Our Tools for School student supply drive is in the books, and we are thrilled with the results!

We asked our staff to donate school supplies, helping local groups collect materials for children to use this school year. The supply drive directly benefited students through two organizations: United Way of Summit and Medina, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Philoptochos society.

Our amazing staff stepped up to the plate, and is shown with this outstanding final tally: 52 utility boxes, 1 container of Clorox wipes, 100 quart Ziplock bags, 50 gallon Ziplock bags, 110 folders, 2 notebooks, 12 binders, 750 sheets of notebook paper, 114 glue sticks, 150 washable markers, 144 highlighter pens, 72 dry erase markers, 14 erasers, 98 packs of 24 crayons, 875 pencils, 80 ballpoint pens,  44 rulers, and 48 pairs of women’s ankle socks.

See the video below to learn more about our Tools for School supply drive:

Cookies make the world a better place.

Elizabeth Bartz has once again supported the Girl Scouts in an extraordinary way. This year, she bought 1077 boxes of cookies from girl scouts in six states, helping 86 scouts in the process! “I love helping the Girl Scouts and I didn’t eat a single cookie!” said Bartz.

The giving didn’t stop there. On Saturday, May 7, 741 boxes of cookies were donated to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Good Samaritans, a group that provides a monthly food distribution to families in need. Another 200 boxes were given to the Philoptochos Backpacks program serving the students at Robinson Elementary School in Akron. One hundred boxes went to Annunciation’s coffee hour after church, and 36 boxes to the staff of Greenfield Estates memory facility.

We are calling this the Cookiepalooza 2022!

State and Federal Communications remains committed to strengthening our community through corporate philanthropy, community engagement, sustainability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We are happy to present our CSR Annual Report for 2021. In this report, you will find not only this company’s efforts from the previous year, but also a testament to its longevity.

“There is no quick path to a successful CSR program. It takes culture-building, determination, and accountability. It takes everybody on the team.” -Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO

To view the 2021 CSR annual report, please click here!

Thank you for your interest in our Corporate Social Responsibility Program.

Tell me about Torchbearers. What is the organization? Torchbearers is a volunteer-run organization founded in 2003 to strengthen the connection between Akron-area nonprofits and emerging leaders as well as to further efforts to attract and retain emerging leaders in Greater Akron. The organization is a bridge between established leadership of the community and leaders of the future. Torchbearers works with more than 150 local organizations, including the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, the Akron Snow Angels, Downtown Akron Partnership, and the International Institute of Akron.

Tell me a little bit about your membership and involvement. I was selected to join the Torchbearers Class of 2021 beginning January 1. In February, I joined the Leadership & Development Committee of Torchbearers facilitated by Executive Director Jeremy Lile of Heart to Heart Communications. The Leadership & Development Committee provides Torchbearers with a year-long curriculum devoted to personal and professional development, board leadership, and community exposure.

When does this group meet? The Leadership & Development Committee of Torchbearers meets virtually on the fourth Thursday of every month in the evenings. Additionally, our committee plans and executes bimonthly Leadership & Development sessions for first-year members on the topics of strengths and personal awareness, communications, collaboration, and leading change.

How do you see Torchbearers as a way to develop your leadership in the community? As a member of the Leadership & Development Committee, I am shaping my individual and collective leadership styles while increasing my engagement in the community. On June 2, I co-planned and hosted a Leadership & Development session on the theme of collaboration. I invited guest panelists from Community Legal Aid Services and the International Institute of Akron to share with first-year members the collaborative work being done to support immigrant and refugee communities in Akron.

What is your favorite part of being a member of Torchbearers? The social interaction at in-person events! Torchbearers hosted its first in-person member event on the evening of June 22 at the Akron Art Museum, and it was a great way to finally meet my fellow members I had been engaging with virtually.

Thank you very much, Joanna. I am inspired by your leadership in the community. All the best to you and your Torchbearers experience!

How long have you been associated with the Akron Rotary Camp? I have been associated with Rotary Camp for four years now. I started my first summer in 2017 and worked two summers and two off-seasons. This summer, I am trying to get out and help and see the staff and campers whenever I can.

Who are they and what do they do? Akron Rotary Camp offers a full summer camp experience to children and adults with special needs. They offer eight weeks of overnight and day camp for all ages and ability levels with trained staff to handle every situation. The mission statement of camp is to live in a world where there are only abilities.

Why is this important to you? Camp is a special place for me because stigma and ability level does not exist at Akron Rotary Camp. When you are at camp, you do not see limitations or barriers, but rather, children enjoying the pure joy of the summer camp experience. This is so important to me because I personally believe camp is a truly unique place where people can get out of their comfort zone, make friends, and learn things about themselves in different ways than they would in a typical day. Our campers are only seen as campers and that is a profound and powerful view of how I want to see the world around me.

