Events

Set up Banners, Table Tops, Technology for our weekly meetings.

Greet Fellow Rotarians and Guests and sell tickets for the weekly lotto.  

Deliver the invocation at our weekly meeting. 

The Hot Meal Program & Food Pantry has been established for 2 years now and is entirely funded by members and friends of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (from donations to The Greek Festival). 

The Hot Meal Program & Food Pantry is held the last Tuesday of the month with food service between 5pm and 6:30pm. 

Set up starts same day at 3pm.  Set up consists of setting up groceries and rolling out our clothing donations. 

IMPACT

205 to go meals

100 meals eaten in house

133 people enter the hall to shop for groceries.

150 visitors in total (approximately) 

Meals are served sit down and not a buffet out of respect for the client.   

These events are like the Thanksgiving Event with fewer visitors.  At Thanksgiving, 5x the meals are served. 

Ideal Rotary participation would be 3-6 people. 

A distinguished educational leader and author, Traci Buckner is executive director at Akron Children’s Museum, a vibrant, interactive space located in the heart of downtown Akron designed for children to learn through play.

Buckner joined Akron Children’s Museum after 18 years of service in the Akron Public School system and most recently as program officer at GAR Foundation, the largest private charitable foundation in Akron, Ohio where she worked to advance the foundation’s strategic funding priorities through grant-making and convening. She is the founding instructional leader of the National Inventors Hall of Fame School…Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning and most recently served as Director of Specialty Programs where she led the district’s efforts to expand STEM best practices throughout Akron Public schools and to develop and direct innovation efforts in the district’s non-traditional schools. She also authored the book STEM Leadership, a guide on creating a STEM culture in a school or district as well as a children’s book, We All Make Tracks. Previously, Buckner worked as a middle school
language arts classroom teacher, and served in several schools as dean of students, assistant principal, and principal. Prior to her educational career, she worked in corporate marketing and sales.

Buckner has gained broad recognition for educational leadership and civic engagement. She consults to help leaders think strategically and speaks locally and nationally on creativity and innovation in and has served as a guest panelist at several speaking engagements including the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, ATHENA Akron Leadership Forum, The Ashland University Leadership Academy Seminar, the Akron Roundtable, a guest podcaster on Apple
Growth Partners’ Slice broadcast, and the Proud Parent Series presented by the Children’s Museum of Evansville, Indiana. She is a past president of ATHENA Akron, Inc., a member of Leadership Akron, Kent Area (OH) Chapter of The Links Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and currently serves on the Summit County Children’s Services, ATHENA Akron, Greater Akron Chamber, and Archbishop Hoban High School boards. She was featured in
Akron Life magazine as one of the city’s 2015 change makers and was a recipient of the Women of STEM Rising Amongst the Stars award from the Ohio Black Women’s Leadership Caucus, the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award, and Athena Akron Women’s Leadership Award.

Buckner received a Master’s in education from John Carroll University and Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from The Ohio State University. She also earned an instructional leadership administrative certificate from Ashland University. She resides in Akron with her husband, Tobin and their two sons.

John F. Garofalo was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Akron Community Foundation in July 2025. In this role, he provides strategic leadership to a team of 22 staff members and works in close partnership with a 24-member board of directors to advance the foundation’s mission and deepen its impact across the Greater Akron region.

John previously served as the foundation’s Vice President of Community Investment for 14 years, where he directed the allocation of more than $125 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and community initiatives throughout Summit County and beyond. His leadership in grantmaking and philanthropic strategy helped strengthen the foundation’s role as a trusted resource and catalyst for community change.

John brings a distinguished career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, with past roles at University Hospitals, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, United Way of Greater Cleveland, United Way of Greater Stark County, and the American Red Cross. His extensive experience spans nonprofit management, fundraising and development, grantmaking, strategic planning, and organizational capacity building.

He has successfully led major fundraising campaigns, secured multi-million-dollar grants, and cultivated strong partnerships with donors, foundations, and community stakeholders. John is recognized for his deep expertise in organizational strategy, donor relations, program development, and innovative grantmaking approaches that drive sustainable impact.

John holds both a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education and a Master of Education in Community Health Management and Administration from Kent State University. He has maintained the prestigious Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential since 2004.

He currently serves on the boards of ArtsNow, Leadership Akron, Akron Roundtable, Downtown Akron Development Corporation, and the Social Services Advisory Board (appointed by the county).
John resides in Northwest Akron with his husband, Matt.

Kimberly oversees all aspects of the work of Downtown Akron Partnership. She works closely with downtown stakeholders, local government leaders, property owners, commercial and retail businesses and residents to advance the downtown neighborhood. Kimberly received her bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison and masters in public administration at the University of Akron. She is a Torchbearers Alum,  former Vice President of the Friends of Metro Parks board of directors and youth basketball coach.