Gay Community Endowment Fund to host 23rd annual holiday home tour
Sugar Plum Tour will feature enchanting homes throughout Greater Akron
The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation invites Greater Akron residents to save the date for its 23rd annual Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes. The Sugar Plum Tour is Akron's premier holiday home tour and the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
This year's event includes both live and virtual tours, with the live tour taking place on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 12 to 5 p.m., and the virtual tour occurring the weekend of Dec. 14-15. The live tour will showcase five historic and contemporary homes, all festively decorated for the holiday season. Virtual tourgoers will experience all five homes on the live tour, plus two bonus locations, all from the comfort of their own home.
Corporate and individual sponsorships for the Sugar Plum Tour are available and start at $500. All sponsors receive full access to both tours, including the private Patron Party home, early access to the virtual tour, and many other benefits. Sponsors at the $2,500 level and above will also be invited to a special brunch and preview tour with this year's homeowner's prior to the live tour.
"There's no better way to celebrate the holiday season than by enjoying Akron's favorite holiday tradition while giving back to the community," said Gregory Hail, Sugar Plum Tour chair. "Your support helps the Gay Community Endowment Fund make impactful investments in local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in our community."
Proceeds from the Sugar Plum Tour support the Gay Community Endowment Fund's grantmaking to programs that positively impact the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community. In 2024, grants from the fund provided stable housing for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness and supported a program at Planned Parenthood's Akron Health Center that will ensure trans and nonbinary patients can affordably obtain medications, among other initiatives.
Tourgoers who purchase tickets before Nov. 1 will receive a special early bird discount. Discounted ticket sales will begin the day of the Akron Pride Festival on Aug. 24 and can be purchased online at sugarplumtour.org. To receive a reminder when tickets go on sale, sign up for the Sugar Plum Tour email list at akroncf.org/SugarPlumNews.
If you are interested in volunteering for this year's Sugar Plum Tour, contact Volunteer Coordinator Julie Miller at 330-720-8101 or julie518@neo.rr.com. If you would like to showcase your home on the tour next year or host a future Patron Party, contact Home Procurement Chair Adam Besenyodi at 330-687-8527 or adam.besenyodi@pm.me.
A complete list of sponsorship opportunities can be viewed at akroncf.org/SugarPlumSponsor. For more information about sponsorships, contact Malia Rivera at 330-436-5614 or mrivera@akroncf.org, or visit sugarplumtour.org.
About the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. The fund supports the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community by providing grants and scholarships that advance the right to live safely, openly and authentically. Since its inception, the fund has grown to more than $2.2 million while reinvesting nearly $840,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Checks should be sent to Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307, with Gay Community Endowment Fund in the memo line. Donations may also be designated for the GCEF Scholarship Fund. For more information, or to contribute, call 330-376-8522 or visit gaycommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
For 69 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of $296 million with a growing family of more than 870 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $245 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.