How have you been volunteering with them? After I worked my summers at camp, I worked a lot of off-season weekend respites and still try to take a weekend here and there to get out there at least once or twice a year. In the past months, volunteering has been tougher, as activities were limited to staff and a short list of campers, but this summer I intend on going down on some weeknights when I am free and help in whatever capacity I can.

Am I remembering correctly that you did a Polar Bear Jump into freezing water? You are remembering correctly! I did a Polar Bear Jump to raise money to send kiddos to camp. The jump is an annual event but proceeds go to Rotary Camp every other year, so you can bet that if it is one of those years, I will be jumping in that frozen water.

How can people get involved with Akron Rotary Camp? People can get involved with camp in any capacity that they want. A good start is by following their social media accounts and seeing what events are coming up. They are always having fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, and community outreach to get involved with. Secondly, if you know any young adults who needs a seasonal job and could excel in a role at camp, please let them know about camp!

Thank you very much, Ben!

What made you decide to try mentoring in the iCARE Mentoring program?
It all started when Community Outreach at Kent State encouraged students to become a mentor for the iPromise program, to help high school students prepare for success in college and discover their interests. I volunteered because I thought it was an important role that would have a positive impact on Akron youth.

How would you describe your role as a mentor?
Since joining, iCARE mentoring has shifted its focus from primarily college readiness, and now puts more emphasis on helping students build constructive relationships with adults and providing overall support for students from the community. My role as a mentor varies over time, but so far has included serving as a motivator, a tutor, and a friend.

What is your favorite thing about this program?
My favorite thing about being a mentor is being able to host a safe space for the mentee to be open and talk about whatever is on their mind. Even though it’s only for an hour a week, I think it’s very beneficial for the student to have a mini escape from the day-to-day pressures of being in school and being surrounded by teachers and other students.

If someone is interested in trying mentoring next year, what one piece of advice would you give?
To anyone considering becoming a mentor, I would highly encourage it. Being a consistent listener in a student’s life can make all the difference, and it is an easy way to be a positive influence. My advice for new mentors would be to try and let the child lead the session so they can figure out what they want to get out of it, then you will be able to accommodate their needs in the best way possible.

Thank you so much, Zoe for sharing with us all you do for iCARE Mentoring!

Hi Adrienne! Tell me about CASA. Why is this work important to you? CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are community volunteers who speak out and stand up for abused and neglected children within the court system. Quite simply, these children did not ask for the circumstances for which they were forced to deal with and CASA provides a neutral third party who will advocate for their best interests. As a board member, I help raise funds to support these volunteers, like gift cards so they can take a kid to get a meal. We fundraise to provide aid to the children, whether that be school supplies or Christmas gifts. Additionally, we raise funds to support CASA trainings to ensure our volunteers are well trained and supported.

This work is important to me because there is not a more vulnerable group than children. These kids don’t have security and often the people that are supposed to protect have failed them in the worst ways. A CASA can provide the support, security, and hope a child so desperately needs. I don’t think it matters what your creed or your politics are… everyone can agree this program is vital to help our community’s most defenseless population. To me, supporting CASA is a must, whether I am on the board or not.

How long have you been on the CASA Board? I have been on the board since Summer 2020.

A lot has happened in the last year. What was it like to be on a board during the pandemic? This is first time being on a board, so in some ways I have no idea how different it is than normal. It has been a struggle to plan fundraisers, but the community has shown up. I think the pandemic has forced us all to find new and creative ways to entice support from the community. Also, I think we should always have virtual options when it comes to fundraisers. It is a new world we are still navigating, but we are all going through it.

How do you see the CASA Board helping you to develop your leadership in the community? I have never wanted to be on any board. I like to show up and help out, but being on a board was not in my plans. However, Mr. Michael Beckett, Associate Director, Research Services and former CASA Board President, approached me about being on the board when he left because he knows how much I support CASA’s mission. This is definitely outside of my comfort zone. I know people think I am outgoing, but asking people for money has never been one of my strengths. So, being on the board has forced me to develop my community leadership skills. Growth can be uncomfortable, but there is not another organization that I would do this for. I am thankful to work for a company with a CEO who supports this type of work and allows me to develop skills I never thought I would need to use.

What is your favorite part of working with CASA? My favorite part is knowing I am doing something worthwhile. I am extremely passionate about what CASA does and think it is a vital service to help strengthen our community. No child should feel unsafe and every child should have someone looking out for their best interests.

If anyone has questions about CASA or how you can support this necessary organization, please feel free to reach out to me. I am always happy to discuss CASA!

