Dear Bath Community Fund Friends and Supporters,

Earlier this month, we awarded 19 grants totaling $40,000 to nonprofit organizations serving Bath Township. What a blessing it is to provide these funds to groups that make our Bath community so special!

Several grants awarded in 2025 will support recreational programming in the community, including a $7,000 grant to the Bath Park Board to install a new climbing dome at the recently renovated Bath Community Park.

In addition, Crown Point Ecology Center will receive a $3,000 grant to create a free healing garden and heritage trail that will provide Bath residents with a space to practice wellness, reflection and community connection.

Bath Community Fund will accept applications for America-250 Impact Grants to help local organizations celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026.

Applications will be accepted Jan. 1-31 for projects that commemorate the founding of the United States, while acknowledging the impact of Bath Township residents, past and present, on the community’s history, environmental preservation, and arts and culture – core areas of interest for Bath Community Fund. Up to $10,000 in grants will be available. Applicants can be local government entities, nonprofit organizations, or community organizations using a fiscal sponsor within Bath Township. 

A link to the application will be available at akroncf.org/applyBCF.

As the holidays approach, a gift to Bath Community Fund is the perfect way to honor a friend, family member or colleague while making a lasting difference in the community. Each person you honor will receive a card informing them of your gift.

Reflecting on Our 10th Anniversary Celebration

Bath Community Fund donors, volunteers and grantees gathered on Aug. 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn to celebrate the conclusion of their successful endowment campaign. Advisory Board Chair Rev. Mark Frey announced that the fund raised $540,688 in gifts and pledges and received donations from 61 new donors during its "For Bath, Forever" 10th Anniversary Campaign.

The evening was the culmination of a nearly two-year campaign, providing guests with an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of the fund's contributions to Bath Township. Guests were greeted by Willie Nelson, Victory Gallop's therapeutic pony, before visiting exhibits from seven of the fund's 35 grant recipients and dining to the music of the Bourbon Sour Quartet.

During the program, a video highlighted Bath Community Fund's support of local nonprofits such as the Bath Township Police Department, Crown Point Ecology Center, Victory Gallop, the Heart of Revere, the University of Akron Field Station, and Western Reserve Playhouse. Frey honored outgoing advisory board member Jim Bernard for his 10 years of volunteer service to the fund. Additionally, founding donor and 10th Anniversary Campaign Co-Chair Jody Konstand received a standing ovation and award for her continued commitment to the fund.

Major sponsors of the event included True Wealth Design, the Read Family, Dr. Ernie & Bonnie Estep, Jim & Diana McCool, Brian & Torina White, Jim & Cheryl Nilsen, and Zumpano Design & Construction.

Please join us in welcoming Scott Siddall back to Bath Community Fund's advisory board. When asked why he supports the fund, Scott said: "After careers in oceanography and the tech sector, I was incredibly fortunate to come back to my family home in Bath where three generations of my family have lived. Bath is much more than a place; it’s the people, the neighborhoods, the community, the schools and parks, security and safety services, and the rich context of northeastern Ohio. For me and my late wife, Kathy, Bath was where we belonged, and so it has been an honor to support Bath Community Fund."

By Wendy Turrell, Bath Country Journal

The Bath Pony Club closed out a successful fall season, and its leadership is galloping into 2026 with new plans and goals. 

The Bath Pony Club is a member of the national U.S. Pony Club and its local tri-state region. American pony clubs grew out of the British tradition of pony clubs, which were formed to perpetuate the tradition of hunt clubs, i.e., fox hunting on horseback with hounds.

Becky Hogue is the current Bath Pony Club District Commissioner and the head of its governing board. Hogue expressed gratitude for a 2024 grant from the Bath Community Fund, which allowed the club to start the Hound House project.

Make a Legacy Gift Through Your Will or Trust

You can support Bath Community Fund forever by establishing a charitable fund in your name at Akron Community Foundation through your will or trust. After your lifetime, the fund will continue to support all your favorite causes, including Bath Community Fund, in perpetuity. It's a simple and tax-friendly way to leave a lasting legacy. Learn more at akroncf.org/bequests.

Thank You to Our Donors

We're grateful to the donors whose gifts make Bath Community Fund possible. Your generosity is strengthening our community for current and future generations. See a full list of donors at akroncf.org/BCFdonors.

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Have you connected with Bath Community Fund on Facebook? By following our page, you'll be the first to get exciting information about our grants, events and other community news, including videos featuring our donors and grant recipients.

BathCommunityFund.org