SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Throughout 2019, Summit County and its employees generously donated to local non-profit organizations that support important causes and local residents in need. Beginning in February, county employees raised money in support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign, a nationwide initiative to increase women’s heart health awareness. Employees purchases memorial/tribute hearts and lapel pins and attended various educational events. During March and April, Summit County officeholders and employees participated in the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s 2019 Harvest for Hunger campaign. County offices collectively raised several thousand dollars and donated over 2,000 pounds of food.
For Mother’s Day, employees purchased flowers in support of the Serving Our Soldiers initiative. The money raised was used to purchase holiday care packages for Summit County residents currently serving as active duty members of the armed forces and gift cards for residents of Summit Liberty House, the county’s only homeless female veteran housing facility. In September, the county and FirstEnergy Foundation donated $20,000 in support of the Laura Williams Dunlop Memorial Stand Down, an annual day of community-based programming to help local homeless and displaced veterans prepare for the winter months.
In October, employees participated in “Wear it Pink”, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society. From mid-November to early December, Executive Office employees donated food for United Way of Summit County’s Holiday Snack Packs Food Drive, a campaign to collect wholesome snacks for children to eat over their winter break. Earlier, this week, over 200 candy grams sold in support of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign were delivered to county employees by Santa and his helpers.
“The employees of Summit County continue to demonstrate their dedication to helping people in need throughout our community,” said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “We are proud to partner with a diverse group of local organizations who all make a difference in the lives of so many.”In addition to charitable giving and fundraising, county employees also showed support for the community by participating in events like the West Akron 5k, Wear Orange Day for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, the Greater Akron Heart Walk and Summit County Night at an Akron RubberDucks game.