Erin Victor from the Akron Snow Angels told us “there are children walking to school without socks. There are homeless people who brave the winter without the proper outerwear.”

As a response, State and Federal Communications held its Be and Angel for the Holidays drive from early December until January 15. We collected hats, gloves, scarves, and socks of all colors and sizes.

Enjoy this fun video about our 2020-21 holiday service project!

This would have been our 11th Donut and Cider Sale where we have raised money for the United Way and have fun with the community. With the pandemic the sale was impossible, but we still love donuts! For all the wonderful staff and National Guard at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, State and Federal Communications brought the great donut drop for a morning treat on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, decided 2020 was the year she would buy Girl Scout Cookies from anyone who asked. Yes, anyone who asked!

The result was Bartz bought 400 boxes of assorted Girl Scout Cookies. She bought from scouts in Ohio, Virginia, and Arizona. “I bought way too many cookies!” said Bartz.

So, what do you do with 400 boxes of cookies? Always thinking about corporate social responsibility, Bartz decided to give them to an organization. She posted on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn that she was giving away cookies to a worthy group.

Kara O’Neill (wife to WKDD’s Keith Kennedy) contacted Jaclyn Flossie from Red Oak Behavioral Health in Akron and said this was a perfect fit for them. The Red Oak team was the first to respond. They are a non-profit mental health agency serving the greater Akron community since 1963. They provide professional therapeutic and community support services for children, youth, families, and older adults.

Elizabeth Bartz and staff from State and Federal Communications had fun delivering them today. Bon appétit, everyone!

State & Federal Communications was a proud platinum sponsor of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign Kick-off Breakfast at the John S. Knight Center on February 26.

Harvest for Hunger, the Foodbank’s largest fundraising campaign, helps support food distribution across 21 counties in Northeast Ohio.

President & CEO Dan Flowers of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank said the organization’s 2019 goal is to provide more than 5.3 million meals to neighbors in need.

The CASA Board Volunteer Association of Summit County held its annual fundraiser, “I Am for the Child” breakfast on October 25, 2018. The CASA/GAL (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem) Program of Summit County is a trained community of volunteers appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of an abused or neglected child in court. State and Federal Communications was proud to be one of the sponsors.

State and Federal Communications’ very own Research Manager Michael Beckett has been serving as chairman of the CASA Board. Beckett led the breakfast event with the compelling story of the many children in Summit County who need the services of CASA. This year’s focus was on the shocking problem of human trafficking in our own community.

“We had a great morning celebrating Signet’s David Bouffard as the 2018 Kannel Child Advocate of the Year and learning about how we can help victims of human trafficking here in Summit County. The immediate goal of the CASA/GAL Program is to provide each child victim of abuse and neglect with a trained CASA volunteer,” said Beckett.  “Thank you to Elizabeth Bartz and State and Federal Communications for facilitating and supporting my involvement with the CASA Board.”

Thank you, Michael Beckett and all of the CASA volunteers for the terrific work you are doing for the children of Summit County!

Pictured: State and Federal Research Manager Michael Beckett and President and CEO Elizabeth Z. Bartz

One of the great things about my job as Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility is I get the chance to be out in the community right where the action is. Yesterday I was a social justice facilitator at a historic community conversation called “It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race.” The event was conceived and hosted by the Akron Urban League, Temple Israel of Akron, and the YWCA Greater Cleveland.

State and Federal Communications President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz and five of the company’s staff participated.

Three hundred and fifty people gathered at Akron’s Quaker Station to begin a dialog about racism, discrimination, and unconscious bias. I found the experience to be life-giving and life-changing.

We were provided five months of training under the leadership of Urban League President and CEO Dr. Sadie Winlock, Rabbi Joshua Brown, and Laurie Zuckerman of Zuckerman Consulting. Keynote speaker Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton set the tone and then the discussion at each table began.

There were feelings of pain, candor, hope and responsibility in the room: “We sit on the shoulders of leaders in our region who have had conversations, shared personal stories and continue to try and understand people and cultures different from their own. Today is one of several luncheons taking place across the country to discover and recover from core hurts and move our society into a cohesive and collaborative space.”

What did this event do for me? I have a new resolve to get out of my comfort zone, to do a whole lot more listening, and to make some intentional friendships with people who are different from me. I am so glad I had the chance to be a small part of it. Thank you, State and Federal Communications for making this possible!

Here is a great article on WKSU describing the event.

We’ve been Stock(ing) the Sleigh with socks for the homeless of Akron. A change of socks is one of the easiest and most profound ways to offer comfort to someone who lives outside and deals with cold, wet feet.

I am thrilled to report we have collected about 300 pairs of socks for the Haven of Rest, which serves hundreds of homeless people in the Akron area.

Thank you to the staff for their generous giving this holiday season!