Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro Recognizes the Month of August as Summit Kids Month in Summit County
Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro has recognized the month of August 2017 as Summit Kids Month, featuring a month-long focus on child health and wellness, as well as safety and early childhood education. Each week in August will focus on a new theme critical to the welfare and upbringing of the children of Summit County. And, for the 8th year in a row, the banner event of Summit Kids Month, the “Summit for Kids Expo,” will take place at the John S. Knight Center on August 19th.
“Focusing on early childhood initiatives such as education, health and wellness is an imperative part of a larger strategy focusing on our children in Summit County,” said Executive Shapiro. “Summit Kids Month provides numerous opportunities for families to engage in activities focusing on the well-being of their children and family, which in turn helps to build a stronger foundation for our community.”
Week one of August is “New Beginnings Week”; week two is “Health and Wellness Week”, followed by the third week, “Family Week” and ending the month with “Child Safety Week”. The 8th annual Summit for Kids Expo will be held at the John S. Knight Center on Saturday, August 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Summit for Kids Expo is open to the public and is free of charge. The Summit for Kids professional symposium, The Opiate Epidemic’s Effects on the Family, will be held at the downtown Akron-Summit Main Library on Friday, August 18th. Individuals attending the professional symposium will be eligible for CLE and CEU credits. Registration is $50.00 per person. The price includes Summit for Kids breakfast from 7:30 am-8:45 am, located at the John S. Knight Center, and free parking.
Summit Kids Month is part of the “First Things First” Child Development Project of Summit County, which was created by the Summit County Family and Children First Council. Initiated in 2009, the Summit County Family and Children First Council is the lead agency focusing on childhood development in Summit County, including a comprehensive and collaborative education system enhancement and early care plan.
For more information, dates, and location please visit: http://summitcountyfirstthingsfirst.com/
The Summit for Kids Expo is open to the public and is free of charge. The expo will be a fun filled day for the entire family and will include free admission, parking, activities, giveaways, back to school physicals, book bags with school supplies, dental van (checkups and x-rays provided by Ronald McDonald Charities), Akron Children’s Medical Corridor (for children’s checkups), child safety services, over 100 early childhood booths, and entertainment such as Spider-Man, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood’s Daniel Tiger from PBS and Minion look-alikes. Goodwill Industries will, once again, provide a “Kids Fashion Show.” This year, the kickoff band is the Coventry High School Marching Band. For the eighth year, PNC is the event’s Title Sponsor. And this year, United Way of Summit County donated $15,000 to Summit for Kids for backpacks
Tickets for Summit for Kids Breakfast only can also be purchased by calling Julie Tortora at 330-643-2609. For more information visit www.summitforkids.net.
