A Magazine from Akron Children's

What does a life-changing moment look like?

At Akron Children’s, it could be a patient ringing the bell when they finish cancer treatment. Or a teen smiling for graduation photos after getting the mental health help they needed.

In these examples, and for the past 135 years, Akron Children’s helps patients get back to being kids and shaping the future of our communities. Achieving this is no small feat.

“Akron Children’s Foundation supports life-changing work,” Akron Children’s Chief Development Officer Michele (Shelly) Brown said. “The generosity of each donor has the power to help many children.”

Every gift is important. Donations help to improve patient care, add new services, offer more training for providers, buy new equipment and expand research.

Like many nonprofits, fundraising at Akron Children’s feels personal. It is the bridge that connects the organization’s mission of improving the health of children to fulfilling that promise for our patients and their families.

“At the foundation, we want to work with donors on causes they are passionate about,” Shelly said. She shared the example of how, just a few years ago, a dedicated center for patients on the autism spectrum had been a dream clinicians wrote on paper.

“After a year and a half of planning and building, Akron Children’s is excited to open the Tom and Jill Zidian Family Autism Center in November,” she said. “The Zidians are passionate about autism care. They gave $2 million to the autism center project — and many others gave, too. Thanks to their generosity, this autism center dream is coming true.”