Department of Development

Who We Are & What We Do

The University of Akron is grateful for the generous support of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations it receives to achieve its goals. This support enables the University to fund scholarships, fellowships, professorships, campus renovations, new facilities and much, much more.

The Department of Development works with University benefactors matching their philanthropic interests with student and programmatic support opportunities within the University. Often, through these lasting relationships, alumni and friends of the University deepen and enrich their ties to UA and to the students the institution serves.

The John R. '88 and Sarah A. Adams, M.D. '89 Honors College Amphitheatre
Is Dedicated

John '88 and Dr. Sarah '89 Adams in the Adams Amphitheatre

Alumni John and Sarah Adams graciously gifted the University with the John R. '88 and Sarah A. Adams, M.D. '89 Honors College Amphitheatre in October.

John, who graduated from UA's College of Business Administration in 1988, received the Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award in 2002. He served as president on the National Alumni Board, chairman of the Business Alumni Board and currently serves as a member of the College of Business Advancement Council.

Sarah, an Akron area pediatrician, earned a bachelor's degree in Natural Science from UA in 1989 and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati. While at UA, Sarah was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and received the prestigious A-Key award.

The Adams Amphitheater, situated behind the Honors College, will provide an area of introspection for students and community, and add to the expanding tranquility of the campus.

Family Helping Family Campaign Begins

From left: Dorothy Achimasi, Michele Mills, Lisa K. Wray,
Fedearia Nicholson and Dan Sheffer. Committee member
Harvey Sterns is not pictured.

In these challenging economic times, more students than ever are facing unforeseen financial hardships. To help our students, a group of UA employees has come together to create the Family Helping Family campaign - an opportunity for all faculty and staff to participate in a program that will benefit UA students with economic hardships.

Funds raised will be used to create book scholarships of approximately $500, which would be used for students from families who miss the Federal Pell Grant income guidelines and who rely heavily on student loans. An emergency fund will also be created, to which students could apply for small assistance awards to help meet unforeseen needs.

Thanks to the Family Helping Family committee members for leading the charge to help our students achieve their dreams of a college education!

The First Zippy Helps to Memorialize Our Favorite Marsupial

Pete Demming (left) with Zippy and Dr. Charlie Fey

When Perry T. "Pete" Demming became The University of Akron's first "Mr. Zip" in 1955, he had no idea that UA's unique mascot would someday become the Capital One National Mascot of the Year (2008).

Recognizing the appeal of Zippy for current students, prospective students, alumni and children of all ages, Mr. Demming has provided a lead gift of $20,000 to help fund a permanent statue of Zippy on campus. The idea, according to Dr. Charlie Fey, VP of Student Affairs, is that a Zippy landmark will be a campus centerpiece for generations of students and alumni.

While Mr. Demming's generosity provides the momentum to get the project started, an additional $50,000 must be raised from student groups, alumni and friends to fund the statue.

Assaf Family Visits Campus

From left: Tim DuFore, Kathleen Assaf, Ron '57 Assaf, David Horn,
Kim Stover, John LaGuardia

Florida residents and Society for Tomorrow members Ron '57 Assaf and his wife Kathleen, along with daughter Kim Stover of Kent, visited the campus in early June and enjoyed a tour of InfoCision Stadium led by Ted Curtis, VP of Capital Planning and Facilities Management. After the stadium tour, the group met Dr. Dale Lewison, the director of the Gary L. and Karen S. Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing and The Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories, for a tour of both facilities.

The family then joined John LaGuardia, VP for Public Affairs and Development; Tim DuFore, Assoc. VP of Development; and David Horn, Director of Planned Giving, Center for Gift and Estate Planning, in the Student Union for lunch.

Ron's son Tim is also a University of Akron alumnus, Class of 1983.

Track and Field Program Honors Special Alumni, Donors

Left to right: Dr. Roger '63 and Judith '63 Read, Jacqueline and Robert '60 Gill

Robert '60 and Jacqueline Gill and Dr. Roger '63 and Judith '63 Read were honored for their support and dedication to Zips Athletics during the 2009 Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships in May.

