Akron Community Foundation
Circle of Inclusion
As a contributor to the Circle of Inclusion, your campaign gifts will advance the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community's right to live safely, openly and authentically. We offer five tiers to make giving both accessible and sustainable. Donors to the circle receive special recognition for their role in growing the endowment and First-to-Know communications about the fund's latest news. To learn more about the Circle of Inclusion, please contact Deb Hoffman.
Give Online Pledge Form Impact Grants
For online gifts, please select "This is a campaign gift" on the giving form. You may also choose to set up a payment plan for up to three years by selecting "Contact me about recurring billing." A member of our finance team will reach out to you to set up your payments.
Circle of Inclusion Donors
Benefactor Tier Donor
The Rev. David Hefling, in memory of The Rev. Michael DeVere Dudley
The Rev. Dr. Sandy Selby
Advocate Tier Donors
Gregory Hail & Matthew Culler
Dr. Kate Raymond & Michelle Krocker
Ally Tier Donors
Erik & Stephanie Davis
Eric Jones & Bob Kish
Drs. Andi & Eric Jopperi
Jim & Cheryl Nilsen
Mickey & Angie Remen
Inclusion Tier Donors
Adam & Tracy Besenyodi
Tom & Julia Besenyodi
Branden Burns
Tom & Dona Cardone
Michael Derr & Greg Sterling
The Honorable Carol Dezso
Dr. Dorothy Erb
John F. Garofalo & Matt Melton
Mike Gunter & Tom Heggen
Julie Jones, in honor of Dr. Kate Raymond
Dianne Kerr
Doug & Kathy Kohl
Toby & Keith Liechty-Clifford
Phil Montgomery & Andrew Schuellerman
Cheryl Morse & Debbie Peterson
Dr. Steven Paris & Hal E. Augsburger
Matt Powers & Colleen Malloy
Michelle Ryba & Scott Read
Linda Santschi
Mary Ann Schneider & Jacqueline Wolf
Michele Setzer
Chad Silvey & Allan Shillingburg
Kevin & Brenda Spear
Susan & Terry Yingling
Pride Tier Donors
Thomas N. Kintz
Jonathan Oldaker & Michael Sabo
Inaugural Circle of Inclusion Donors
Virginia Addicott
Anonymous
Drs. Mark & Sandy Auburn
Lisa Aurilio & Dianne LaCerva
Adam & Tracy Besenyodi
Dona & Tom Cardone
Cindy Christman
The Honorable Carol Dezso
Diebold Foundation
Constance Dubick
John F. Garofalo & Matt Melton
Ellen Garrett
Stephannie Garrett
Jenn Gaylor
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
John Grafton & Richard Worswick
Gregory Hail & Matthew Culler
Rabbi David & Toby Horowitz
Eric Jones & Bob Kish
Julie Jones & Mishelle Harriger
Ed & Audrey Kancler
Doug & Kathy Kohl
Dr. Kate Raymond and Michelle Krocker
Ross & Heather Licata
Bob & Babette Medcalf
Barbara Marie and Marilyn S. Minney
Phil Montgomery & Andrew Schuellerman
J. Brent Pawlecki
Steven P. Schmidt & Richard J. Krochka
Cornerstone Society
The Cornerstone Society celebrates those who have named the Gay Community Endowment Fund in a planned gift, such as a bequest, charitable gift annuity or life insurance policy. Their foresight and generosity ensures the fund will continue to support Greater Akron's LGBTQ+ community in perpetuity. It's simple to join; contact Deb Hoffman for more information.
Dwite Barger
Paul A. Daum*
Judge Carol J. Dezso
John Grafton & Richard Worswick
Eric J. Jones
Thomas N. Kintz
Toby & Keith Liechty-Clifford
Timothy Maynard & Dr. Ernest W. Stone Jr.
Cheryl Morse & Debra Peterson
Steven P. Schmidt & Richard J. Krochka
Peter Schofield*
Christopher P. Sullivan
*Deceased
Memorial & Tribute Gifts
From April 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2026
In memory of Megan Gottschalk by
Michele Setzer
In memory of The Rev. Michael Dudley by
David Hefling
In honor of Founders of the Gay Community Endowment Fund by
Patricia Wagner
All Donors
From April 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2026, the following donors contributed gifts and services to the Gay Community Endowment Fund or the GCEF Scholarship Fund to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Greater Akron. We're grateful for their generosity.
Virginia Addicott
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Community Action Network
Michelle Alleman
Anonymous (12)
Associated Designs, Trac Papish
Autism Society of Greater Akron
George & Maureen Bain
Dwite Barger
Bath Church, United Church of Christ
Bayer Corporation
Doris Bell
Jenifer Bemis
Leah Bennington
Leah Bennington
Adam & Tracy Besenyodi
Mrs. Edward L. Bittle
Peter Bobkowski
Madeline and Libert Bozzelli Fund
Todd A. Brown, M.D.
Gwendolyn Bryant
Frances Seiberling Buchholzer
Branden Burns
Christopher Burr
Christina Callahan
Tom & Dona Cardone
Karen Carson
CASA Board Volunteer Association Inc.
Cindy Christman & Ruth Hotchkiss
Cindy Christman
David Ciocca
Charlene Clamp
Committee to Re-elect Judge Rowlands
Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Initiative
Judge Amy Corrigall Jones
Casey Cramer
Erik & Stephanie Davis
Stephanie Davis
Michael Derr & Greg Sterling
Kristin Dietz
Dawn Distler
Barry Dunaway & Peter McDermott
Tom & Carla Eisenloffel
John Garofalo
Gregory Hail
David B. Hefling
Mike Gunter & Tom Heggen
Cathy Henretta
Austin Hopkins
Toby & Rabbi David Horowitz
Ronald Imbrogno
Jones Group Interiors Inc.
Eric J. Jones
Andi & Eric Jopperi
Amy Joyce
Michael J.D. Kaminsky
Dianne L. Kerr
Michael Knapik & Mark Hostettler, M.D.
Douglas Kohl
Jody & Bob Konstand
Hollie Kozak
Christopher Kuhn
Sandra Kurt
Sue Lacy
Judge Gerald K. Larson
Keith & Toby Liechty-Clifford
Michael Lilly
Valerie McKitrick
Ellen McWilliams-Woods
Meaden & Moore
Julie Miller
Kathryn Miller
Phil Montgomery & Andrew Schuellerman
Abigail & Jason Morgan
Cheryl Morse & Debra Peterson
Mary Martha Mundy
James Nutter
Jim Obergefell
Dr. Steven Q. Paris & Hal E. Augsburger
Stephanie Parsons
Allison Peltz
Job Esau Perry
William Pohlchuck
Matt Powers & Colleen Malloy
John P. Radcliff
Kate Raymond & Michelle Krocker
Scott T. Read Family Fund
Mickey & Angie Remen
Richard Siess Family Fund
Michael Riojas
Kim Rivers
Beverly M. Rose
Barbara Salai
Linda Santschi
Erin Schermesser
Steven P Schmidt, PhD and Richard J Krochka
Mary Ann Schneider
Steve Sedlock
Tristan Seiler & Derek Tholt
Senior Relocation Services
Michele Setzer
Chad Silvey & Allan Shillingburg
Paul Sparano
Kevin & Brenda Spear
Teresa Stafford
State & Federal Communications Inc.
Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer
Beth Stropki
Summit County Prosecutor's Office
Judge Jennifer D Towell & Mr. Thomas Towell
Victim Assistance Program Inc.
Patricia Wagner
Audrey Wilson
Libby Wilson
Janis Worley
Susan Yingling
Debbie & Joseph Zarconi