Toledo Reporter

A new community fund has been established to support civic initiatives throughout the City of Green. The Green Community Fund was officially announced to the public during Thursday’s State of the City Address by Mayor Gerard Neugebauer, who shared the community’s vision for the fund.

“(The Green Community Fund) will serve our community for generations to come and will be managed by Green residents for the benefit of Green residents,” Neugebauer said. “Much of what we have invested in over the years has a limited lifespan: The roads and school buildings we build today will someday need to be replaced, safety vehicles will eventually tire and grow obsolete – but this fund will grow and live on forever.”

The Green Community Fund is an affiliate fund of Akron Community Foundation, a philanthropic endowment of nearly $260 million. Established during the city’s 30th anniversary year, the Green Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the city by supporting meaningful civic and community initiatives. The fund is committed to serving as a catalyst for needed projects in the Green community, funding nonprofit organizations that serve local residents, and championing philanthropy throughout the community.

“The Green Community Fund is not only a way to feed, support and assist our community when in need. It’s also a way to bring together our current community, Green Schools alumni, and former residents who share a common goal of helping our neighbors and friends through a community project that helps our city to continue to prosper and remain strong,” said Jennifer Jesser-Ringer, a member of the fund’s steering committee. “Donations to the Green Community Fund are also a wonderful way to honor or memorialize a loved one while creating a lasting legacy in our community.”

The Green Community Fund is one of eight affiliate funds at Akron Community Foundation, each of which supports a geographic or issue-specific cause. The structure of the fund is similar to that of the foundation’s other geographic affiliate funds, including the Medina County Community Fund and Bath Community Fund. By partnering with Akron Community Foundation, the fund’s volunteers can focus on the long-term enrichment of the community without the burden of the administrative, legal, marketing, investment, and day-to-day responsibilities of running a community fund. 

The fund will award annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Green community, ensuring a continuous stream of support that will enhance the lives of all Green residents far into the future. As the endowment grows, the fund will be able to award larger, more impactful grants. 

The Green Community Fund can accept a wide variety of gifts, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets. All gifts are fully tax deductible. To learn more about the Green Community Fund, visit greencommunityfund.org or contact Affiliate Fund Engagement Manager Deb Hoffman at 330-436-5614 or dhoffman@akroncf.org. Interested donors can also give directly to the fund at akroncf.org/give/GCF.

About the Green Community Fund Established during the city's 30th anniversary year in 2022, the Green Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the city by supporting meaningful civic and community initiatives. The fund is committed to serving as a catalyst for needed projects in the Green community, funding nonprofit organizations that serve local residents, and championing philanthropy throughout the community. For more information, or to contribute to the Green Community Fund, visit greencommunityfund.org. 

About Akron Community FoundationCelebrating 67 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $260 million with a growing family of more than 800 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 $214 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 www.akroncf.org.

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