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Annual Red Kettle Kick-Off &
Community Medal Award Luncheon

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Thursday, November 5, 2026
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

St. George Fellowship Hall
3204 Ridgewood Rd, Fairlawn OH

Join us for the 22nd Annual Red Kettle Kickoff and Community Medal Award Luncheon!

Purchase Tickets

 

About the Event

The Salvation Army’s Community Medal Award seeks to honor individuals who have made a significant impact in our Greater Akron community through professional and/or volunteer work. Our 2026 Community Medal Awardee is The Junior League of Akron . The event also serves as our annual Red Kettle Campaign Kick-Off. The Salvation Army's Red Kettle drive is the highly recognized Christmas fundraiser staffed by volunteers who ring bells outside businesses and play or sing Christmas carols, to inspire passersby to place donations of cash and checks inside the trademark red kettles.

 

Community Medalist 2026: The Junior League of Akron 

For one hundred years, the Junior League of Akron has been a pillar of community involvement. Beginning in 1923 as the Junior Charity League, they eventually joined the Association of Junior Leagues International in 1926. The JLA has launched programs that have strengthened the community, like Mary Day Nursery, which laid the foundation for Akron Children’s Hospital. The JLA is committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLA’s Centennial year project is devoted to addressing Period Poverty, the lack of access to menstrual products, which affects 16.9 million women nationally. Through the hard work and dedication of its members, the League has built a legacy of service that has inspired generations to lead with purpose and compassion.

 

Thank you Sponsors!

Visionary Sponsors

 

 

$5,000 Gold Sponsor

 

 

 

 

$3,000 Silver Sponsor

 

 

$1,000 Bronze Sponsor

 

 

 

 

For more information, contact
Elizabeth Kargbo, Director of Development
(330) 434-7110 | Elizabeth.Kargbo@use.salvationarmy.org