As a student, Robert Gill participated in men's cross country and track programs and was a champion athlete, having been the school record holder for the half-mile. He earned seven Ohio Conference Championships in outdoor (800m) and indoor (880m) track and was the 1960 NCAA Mid-East Runner-up in the 800. In 2001, he was inducted into The University of Akron Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame. Robert and his wife Jacqueline established the Robert J. and Jacqueline B. Gill Endowed Fund for Track and Field Cross Country as well as The Robert J. and Jacqueline Gill Track Challenge.  

Dr. Read's activities as a student included senior class president, cross-country and track, and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He and wife Judith established the Roger T. and Judith A. Read Endowed Scholarship in Business Administration, the Judith A. and Roger T. Read Scholarship Fund in the Buchtel College of Arts & Science and The Roger and Judy Read Project GRAD Scholarships.

The University of Akron Track and Field program received donations from both families to provide facility upgrades to the Lee Jackson Outdoor Track and Field Complex. The Track and Field Head Coach's Office and the Track and Field Hall of Honor have been named in their honor.

The 2009 Donald L. Kaufman Lecture Series is Held

 
From left to right: Dr. Raj Aggarwal, Dean of the CBA; Donald L. Kaufman; Ralph M. Della Ratta, Jr.; Dr. Luis Proenza

The 6th annual Donald L. Kaufman Business Lecture Series was held on April 16. The speaker, Mr. Ralph M. Della Ratta Jr., is the founder and managing director of Western Reserve Partners LLC. His talk entitled "What They Do Not Teach You in Business School [But] You Will Need to Fast Track Your Career" strengthened and enriched the educational experience of our business students as well as provided insight into today's unpredictable financial markets.

The Kaufman Speaker Series was founded by the CBA through a gift from Donald L. Kaufman, retired president and CEO of Alside, Inc. Mr. Kaufman is a member of the College of Business Administration Advancement Council, the University of Akron Foundation, and a frequent guest lecturer to marketing students.

Towpath Credit Union Gift Names Press Box in InfoCision Stadium

Towpath representatives with Zippy, from left: Alan McArthur, CEO; Zippy; Michael Thompson, Director of Marketing; Wendy Windemuth, Business Development Representative

Towpath Credit Union presented UA with a gift for InfoCision Stadium on January 9. The press box of the stadium will be named Towpath Credit Union Press Box in honor of the gift.

Corbin Foundation Funds New Finance Lab

Front row, left to right: Robert Berk, Sophie Albrecht, Robert Bonchack
Back row, left to right: Louis Maglione, President Proenza, Joseph Holden, Roger Read

The Corbin Finance Lab in The University of Akron College of Business Administration was dedicated on January 6. The lab was made possible through funding from the Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation. In this state-of-the-art facility, students and professors can control six projection screens, each linked to a class computer where data from multiple sources can simultaneously be viewed. The work stations also have access to the Internet, financial TV, current news on material under review, in-house databases and stock information.

Thanks to the David C. and Mary S. Corbin Foundation trustees Joseph M. Holden, Roger T. Read, James S. Hartenstein, Robert M. Bonchack, Sophie E. Albrecht, Louis A. Maglione, Raymond R. Wernig and Robert C. Berk.

Family's $1.9 Million Gift Creates Benjamin and Nancy Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories

The Suarez family, from left to right: Sharon, Nancy, Benjamin and Michelle with husband Tim Ditty

Benjamin '67 and Nancy Suarez endowed The Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories in the Department of Marketing. Located on the fifth floor of the historic Polsky Building, Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories is a one-of-a-kind marketing research teaching and experiential facility. The Laboratories will complement the Fisher Institute and Taylor Institute and make The University of Akron a leading, if not the leading, business college in the nation for sales and marketing.

Benjamin and Nancy Suarez are known for their philanthropic efforts. These endeavors range from the United Way and Disaster Relief to their work on behalf of women, particularly Breast Cancer Research and Women's Shelters.