Along with the many volunteer hours within the community, the Women of WITAN (Women in Touch with Akron’s Needs) annually award up to $88,000 per year to community organizations. Since 1943, WITAN has granted over 1.5 million dollars to community nonprofit agencies.
Donations
Grants 2019-2020 $80,093
Allocations 2019-2020 $5,930
Access $2,500 – IDs/Birth certificates needed to secure housing/employment
Battered Women’s Shelter $10,000 – ID/Birth certificates; Interpreter services; transportation costs
Bright Star Books $2,000 – support literacy efforts through Summit
County WIC clinics by purchasing and distributing books and educating parents on the importance of early literacy
CORE Furniture Bank $7,500 – Maintenance of trucks used to collect furniture
Family Promise $2,993 – Welcome kits with basic bedding supplies for homeless families
Good Samaritan Hunger Center $5,000 – Support mobile food pantry
Haven of Rest $5,000 – Support Women’s Residential Program
Lift Up Ministries $3,600 – Building materials/labor to build shed to house equipment and supplies for home repairs and lawn services for low-income and disabled elderly
Mobile Meals $6,000 – Meals and nutritional supplements for homebound elderly and disabled
Open M $10,000 – Provide medications and supplies for low income diabetic patients
Pregnancy Solutions $3,000 – Support Parent Path Program; parenting skills and infant equipment
Rape Crisis Center $10,000 – Support for non-offending caregivers in child sexual assault cases
Stewart’s Caring Place $5,000 – Support emergency food pantry
Summit County Collaborative $4,000 – Food, transportation, housing, and Against Human Trafficking education for survivors; scholarships for staff training
Women’s Auxiliary Summit Co $3,500 – Beds for Kids Program; provide a safe place for children to sleep
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) $500 – toward birthday gift cards and stuffed animals for children in residential foster care
Children’s Concert Society $250 – toward Scholarship Funds for the Scholastic Composers Contest for students in grades K-12, designed to encourage creativity and musical literacy
Collaborative Against Human Trafficking $400 – toward the S.O.A.P project (Saving Our Adolescents From Prostitution). This Project provides bars of soap labeled with the National Hotline for Human Trafficking number. The soap is placed in area hotels to provide a resource for potential victims to reach out for help.
First Congregational Church of Akron $600 – toward fabric and sewing supplies for the Prayer Blanket Ministry. These comforting blankets are distributed at local hospitals as well as given to anyone who expresses a need for one.
Here’s Hope Horse Farm $600 – toward therapeutic riding lessons for special needs children.
JOBS (Jump on Board for Success) $580 – toward program expenses such as training/mentoring materials, background checks, and marketing. This program provides mentoring, guidance, vocational training, childcare, and financial budgeting to help single mothers become self-sustaining parents and providers.
Keys to Serenity $600 – toward entertainment expenses for a day of fun and support for children and caregivers affected by the opioid epidemic. This non-profit was recently started by a mother who lost her daughter to the opioid epidemic and is now raising her grandson. Her goal is to provide support for other caregivers who are raising children whose parents are unable to care for them because of the effects of the opioid epidemic.
Lift Up Ministries $600 – toward supplies needed to make minor home repairs for elderly, low income, and disabled home owners.
Limitless Ambition $600 – to support The Purposely Chosen Teen Program which is a facilitated curriculum-based program for teen girls in the Akron Public Schools. The program is designed to equip and empower these young women with the tools they need to pursue passion, demonstrate leadership, and overcome obstacles to success.
Stewart’s Caring Place $600 – to fund the 2020 Essential Oils Series. This monthly series teaches participants who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis how to promote sleep, boost immunity, benefit digestion, increase energy, support metabolism, and balance moods through the use of essential oils.
More information on WITAN’s philanthropy
- Grants 1980 to Present
- Marion Geyer Fund
- WITAN Remembrance Fund
- Allocations 2007- Present
- WITAN Endowment Fund
- WITAN Presidents' Scholarship
For a complete listing of all grants click button to download Excel Spreadsheet
In 1943, Marion Geyer, a Beacon Journal columnist assigned to cover local society events and women’s news, helped WITAN to grow from a handful of dedicated founders to a thriving group of energetic and civic-minded Akron women. Miss Geyer publicized our social events and fundraising efforts, which she continued to enjoy even after her retirement. In recognition of her ongoing support, Miss Geyer was made an hononary member of WITAN. When she died in 1974, it was learned that Miss Geyer had included WITAN in her will. Her gift of $20,000 is now a named fund under the WITAN endowment fund. The interest generated by the principal fund is used annually to fund a civic non-profit agency project.
The WITAN Remembrance Fund was established in 1965, in honor of a Founder and the second president of WITAN, Eleanor Woodward. The monies donated to the fund are given to the Arboretum at the Seiberling Naturealm. These yearly donations are used for the planting of trees at the Naturealm.
| Akron Public School – $600 | JOBS (Jump on Board for Success) – $580 | |
| Bath Church – $200 | Keep Akron Beautiful – $780 | |
| Blick Clinic – $1600 | Keys to Serenity – $600 | |
| CASA/GAL – $3956 | Lift Up Ministries – $3000 | |
| Child Guidance and Family Services – $554.50 | Limitless Ambition – $600 | |
| Children’s Concert Society – $2500 | Memorials of Angels – $1800 | |
| Choices Social Center – $1174 | Mental Health America – $500 | |
| Christ Child Society – $500 | Mobile Meals – $600 | |
| Coleman Behavioral Services – $600 | Pajama Program – $600 | |
| Collaborative Against Human Trafficking – $400 | Pregnancy Care – $600 | |
| Community Habilitation Services – $600 | Regina Health Center – $600 | |
| Community Social Center – $280 | Ronald McDonald House – $600 | |
| Community Support Service – $600 | Safe Landing Youth Shelter – $600 | |
| Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad-$2400 | Shelter Care – $600 | |
| Dancing Classrooms NE OH – $500 | South Street Ministries – $1200 | |
| Emergency Assistance Center – $600 | Stewart’s Caring Place – $2898 | |
| First Congregational Church of Akron – $600 | Summit County Historical Society – $550 | |
| Goodwill Industries – $2100 | Summit County Probate Court – $600 | |
| Green Good Neighbors – $600 | Summit County Public Health – $593 | |
| Hattie Larlham – $600 | Tarry House – $1800 | |
| Health Education Center/Akron Health Dept. – $1100 | True North Ministries Compass Gardens Project – $600 | |
| Hero’s Hope Farm – $2200 | Valentine Project – $600 | |
| Interfaith Caregivers – $600 | Willard Food Pantry – $1200 | |
The WITAN Endowment fund was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of WITAN. The money invested in the WITAN Endowment fund is money that will create income in perpetuity and will insure the future of WITAN’s philanthropic endeavors.
This scholarship program awards $1000 per year to a deserving, non-traditional senior woman at the University of Akron. The guidelines for the scholarship include; senior ranking, academic standing and financial need. The first award was made in the fall of 1999.