sept. 30, 2024

Sandra Bailey by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Kimberly Boodjeh by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Karen Bozzelli by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Julieann Brandle by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Eileen Burg by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Diana Burke by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Debra Calevich by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Theresa Carter by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Tracy Carter by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Marie Covington by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Jill Crawford by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Ann Brooks Duff by
Martha Banks, PhD

Aileen Eckert by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Louise Kuhns Harvey by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Heather Haws-Babb by
Beverly L. Haws

Judi Hill by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Laura Hunsicker by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Diane Johnson by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Maureen Katanic by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Lori L. Lautenschlager by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Teresa LeGrair by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Heather Licata by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Lisa Mansfield by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 



Margaret Medzie by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Karen Mueller by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Carol Nelson-Felzenberg by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Sherry Neubert by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Norma Rist by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Elizabeth Saraceno by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Ann Sebrell by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Ilene Shapiro by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund 

Darlene Swiatkowski by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Leslie Unger by
Angelina Milo, CPA

Pam Wright by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Laurie Zuckerman by
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund



All Donors: May 14 - Sept. 30, 2024

Lolita Adair Realty 
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Community Action Network 
Drs. Mark & Sandy Auburn 
Linda Banasiak 
Martha Banks, Ph.D. 
Emily Browning 
Culp Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable
Robyn Cutler 
Anita Davis 
Constance Dubick 
Cindy Ederer 
Kimberly Haws Falasco 
Lashawrida Fellows 
Joni Fitch
June Futia
Naomi Ganoe
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Holly Harris Bane
Louise Kuhns Harvey 
Beverly L. Haws 
Laura Hnat 
Hood Family Fund 
Kim Huff 
Gizelle Jones 


Jill Kolesar 
Quinnie Lane 
Laura Lederer 
Dr. Leia' Love
Rita Kelly Madick 
Greg & Jackie McDermott
Angelina Milo, CPA 
Judith Nicely 
Professional Advisor Council Fund of Akron Community Foundation
Jill R. Penrose 
Kendra Philon 
June Refine 
Kathy Ress 
Roderick Linton Belfance LLP 
S&T Bank 
Renee & Matthew Scherick 
The Sherwin-Williams Foundation 
Valerie Stutler 
Synthomer Foundation 
Jennifer Towell 
Vicky J. Urbano 
Christine C. Williams 
Christine C. Yuhasz 

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