Game Changer & Blooming Impact Awards
Barberton Community Foundation’s Game Changer and Blooming Impact awards recognize people, businesses, and organizations whose contributions are helping strengthen Barberton.
GAME CHANGER AWARD
The Game Changer Award is one of the community’s most prestigious honors, recognizing individuals, businesses, and organizations whose leadership, service, and long-term commitment have made a lasting impact on the Barberton community.
The award celebrates those who lead with integrity, demonstrate excellence, and create meaningful change through service, mentorship, innovation, philanthropy, and community investment.
Nominees should demonstrate a strong connection to Barberton through their leadership, service, volunteerism, business, or community involvement. Nominations should include specific examples of the nominee’s:
- Leadership
- Impact
- Service
- Game-changing influence
BLOOMING IMPACT AWARD
Introduced in 2026, the Blooming Impact Award honors an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 whose contributions are already helping move Barberton forward.
The award recognizes emerging leaders who demonstrate:
- Initiative
- Resolve
- Momentum and influence
- Potential for lasting impact
The Blooming Impact Award reflects Barberton Community Foundation’s commitment to elevating people whose ideas, actions, and growing influence are helping shape the future of the community.
SELECTION AND RECOGNITION
The Community Engagement Committee may select up to three finalists in each of the following categories:
- Game Changer Award, Individual
- Game Changer Award, Company or Organization
- Blooming Impact Award
From among the finalists in each category, one award recipient will be selected. The remaining finalists will be recognized as honorees.
All award recipients and honorees will be recognized in event communications and during Barberton Community Foundation’s Annual Dinner.
Award recipients will receive additional recognition, including a featured video and proclamations honoring their contributions. Game Changer Award recipients will receive a custom Don Drumm plate, and the Blooming Impact Award recipient will receive a hand-blown glass mum created by Akron Glass Works.
NOMINATIONS
Nominations are accepted year-round. Nominations received by June 30 will be considered for that year’s awards, while those received after the deadline will be considered the following year.
View our Annual Dinner videos on our channel.
