The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation invites area residents to save the date for its 16th annual Sugar Plum Tour, which will take place Sunday, Dec. 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. The Sugar Plum Tour is Akron’s premier holiday home tour and the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to tour five of the area’s finest historic and contemporary homes, all exquisitely decorated for the holidays. This year’s tour will also feature exciting new enhancements such as digital tour guides, early wristband pick-up stations and more.
Corporate and individual sponsorships for the Sugar Plum Tour are still available and range from $500 to $5,000. Sponsors receive tickets to both the general tour and the private patron party, which will be held after the tour at an exclusive sixth residence from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 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,” said Nicole Mullet, Sugar Plum Tour co-chair. “Their commitment as a sponsor will help increase our funding to programs that benefit the LGBTQ community throughout Greater Akron.”
Proceeds from the Sugar Plum Tour support the Gay Community Endowment Fund’s grantmaking to programs that positively impact the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, as well as Greater Akron as a whole. In 2016, grants from GCEF provided shelter for homeless LGBT youth, offered counseling and social support for LGBT senior citizens, and supported young adult productions at Akron Civic Theatre, among other critical initiatives.
For the first time this year, tourgoers who purchase their tickets before Nov. 1 will receive a special early bird discount. Tickets will go on sale after Labor Day. To receive a reminder alert when 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. A complete list of sponsorship opportunities can be viewed at www.akroncf.org/SugarPlumSponsor. For more information about becoming a sponsor or donating an auction item, contact Nicole Mullet, Sugar Plum Tour co-chair, at 330-410-3362 or [email protected].
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 $1.1 million while reinvesting more than $440,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Donations may also be designated for the GCEF Scholarship Fund. Checks should 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 62 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, 2017, it is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $202 million with a growing family of 570 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 $139 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.
