Torchbearers Board members at their Community Leaders Reception at the Akron Civic Theater. 

Knight Foundation recently awarded $50,000 to Torchbearers, an organization dedicated to attracting and retaining young professionals in Akron.

The funding supports a new program called “Be The Change” in which members identify their passion and create a plan for initiating community change while building strong relationships with community leaders.

Knight’s focus is to promote an informed and engaged Akron by developing and engaging the next generation of talent. This program is a chance for emerging leaders to identify opportunity and environments for change, embrace risk and receive guidance from local seasoned mentors.

The Akron Beach Journal profiled the launch of Torchbearers noting: “the funds [will] allow the group of about 95 members to build a curriculum with professional facilitation to empower participants to spark positive change for Akron.”

Torchbearers was founded in 2003 by Akron residents Scott Read and Jefferson Satterfield, as a way to strengthen the connection between Akron-area non-profits and young people. It serves to connect senior established leadership to the community leaders of the future.

By Jennifer Thomas, program director/Akron at Knight Foundation