Akron Children’s announces winners of first More childhood, please. ™ Awards

09-15-2025 (Ohio)

Akron Children’s announces the recipients of the inaugural More childhood, please.™ Awards. The health system launched the awards program to celebrate and honor those dedicated to improving and advancing childhood across the 33 counties it serves in Ohio.

“We take great pride in helping the kids of our region grow up safe and healthy,” said Chris Gessner, president and CEO of Akron Children’s. “But we cannot do it alone and wanted to formally recognize the great work of wonderful people and organizations in our communities that partner with us to put kids and families first.”

Akron Children’s received 55 nominations from and for members of the community. The honorees among the 10 More childhood, please.™ Awards categories are:

Family Impact Award: Meagen, Jeff, Owen and Emma Gries

After the tragic loss of their infant daughter, Meagen and Jeff Gries founded the Molly Ann Gries Foundation in her memory. Now, with siblings involved, the family partners with businesses, health care providers and local organizations to distribute safe sleep information to families with at-risk infants. A cornerstone of their work is the Safe Sleep Academy, which has educated 1,200 people on safe sleep practices. Their work also includes the installation of safe sleep displays at Summa Health.

Young Leader Award: Mackenzie Roach

The day after her 8th birthday, Roach was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had surgery a week later and began the long journey to relearn basic skills like walking and talking. Today, at 21, she seeks out ways to positively impact the lives of others. For example, she started an artwork mentorship program for a student unable to attend school. After years of participating in the therapeutic horse-riding program at Victory Gallop, Inc., she is now the volunteer coordinator helping children at the Bath Township farm and on visits to bring beloved pony Willie Nelson to Akron Children’s.

Akron Children’s Caregiver Award: Jack Weber

Weber, a speech and language pathologist, goes above and beyond his expected role to touch the lives of his patients, often during their most vulnerable moments. He has emerged as a leader and innovator. He presented at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine on an early mobilization program in the pediatric critical care unit and he’s been involved in the hospital’s global outreach efforts by mentoring local therapists in the Dominican Republic. His fluency in Spanish and American Sign Language ensures patients receive culturally competent care – and fewer moments of potential isolation during their encounters at the hospital.   

Civic Champion Award: Adaptive Sports Ohio

Founded in 2009 by Lisa Followay, Adaptive Sports Ohio believes “everyone deserves a chance to play.” She was inspired by her son, Casey, born with spina bifida, who always wanted to play sports. Followay and her team have been improving the lives of children with physical disabilities through community-based sports like sled hockey; track & field, handcycling, wheelchair softball, football, tennis and rugby; an annual Dream Camp; serving as a resource for interscholastic sports; and offering Everyone Plays Activity kits.

Outstanding Media Award: Keith Kennedy

As a regional senior vice president of programming and on-air talent for iHeartRadio, Kennedy has been a driving force in the success of Akron Children’s radiothon held in conjunction with 98.1 KDD every February. The radiothon not only raises crucial funds but draws awareness to the compelling work being done daily to help children reach their full potential. He also serves on the hospital’s Emerging Leaders Board and the board of the Orville Area Boys & Girls Club.

Akron Children’s Advocate Award: Melody Strait

A community health worker, Strait’s advocacy takes her beyond the walls of Akron Children’s, to any place she is needed: accompanying a mom who has anxiety in medical environments to appointments, helping a parent schedule appointments for a child with chronic illnesses, helping families fill out housing applications, or making countless trips, even on weekends, to deliver medications to children. She often collaborates with Akron Children’s school-based health centers, connecting families with necessary medical services and improving attendance in the classroom for the kids.

Trailblazer Award: Beth Cardina  

Cardina, a licensed social worker, has devoted nearly 40 years to advocating on behalf of children not able to experience safe and happy childhoods because of abuse or neglect. She began her career in child welfare in 1988 and has served as director of the Summit County Juvenile Court’s Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem program for the past 18 years. The program recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused, neglected and dependent children involved in the juvenile court system through no fault of their own. Under Cardina’s leadership, it has become one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the state.

Community Hero Award: Brian Bidlingmyer

Chief development officer for the Akron Area YMCA, Bidlingmyer is a passionate advocate for youth development and community health. He spearheaded the Safety Around Water program that provides children across northeast Ohio with free critical water safety education and foundational swim skills. Since its creation in 2016, more than 8,000 Summit County children have participated through efforts to engage schools, churches, and community groups, particularly within the Black community where drowning is a leading cause of death among children.

Business Impact Award: Birthing Beautiful Communities

Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) aims to make sure at-risk babies make it through their first year of life. Rooted in the belief that healthy childhoods begin with healthy, supported parents, BBC addresses maternal emotional well-being during and after the pregnancy in the critical weeks after delivery. The care, such as that of the Postpartum Doula Program, is personalized and hands-on. Essential supplies like diapers, formula, strollers and car seats are available through BBC’s resource center. BBC also offers services to incarcerated pregnant women in conjunction with MetroHealth.

Akron Children’s Luminary Award: Mary Leuca

Leuca has played a pivotal role in the success of Akron Children’s Holiday Tree Festival, a beloved annual event that has raised money for the hospital and ushered in the holiday season for 44 years as a tradition for many families. Leuca has served as accountant for 17 years and chair for 12 years, overseeing a large network of volunteers, tree decorators and the teams behind the opening night Gala and the Breakfasts with Santa. To date, she has logged more than 19,000 volunteer hours for Akron Children’s, and, under her guidance, the tree festival has remained a magical 8-day event, free to the public.

Celebration set for Oct. 1 at DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn

The honorees will be celebrated with a dinner and awards presentation at the DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn, Wednesday, Oct. 1. The event will be hosted by Monica Robins, chief medical correspondent for WKYC TV, and Anna Huntsman, multimedia journalist with Ideastream.

Entertainment will be provided by Dance Unlimited, a therapeutic dance program that allows Akron Children’s patients of all abilities to participate.

For more information about the awards program, visit https://www.akronchildrens.org/MoreChildhoodPlease/awards.html