The Grapevine

The 121st Charity Ball, hosted by the Akron Children’s Women’s Board, celebrated 19 remarkable young women and their families on Dec. 28 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Fairlawn. A cherished Akron tradition since 1895, the event recognizes families for their dedication to community service and support of Akron Children’s Hospital. Since 1951, the ball has honored generations of families whose generosity has helped raise over a million dollars for the hospital.

This year, five of the honorees are from our community: Reese Baird, daughter of James and Tara Baird; McKenzie Henretty, daughter of McKay and Amy Henretty; Maggie Hummel, daughter of Paul and Jennifer Hummel; Hailey Janke, daughter of Gregory and Mandy Janke; and Grace Iero, daughter of Chris and Maureen Iero. Their families’ dedication to philanthropy and service exemplifies the spirit of giving that makes this event so meaningful.

Continuing their families’ commitment to community service, this year’s participants volunteered for Project Linus to make blankets for Akron Children’s patients. This national nonprofit organization provides handmade blankets to children in hospitals and others in need, offering warmth and comfort during difficult times.

The evening was a dazzling celebration of tradition, generosity and the unwavering commitment to ensuring every child receives the best care possible.

Bath Community Fund welcomed two new advisory board members, Melina Boyce and James McClellan. Melina brings a deep passion for community impact, shaped by her own experiences growing up in an underserved area. With 30 years of client and customer service experience, including 12 years in the nonprofit sector, she now serves as director of client service and operations at a financial advisory firm, managing operations and technology. 

James, a longtime Akron native, spent over 30 years in the United States Air Force before retiring to Bath in 2021 with his wife, Lisa. He now chairs the “Tout and Hail” subcommittee, a key part of the “For Bath, Forever” campaign, which aims to bolster the Fund’s endowment by $400,000.Thanks for everything you do to support each other and make Bath a great place to live. Spring will be here soon, bringing fresh energy to our community. Keep the updates coming and email avukoder@gmail.com so we can stay connected!