2025 Rise & Shine with Kiwanis for Kids
Presented by W3 Financial Group | September 18, 2025Rise & Shine with Kiwanis for Kids—Building Leaders, One Child at a Time. Designed to support the Kiwanis mission of improving the world one child and one community at a time, our event will recognize distinguished Akron school educators, celebrate outstanding student and community supporters, and promote impactful youth service leadership clubs throughout Akron-area schools.
Join us in recognizing our Award Recipients
Our awards are given to individuals and groups within the Akron community that have had a positive impact on area youth. Our award recipients this year are:
- Sheri Bevan Walsh, Former Summit County Prosecutor, for her decades of dedicated service and innovative programs that have improved safety and support for vulnerable children and individuals in Summit County, (Kiwanis Community Advocate Award)
- Chad Nash, Middle School Teacher, Tallmadge City School District, for his outstanding leadership of the Tallmadge Builders Club for Middle School Youth—a service leadership program designed to prepare students for success. (David James Excellent Educator Award)
- Troy Weiss, Junior, Firestone High School, for standing out as an exceptional young leader, scholar, and community advocate who actively uplifts those around him. (Student Future Leader Award)
Over $12,000 in grants will be awarded.
This years grant recipients are: Steve Wise Boys and Girls Club, Akron Area YMCA, Embracing Futures, and Tallmadge Challenge League. Buy a ticket and plan to attend in support of your organization and find out how YOU could be a recipient next year.
Event Location: The Hall at Akron Urban League
440 Vernon Odom Blvd, Akron, Ohio 44307
The 4th annual Rise & Shine with Kiwanis for Kids breakfast fundraiser will be held at The Akron Urban League. The Akron Urban League is committed to empowering communities and changing lives through advocacy, education, and economic development. It works tirelessly to create opportunities and remove barriers, ensuring everyone has the chance to succeed.
Breakfast provided by Kitchen 212
Menu coming soon. Check them out at online
Why should you support Rise & Shine with Kiwanis for Kids?
Proceeds will be used to maintain and grow young leadership in Greater Akron
Enhanced service leadership guidance and programming will be made available to Greater Akron middle school children
High school students can take advantage of continued service leadership programs
Our primary goal is to grow and maintain service leadership programs (Builders Clubs) for each public and private middle school in the Greater Akron area. A Builders Club—the largest service organization for middle school students ages 11 to 15—is designed to provide members with opportunities to perform service, build character, and develop leadership. The club is student led, operates under school regulations, and draws its members from the student body. When started at a young age, the service club experience prepares its members to become the most engaged members of their communities—now and in the future.
We know the transition from grade school to middle school can be tough for any adolescent boy or girl. Common challenges children face include dealing with social pressures, making new friends, communicating with teachers, confronting bullies, becoming a positive contributor, bouncing back from failure and disappointments, and learning about the world. With your help, our middle school-aged children will have access to programming and resources that will help them transition into confident young adults.