View photos from the event on Facebook
The United Way of Summit County annual meeting was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.
The organization’s membership elected a slate of 14 directors to three-year terms ending at the annual meeting in 2018: Cynthia Capers, PhD; Michele Cerminaro, GOJO Industries, Inc.; Stephen M. Charles, Bridgestone Americas; Jennifer Fox, PNC Bank; Sergio A. Garcia, Northeast Ohio Medical University; Marty Hauser, Chandler Group; Dale M. Highsmith, Jr., ComDoc, Inc.; William W. Lowery II, Stouffer Realty, Inc.; Phillip P. Martucci, The University of Akron; Joseph M. May, State and Federal Communications; Donald A. Moul, FirstEnergy Solutions; Kathy Peterson; Donna R. Skoda, Summit County Public Health; Angela D. Wells, GPD Group; and, Theodore F. Walter, Fifth Third Bank.
A slate of officers for 2015-16 was also elected: at large executive committee members: Nicholas V. Browning, FirstMerit Bank; Sergio A. Garcia, Northeast Ohio Medical University; William W. Lowery II, Stouffer Realty, Inc; labor representative: Tom Morneweck, Tri-County Regional Labor Council; nominating committee chair: Marc B. Merklin, Brouse McDowell; campaign chair: Stuart C. Glauberman, Malco Products, Inc.; community impact division chair: David C. Jennings, Akron-Summit County Public Library; administration committee chair: Donald L. Corpora, Akron General Health System; strategic planning chair: Cynthia Capers, PhD; marketing & brand management chair: Rick Krochka, TRIAD/Next Level; public policy committee chair: Russell M. Pry, Summit County Executive Office; secretary: Bernett L. Williams, Akron Children’s Hospital; treasurer: Richard J. Noechel, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; vice chair of the board: Christine Amer Mayer, The GAR Foundation; past board chair: William R. Feth, AESCO Holdings, LLC; board chair: James E. Merklin, Bober Markey Fedorovich.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to companies that helped United Way raise in 2014 the largest campaign amount in the organization’s 97-year history: $12,760,000.
GOJO Industries, Inc. received the 2014 “Spirit of Caring Award.” United Way’s highest corporate honor, the Spirit of Caring Award is presented annually to a company that exhibits outstanding support of United Way and year-round commitment to the Summit County community. GOJO and its employees contributed $372,513 in 2014, an increase of 23.4% over the previous year.
Cornerstone Awards were presented to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and FirstEnergy Corp, the two largest campaigns in Summit County. Each company had total giving of more than $1,000,000.
Chairman’s Awards were presented to eight businesses and organizations that exhibited extraordinary achievement and saw outstanding campaign increases: BCG & Company; Brouse McDowell; Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC; FedEx Ground; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; GPD Group; Myers Industries, Inc.; and, Welty Building Company, Ltd.
The Wendell Willke Award was presented to Brouse McDowell, honoring the top United Way campaign at a local law firm.
In addition to honoring business, United Way also presented its Young Philanthropist of the Year Award to Shon Christy, president of Focal Point Social Media.
About United Way of Summit County
United Way of Summit County advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on Education, Income and Health, because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life. We train a spotlight on critical issues, engage with private and public sector leaders and coordinate agendas with partners to leverage Collective Impact. We invite everyone to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. When we work together in common purpose, we LIVE UNITED. For more information about United Way of Summit County visit uwsummit.org.