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Akron Touchdown Club Foundation announces "its operations will cease" in 2022
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- Akron Touchdown Club Foundation announces "its operations will cease" in 2022
The Akron Touchdown Club Foundation has announced its operations will cease in 2022.
The Akron Touchdown Club Foundation issued the following press release with its decision:
"The Akron Touchdown Club Foundation is announcing its operations will cease during the 2022 calendar year. For the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have found it difficult to operate under these circumstances. Holding meetings, recruiting new members to our executive committee and raising funds to keep our organization afloat, has been difficult. Also there are new organizations in the Akron area that now carry out the commitment of honoring student-athletes in the Greater Akron Area.
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"The Akron Touchdown Club Foundation has a long and proud history of serving the Akron community. For the past 81 years, we have been committed to honoring and celebrating the student-athletes of Summit and Portage Counties. The annual winter and spring banquets were the highlights of our calendar year.
"At this time we would like to thank the following executive committee members who have generously given their time and efforts to support our goals. They include: Loralee Daily, Bill Huntington, April Huntington, Patrick Ritchie, Joe Vassalotti, Mary Howard, Jill Hanigofsky, Bernie Hovey, Tim Wagers, Dick Lang (deceased), Ken Minrovic, Rob Yanko, Rob Culbertson and Jim Sovacool (deceased).
"This coming spring we will still offer and award the ATDCF scholarships. If you are a senior athlete and wish to apply for these scholarships, please contact your guidance counselor(s) at your respective high school(s). They have the information necessary for applying for the scholarships."
Akron Touchdown Club Foundation background
The Akron Touchdown Club Foundation was established in 1941 and is the oldest sports organization in Summit County. The original goal of the Touchdown Club was to serve the University of Akron's football program as a booster club. It started as part of the University of Akron's "A" Association organization (Akron's lettermen's club) to raise money for recruiting and to aid football coach Otis Douglas.
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When World War II started, Douglas left UA for the Navy and a disagreement with President Hezzelton Simmons caused the Touchdown Club to separate from the "A" Association. It became its own organization on November 5, 1942.
The first President of the Touchdown Club was Edward Nahm. After the Club became an independent organization, new objectives were set which changed the purpose and focus of the Touchdown Club.
The new objectives included:
• Sponsoring, promoting, publicizing and supporting activities for the youth of Summit County.
• Recognizing superior achievements in athletics and social activities.
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• Providing a medium through which youth-minded individuals could invest part of their time, effort and resources.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Touchdown Club Foundation announces "its operations will cease"
