New President and CEO John T. Petures Jr. also was introduced to the crowd of nearly 200. Board chair Greg McDermott said of his appointment, "Akron Community Foundation is well positioned for future growth and impact in our community. We are confident that John Petures has the right balance of nonprofit management, communication and people skills to lead our foundation at this exciting time."

Finance Committee chair Dale Koblenzer added to the excitement, reporting the foundation had made 873 grants totaling nearly $7.4 million from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008: the biggest fiscal-year payout in the foundation’s 53-year history.

Four new trustees joined McDermott and Koblenzer on the board of trustees. Marilyn Buckey, Steven Cox, Edward Eliopoulos and Richard France each were appointed to three-year terms. They replace outgoing trustees Dr. Cynthia Capers and George Sarkis, who retired from the board after nine years of service.

Buckey, of West Akron, is president and treasurer of the Akron-based investment company W.E. Wright Co. She serves on the boards of the Old Trail Alumni Council, Akron General Women’s Board and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve.  Her previous board service includes the American Red Cross, Summit County Chapter and the Akron Rotary Foundation, which she served as president.

Cox, of West Akron, is a partner at the Akron law firm Roetzel and Andress. He represents individuals and corporate clients in the areas of tax, estate and succession planning. His current board service includes the Akron Bar Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, Greater Akron Musical Association, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and Children’s Family Care, which he serves as board president.

Eliopoulos, of West Akron, is an audit partner at Ernst & Young, where he coordinates services to publicly traded global companies. He serves on the boards of the Greater Akron Chamber, the University of Akron College of Business, Character Counts and the Midwest Region and Northeast Ohio chapters of INROADS, an organization that develops minority youth for careers in business and industry.

France, of South Russell, is a financial advisor at Merrill-Lynch-Global Wealth Management. He currently serves as board president of Cascade Capital Corporation and on the boards of the American Red Cross, Summit County Chapter and the Greater Akron Chamber.

The meeting ended with McDermott presenting Bacon with a sculpture of the foundation’s Signal Tree logo, which was specially commissioned by the board and designed by Don Drumm.

Bacon gladly accepted, saying, "This is a community full of generous, caring people…who have enriched my life. For that, I am eternally grateful."

A larger version of the sculpture will be permanently housed at the foundation’s office.

About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 53 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation is a $138.6 million philanthropic endowment with a growing family of more than 320 funds. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the foundation, which works to improve the quality of life in greater Akron. It accepts charitable gifts and bequests from individuals, families, organizations and corporations committed to making a difference in the community for generations to come. To date, the foundation and its affiliate funds have awarded nearly $72 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information or to contribute to Akron Community Foundation, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.akroncommunityfdn.org.

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contact:
Tina Boyes
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 330-376-8522
E-mail: tboyes@akroncommunityfdn.org