AKRON, Ohio — Sept. 5, 2024 — Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties was very pleased to announce its 2024 “Making a Difference” award recipients at the September 4th, Employee of Distinction Luncheon held at Guy’s Party Center.
The “Making a Difference” award was created in honor of a longtime Goodwill Director and Honorary Director, Mary Beth Kluge, who served the agency as a volunteer leader for over two decades. She was posthumously recognized as the award’s inaugural recipient in 2022. The award may be given annually to a Goodwill team member, director, key agency volunteer or community leader who has contributed significant time, talent and or treasure to support Goodwill’s mission.
Goodwill’s 2024 employee “Making a Difference” honoree is On Call Director, Financial Reporting & Accounting, Debi Furgerson. Debi Furgerson has been part of Goodwill Industri
es of Akron for more than 23 years, contributing her wealth of experience from various industries. She began her journey at Goodwill as an accountant for a mission services program and quickly increased her responsibilities as she moved through multiple roles. Debi rose to become Goodwill’s Director of Financial Reporting & Accounting. Since her “retirement” in 2022, Debi has trained three successors and continues to remain on-call for the agency. She has gone above and beyond to “Make A Difference” at Goodwill.
The 2024 community service “Making a Difference” honoree is Health Commissioner of the Summit County Public Health Department, Donna Skoda. For at least 15 years, Goodwill has known Donna as an invaluable resource and thought leader. Donna has graciously facilitated Goodwill’s involvement with the Social Services Advisory Board’s Income, Education and Workforce Development Committee, consistently demonstrating her commitment to positive change. During the pandemic, Donna’s Summit County Public Health team’s guidance was often the first that Goodwill received. Donna’s community leadership and steadfast support for Goodwill’s mission truly “Make A Difference” at our agency and in our community.
In addition to receiving the “Making a Difference” award, Donna Skoda delivered an inspiring keynote on achieving success as a workplace team member or in life. She closed her address with these powerful words: “Serve the least, the lost and the last.”
Event Sponsors
Thank you to the event sponsors – Diamond: Akron Children’s Hospital; Clarity HR; Platinum: Fifth Third Bank; Synthomer Foundation; Gold: Presper Financial Architects; Silver: Acrisure; Eric & Nan McClenaghan; PNC Financial Services Group; W3 Financial Group; Bronze: Bober Markey Fedorovich; Brennan Manna & Diamond; Marc Servodio, CFP®, AIF® – Vita Advisors, LLC; Copper: S.A. Comunale; Table Sponsor: Summit County Citizen Circle; Towpath Credit Union; Diamond Patron: David & Kathleen Bucci; Dr. Pleas R. Chambers III; Chuck & Debbie Ducey; Bill & Mary Glaeser; William & Susan Hanlon; Danielle Kimmell; Charles & Leslie Zonfa; Gold Patron: Laura Judge; Mary Anne & C. Allen Nichols; Patron: Chip Clupper & Zebulon Keller; Gold Program Partner: The Blick Center; Community Support Services; Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park; St. Vincent De Paul Parish; Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services; Silver Program Partner: Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority; Child Guidance & Family Solutions; Hattie Larlham; IBH Addiction Recovery; Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; Project GRAD Akron, Summit County Children Services; In-Kind: Akron Civic Theatre; Akron Zoo; AUI; Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates; Media: akronlife; WAKR/WONE/WQMX/WNWV.
About Goodwill Industries Serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland Counties
The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation that helps individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. Operating in the five-county region of Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland, the agency was established in 1927. It is a private, independent organization, operating as an affiliate member of Goodwill Industries International. Goodwill helps to directly strengthen the region’s workforce through its employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail outlets and business services division. For more information about GIA, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.
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Contact: Leah Davis
(330) 786-2519
ldavis@goodwillakron.org