Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc.
570 E.WaterlooRoad • Akron,OH44319 • www.goodwillakron.org
Phone: (330) 724-6995 • (800) 989-8428 • Fax: (330) 786-2504
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Brenda Baum, Communications Manager
Office Direct: (330) 786-2519
bbaum@goodwillakron.org
RECORD ATTENDANCE AT SEVENTH ANNUAL TASTE OF VINTAGE EVENT
500 ATTENDED AKRON GOODWILL’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISER
AKRON, Ohio— November 20, 2012— Barry Thoman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Akron kicked off the agency’s signature fundraiser by welcoming a record number of attendees. Food, fun and fashion was the order of the evening at Goodwill Industries’ seventh annual Taste of Vintage benefit held Thursday, November 15 at Quaker Station in downtown Akron. For 2012, the agency added a Patron Reception prior to the event. Patron sponsors included Gold Patron Table Ernst & Young; Patron Table First Energy Corp., Nan & Eric McClenaghan; Patrons Betty Dalton, Edward and Sandra Delaria, Bill Glaeser, Susan & Bill Hanlon, Steve & Cherie Shechter, George & Beth Sherwood, Joan Andreoli and Karen Lefton.
Honorary Event Chairs Mark and Sue Whitlam added to the evening’s magnificence by honoring Don and Cindy Misheff. All were asked to ‘raise their glass in a toast’ to the Misheffs for their dedicated service in the areas of philanthropy, volunteer leadership and fundraising for many charities and other community organizations. Don recently retired as Managing Partner of Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young and Cindy is a retired teacher. Both graduated from the University of Akron. The Misheffs plan to winter in Arizona and oversee the SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills. They plan to remain active residents of Northeast Ohio and continue their service on various nonprofit and corporate boards.
While party goers were enjoying food samplings from 13 area restaurants and specialty businesses, they had an opportunity to bid on over 100 packages as part of the event’s silent auction. Masters of Ceremony Sue Wilson and Tim Daugherty, morning show hosts of WQMX 94.9 and WONE 97.5 respectively helped encourage spirited bidding by describing many of the items available for purchase and how the proceeds from those purchases helped support Goodwill’s mission of helping individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. Auctioneer Bob Hale of Benefit Auction Services kept the bidding excitement going during the live auction and was especially energized during the hand up portion of the auction raising more than $4,500 in support of the agency’s radio reading services ~ WEYE Seeing Eye Radio.
Rounding out the evening was ~ a Red Hot Vintage ~ fashion show spanning the decades. The show, emceed by Sue and Tim, featured 43 models wearing garments from Goodwill’s Vintage Clothing Collection. From the roaring 20’s, the groovy 60’s, through the disco era and everything in between, models donned the stage to the overwhelming enjoyment of the crowd. Event volunteers and even several of the party-goers joined in the theme by also wearing vintage clothing!
Participating restaurants and caterers supporting the event included Cabot Creamery, Great Harvest Bread Company, Little City Caterers, Pearl Coffee Company, Robert J. – Events & Catering, Rock Fresh, Saffron Patch of Akron, Schumacher’s Restaurant in Quaker Station at The University of Akron, Sushi On The Roll, The Bakery at Hattie’s Café, The West Side Bakery, Tito’s Mexican Grill, and the West Point Market.
Event sponsors included Ernst & Young, FirstMerit Bank, OMNOVA Solutions, Inc. and W3 Wealth Management, BCG & Company, Bober Markey Fedorovich, Fifth Third Bank, J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing Co., Meaden & Moore, Roetzel & Andress, SS&G, Welty Building Company, Ltd., and White Hat Management; Media sponsors Akron Beacon Journal and Rubber City Radio Group, In-Kind sponsors Brent V Photography, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Mayatux, Shulan’s Jewelers, The Green Room Spa, and T-Mobile.
About Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Industries of Akron 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, and Richland, the Akron-based agency was established in 1927. It is a private, independent organization, operating as an affiliate member of Goodwill Industries International, and a United Way agency in Summit and Medina Counties. Goodwill helps to directly strengthen the region’s workforce through its employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail outlets and contract services division. For more information about Goodwill, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428. ###