The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation invites area residents to save the date for its 15th annual Sugar Plum Tour, which will take place Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by the private patron party from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Sugar Plum Tour is Akron’s premier holiday home tour and the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
“The Sugar Plum Tour has become the kickoff to the holiday season for many of our tour-goers,” said Steve Williams, event chair.
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to tour six of the area’s finest historic and contemporary homes, all exquisitely decorated for the holidays. Corporate and individual sponsorships for the Sugar Plum Tour range from $500 to $5,000. Sponsors receive tickets to both the general tour and the private patron party, which will be held at an exclusive seventh residence. They also receive a limited-edition Zeber-Martell holiday gift and many other benefits.
“This is a unique opportunity for businesses and individuals to show their support for inclusion and diversity in our community,” Williams said. “Their commitment as a sponsor will help increase our funding to programs that improve the lives of LGBT people throughout Greater Akron.”
Grants from the Gay Community Endowment Fund support programs that positively impact the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, as well as Greater Akron as a whole. In 2015, the Sugar Plum Tour raised more than $114,000, and the fund reinvested $36,361 into the community by awarding grants to 11 Greater Akron nonprofit agencies.
Tickets for the 2016 tour will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 7. This exciting holiday event sells out quickly each year, so tour-goers are encouraged to order their tickets early. To receive a reminder alert before tickets go on sale, register for the Gay Community Endowment Fund’s e-news at www.akroncf.org/GCEFnews.
The fund is also accepting donations of silent auction items, including gift baskets and service packages. For more information about becoming a sponsor or donating an auction item, contact Steve Williams at 330-571-5810 or [email protected]. Or, to learn more about the Sugar Plum Tour and view photos from past tours, visit www.sugarplumtour.org.
About the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. It facilitates and perpetuates philanthropy by supporting programs and services that support or positively impact the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, as well as Greater Akron as a whole. Since its inception, the fund has grown to approximately $1 million while reinvesting nearly $400,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Checks may be sent to the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307-2407. For more information, or to contribute, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.gaycommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 61 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. As of March 31, 2016, it is a philanthropic endowment of more than $182 million with a growing family of nearly 530 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 more than $130 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.
