Akron Rotarians will be assembling the bins on Thursday, May 7th at 4:30 pm at the Beck Center, 2114 Lindbergh Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls.Volunteers will spend an hour assembling the bins following a quick tour.
Read the article below from Sandy Naragon about this project -a grant from our Akron Rotary Foundation was presented to fund this project for the foster system.
Rebecca Cool serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Victim Assistance Program, leading a dedicated team of more than 30 staff and volunteers who provide 24/7/365 crisis intervention and advocacy services to nearly 5,000 victims of crime and trauma each year. Victim Assistance Program is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting individuals and families impacted by violence, crisis, and tragedy through immediate crisis response, comprehensive advocacy, and educational services to the professional community that encounters this population in their work.
Rebecca holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Akron, where she studied crisis intervention under the organization’s founder, the late Rev. Dr. Bob Denton. She is a licensed social worker and nationally credentialed advocate with extensive experience serving victims across Summit and Cuyahoga Counties.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has demonstrated leadership in building strategic partnerships, strengthening collaborative systems, and developing innovative programming to address the complex and evolving needs of victims and communities. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to trauma-informed care, organizational excellence, and advancing equitable access to services for those impacted by crisis and tragedy.
Over the years our Club has been honored to have several Paul Harris and Major Donors along with members and honorary members who achieved the highest level of recognition by becomingArch Klumph Society members.
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotary members and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. This support is essential to making Foundation grants possible, which bring sustainable improvement to communities in need.
Wanda originally joined the Club in 2016, but had to step back in 2024 due to the growth of her business. We are honored she has now returned to the Club as of March 3, 2026.
About Wanda: For the past 20 years, Wanda has had the incredible privilege of building a business that lights up kids' lives every day. As CEO and co-founder of World Elite Kids, the company has grown from a dream into a thriving organization serving up to 2,000 kids weekly with a team of 70 amazing people. She said, “running this business is my passion, combining my love of working with people, creating exceptional programs for young athletes, and the pure joy of entrepreneurship.”
Her commitment to community service runs deep and personal. She created and directed the Children's Cheer Classic for a decade, raising $150,000 and collecting 200,000 books for Reach Out and Read. She has served as Co-Chair of the Akron Rotary Chili Open for two years and was honored as Akron Rotary Camp Volunteer of the Year. She has woven philanthropy into everything she does—supporting over 20 charities and teaching our athletes that being a champion means being a servant and a giver.
Married for 43 years with two children, she spends free time reading, working out, watching Cleveland sports games, or cheering on her four grandchildren (and four grandpups!) in all their activities. She has been honored to serve on boards including Akron Rotary, USASF, and multiple Chambers of Commerce. She shared, “My mission: help others discover their potential and the value they bring to our world.”
Photo L-R: President Katy Miller, Wanda Whipkey, her sponsor Cheryl Warren, PDG
The purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s).
CONGRATULATIONS!
Fellow Akron Rotarian, David Miller, serves as Vice President of the Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation. He shared on Facebook “I’m incredibly proud of the work we continue to do to support local programs, students, and organizations that make Stow and Munroe Falls such a special place to live and grow. Even more proud that we received the Spirit of Service Award at tonight’s Elite Business Awards through the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce.” Also in the photo is Akron Rotarian Brian Kosarko and Rotary E-Club member Georgeann Jones.
We’re excited to invite you to the District 6630 Conference of Clubs & DLA. Registration is NOW OPEN! This year's updated schedule is designed to make the event more accessible and welcoming for everyone. We look forward to coming together for meaningful conversations, inspiring speakers, and time with fellow Rotarians.
The at-a-glance schedule is below for you but here’s what you can look forward to:
Friday:
Afternoon Start: We’ve condensed the schedule so those who work during the day can easily join us.
Business Meeting & Celebration of Life: Important updates and a moment of reflection.
Evening of Fellowship and Fun: A chance to reconnect and network while enjoying food and beverage stations, an inspiring speaker and then. . .
Rotary Jeopardy: Join your cluster in a fun, competitive game of Rotary Jeopardy! Big bragging rights are up for grabs.
Saturday:
Breakfast & District Learning Assembly (DLA): Learn and grow through valuable district-led sessions.
Youth Lunch: Our signature event, where you’ll experience the impact of Rotary through the eyes of our youth. This is a fun and well-attended event you won’t want to miss!
District Service Project: Participate in this exciting new hands on service project. In partnership with Pack Away Hunger we’ll pack at least 20,000 meals in ONE HOUR! These meals will be distributed to food banks and pantries within our district.
We’ll be sharing more updates leading up to the event, but we wanted to get this information to you early so you can register and mark your calendars.
