An inclusive, action oriented service organization, Akron Rotary improves our community and the world while having fun and building friendships.
Our Vision:
Together, we aspire to make a lasting, positive impact in the lives of those in our Akron community and beyond.
Reminder: A special evening celebration for our scholarship recipients replaces our regular Tuesday lunch meeting on April 28th. Details are below with the location and time.
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.
Nathanael is a Funeral Director and also serves as the Executive Vice President & Treasurer of The Billow Co. Prior to working in the funeral profession, Nathanael worked for Ford Motor Company as a Senior Financial Analyst at Ford's Global Product Development Center in Dearborn, MI. He, along with his sister Stacy, are sixth-generation members of the family to serve at Billow's and Bissler's. Growing up in the family business helped shape his personal belief that working as a funeral director is not only a career but a life-dedicating vocation.
In 2018, Nathanael successfully led the merger of his family's 148 year-old business, The Billow Co. of Akron, with Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory. With the retirement of Mr. Rick Bissler, the move ensured that the community of Kent would continue to receive local family-owned care when faced with the loss of a loved one.
He is a graduate of Tallmadge High School, Grove City College (B.S. Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude, '11) and the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University (Master of Business Administration, '13). Nathanael is a parishioner at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Kent and his Catholic faith taught him to embrace the philosophy of service above self. He generously gives of his time, talent, and treasure in service to Akron and since returning home in 2017, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for many notable organizations, including the Akron Better Business Bureau, where he serves as Treasurer, the Rotary Club of Akron, where he serves as Vice-President and Chair of the Rotary International Foundation, Bluecoats Inc., of Summit County, where he serves as Treasurer, the Akron Roundtable, where he serves as Chair of the Development Committee, and the Pediatric Palliative Care Center at Akron Children's Hospital, where he holds the office of Vice-Chair and Treasurer. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. In 2019, he was recognized by the Greater Akron Chamber and awarded their prestigious 30 For The Future Award, given to individuals who are trendsetters in their industry and who make an impact on the region through dynamic leadership and community service.
About the speaker: Ellen McWilliams-Woods specializes in bringing diverse groups together to shine a light on solutions to complex community problems.She is currently working with the Youth Success Summit and Summit Education Initiative in Greater Akron, Ohio to galvanize the entire community to provide equitable and innovative skill-rich opportunities for youth.
Her 40 years in the youth development sector and as an educator, including 13 years as chief academic officer/assistant superintendent in the Akron Public Schools, were deeply rooted in finding the synergy between people or organizations that result in breakthrough experiences for children and youth.She worked with 70+ out-of-school time providers and civic leaders to launch the Youth Success Summit - an intermediary expanding afterschool and summer opportunities for youth in Greater Akron.She successfully collaborated with faculty, universities and local businesses to have the Akron Public Schools named as the first Ford Next Generation Learning community in Ohio where the district’s nine high schools were transformed into the College and Career Academies of Akron.The success of the district’s and cities’ support of the K-12 College and Career Academies culminated in Ford Next Generation Learning announcing the district as a demonstration and training site for districts across the country in 2022.
A recipient of the Life Changer of the Year Capstone Award from the National Life Group and the Woman of the Year Award from the Summit County Historical Society,Dr. McWilliams-Woods continues her commitment to leadership within the community.She serves on the Early Childhood Resource Center board and United Way of Summit & Medina’s Community Impact Task Force and is an active and proud member of Leadership Akron, Class XXVI.She previously served on the board of ConxusNEO, Project GRAD Akron, Junior Achievement, and Cleveland State University’s Center for Educational Leadership.
We were honored to have Wisdom Addo present at our Club on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Wisdom Addo is Executive Director West Africa Centre for Peace Foundation, Africa PeaceJam Director, and a Rotary World Peace Fellow.
The West Africa Centre for Peace Foundation (WACPF) is dedicated to building sustainable peace across Ghana by empowering young people with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to become peace ambassadors in their communities. Founded in Ghana, 2008, WACPF works directly with schools, educators, youth groups, and community organizations to deliver transformative peace education rooted in the PeaceJam Nobel Laureate curriculum. WACPF is an official affiliate of the global PeaceJam Foundation, bringing Nobel Peace Laureate wisdom directly to Ghanaian youth.
There are Three Pillars of WACPF Peace Education:
Education - Delivering structured peace literacy through the PeaceJam curriculum — equipping youth with knowledge about conflict resolution, human rights, and global citizenship.
Inspiration - Connecting youth with the inspiring stories of Nobel Peace Laureates, igniting a passion for positive change within their schools and communities.
Action - Transforming learning into tangible impact —youth design and implement Global Issues Projects that address real challenges in their communities.
Kindly note that all donations go directly to PeaceJam 501(c)(3) and are therefore tax-deductible. Additionally, there is an opportunity for donors to have spaces within the building named in their honor, with recognition on the Wall of Honor at the Peace Centre.
How to reach Wisdom Addo Executive Director West Africa Centre for Peace Foundation, Africa PeaceJam Director, Rotary World Peace Fellow
Your continued membership is essential to the success of our Club, and we greatly appreciate your support!
Please watch your email for your new 2026-2027 Club membership invoice. They were emailed electronically April 15th from our club administrator, Cheryl Warren.
We send them now to give you time to pay or advise us if something may be changing regarding your membership in the Club.
Dues must be paid prior to the start of the new Rotary year as we are billed by Rotary International and our District accordingly.
You can also log into the website member area to view and pay your invoice.
If you need another invoice or help processing your credit card, please contact Cheryl Warren at 330-495-9814, and she will be happy assist you.
Thank you for being an important part of our club and our community!
We appreciate you and look forward to continuing to serve alongside you in Rotary.
For over 100 years, Rotary Camp has served children with special needs throughout Northeast Ohio. Thanks to the generous support of so many in our community, we have made tremendous strides to fulfill our mission of “Creating a world where there are only abilities!” We need your support as we continue this voyage of making a difference in the lives of special needs children and their families.
Mark your calendar for September 26,2026, and join us for our Akron Rotary Camp Regatta, held at our facility in the scenic Portage Lakes. Come enjoy an evening filled with cocktails, entertainment, delicious food, and fireworks as we celebrate embracing the future together.
A formal invitation will follow. Please visit rotarycampregatta.com for additional information, or contact Amanda Warner at 330.644.4512, ext. 3205 or email amandaw@akronymca.org.
Catering by Beau’s Grille and the Doubletree by Hilton Akron/Fairlawn.
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 on the District website 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.
We were pleased to hear a presentation from one of our former Akron Rotary members, Christopher J. Richardson, M.Ed., LPC, LICDC-CS.
Christopher is the Executive Director of Summit County Continuum of Care designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. .
About The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program:
The Summit County Continuum of Care (CoC) is the convener and problem solver leading a countywide commitment to end homelessness. We bring together nonprofit providers, local and state partners, and community stakeholders to align funding, coordinate services, and drive solutions that quickly rehouse individuals and families while minimizing harm and disruption.
Guided by a faith-driven purpose, we believe every person has inherent worth and deserves a place to call home. This belief fuels our work to serve all communities with compassion, dignity, and accountability.
Through strategic collaboration, we work to promote access to and effective use of mainstream resources, strengthen systems of care, and support individuals and households in achieving lasting self-sufficiency.
We work with all communities to serve all ensuring that no one is left behind and that every person has access to the support they need to move from crisis to stability.
Together, we are building a coordinated, equitable system that prevents homelessness, responds swiftly when it occurs, and moves people into safe, stable housing.
We believe homelessness can be ended and we are working every day to make that a reality in Summit County.
