Akron Reporter

County of Summit issued the following announcement on March 3

Summit County Clerk of Courts Sandra Kurt today announced the recipients of donations from her office’s annual Jeans Pass Program. Monetary donations from employees in the Clerk’s office will benefit three charitable organizations in Summit County: Harmony House, GASP (Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection), and Project GRAD Akron.

Clerk Kurt created the program her first year in office as an opportunity to streamline “Casual Friday” efforts while also highlighting local organizations helping neighbors in Summit County. Each employee may contribute to one, two, or three of the chosen charities to earn the privilege to wear jeans on Fridays throughout the year. Since 2016, employees of the Clerk’s Office have donated over $20,000 to local charitable organizations in Summit County via this program.  

Harmony House provides emergency housing for young people between the ages of 18‐26, including transitional housing in four locations throughout Akron. The organization also helps at‐risk youth through education and connections to other supportive services, empowering those from impoverished backgrounds to overcome obstacles and be successful.

GASP (Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection), founded in 2006 in response to an alarming increase in the number of child abductions, has established itself as an authority on child safety, using modern and effective programs to help prevent dangerous situations. These programs include the collection of identity information in schools and at community events that can be provided to authorities in the event of an emergency.

Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Akron seeks to improve academic success for urban students. For over nineteen years, they have achieved this via scholarships, cultural and social programs, and a sense of community support. During college, Project GRAD graduates also mentor high school students to help them succeed.

“So many local organizations effectively make a positive impact on the lives of Summit County residents,” Kurt said. “I’m proud of my staff for their generosity in enabling this important work through their contributions.”  

Original source can be found here.