From our president: WEF prepares for successful 2021
President, Women's Endowment Fund
Although summer is a time of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation – the Women's Endowment Fund has been working passionately in preparation for our new year.
In June, we honored and celebrated the commitment of Cindy Johnson, assurance & advisory partner of Bober, Markey, Fedorovich, and Sherry Neubert, CIO of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., who both completed their service as a WEF board member. These past WEF presidents left a lasting change and we are grateful for their leadership, insight and continued support. At the same time, we welcomed Holly Harris Bane (City of Aurora), Christine Neigh (The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.), and Lorna Wisham (FirstEnergy Foundation) as our newest board members. We are thankful to have each of these leaders commit to serve and carry out our mission of the Women's Endowment Fund.
In August, we celebrated our Circle of Empowerment (COE) members through our annual appreciation gathering. While we were unable to meet in person, we were able to unite virtually. The theme of our event, Strong Women: Black Female Artists Redefining Our World, allowed our members to engage with local artists and learn how the arts unites our community and provides mental relief during crisis. I am beyond grateful for the talent and the impact these artists have on our community. Thank you to our honorary host, Ruthie George; event chair, Diana Selzer, and the entire COE event committee for your work to plan and execute such a beautiful evening. Thank you to each COE member for tuning into our event and for your continued support to our fund. If you're not already a COE member, sign up today so you can join us for our next appreciation event. More details on how you can join can be found at www.akroncf.org/WEFCOE.
We are also excited to announce the details of our 2021 "For Women, Forever" annual dinner. Please mark your calendar for March 10, 2021. This year's feature speaker is Akron's own Ramona Hood, CEO & president of FedEx Custom Critical. We will also honor the works of our 2021 Judith A. Read Tribute Award recipient, Jacqueline Silas-Butler, Esq., executive director of Project GRAD Akron. This annual event allows our fund to uplift and empower women and girls throughout Summit County. Secure your sponsorship today as you will not want to miss this inspirational evening! Visit www.akroncf.org/ForWomenForever for more information.
As we head into the beauty of the fall season and prepare ourselves for the cold winter months ahead, remember to let the warmth of your heart impact all in our community.
With gratitude and love,
Kendra Williams
President, Women's Endowment Fund