Game Changer Award
The Game Changer Award is one of Barberton Community Foundation’s highest community honors, recognizing individuals, businesses, and organizations whose exceptional leadership, service, and long-term commitment have created meaningful, lasting change in Barberton.
Game Changers go beyond what is expected. They invest their time, talent, resources, and influence to strengthen the community, create opportunities for others, and help move Barberton forward.
Nominees should demonstrate a strong connection to Barberton through their leadership, service, volunteerism, business, philanthropy, 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 recognizes an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 whose contributions are already making a meaningful difference in Barberton.
The award celebrates emerging community leaders who demonstrate:
- Initiative
- Resolve
- Momentum and influence
- Potential for lasting impact
The Blooming Impact Award reflects Barberton Community Foundation’s commitment to recognizing people whose ideas, actions, and growing influence are helping shape the future of the community.
HONOREES
Barberton is home to many remarkable leaders, businesses, and organizations whose contributions deserve recognition.
Honorees represent some of the strongest nominations received each year and are recognized for the leadership, service, initiative, and impact they bring to the Barberton community.
Honorees are celebrated alongside Award Recipients through Foundation communications and during Barberton Community Foundation’s Annual Dinner.
SELECTION AND RECOGNITION
Each year, Barberton Community Foundation’s Community Engagement Committee reviews nominations in three categories:
- Game Changer Award | Individual
- Game Changer Award | Company or Organization
- Blooming Impact Award
If three finalists rise to the top in a category, the Community Engagement Committee may recognize all three. From those finalists, one Award Recipient is selected, with the remaining finalists recognized as Honorees.
Award Recipients receive additional recognition, including a featured video and official proclamations and commendations honoring their contributions. Game Changer Award Recipients receive a custom Don Drumm plate, and the Blooming Impact Award Recipient receives a hand-blown glass mum created by Akron Glass Works.
NOMINATIONS
Know someone whose leadership, service, or initiative is making a difference in Barberton?
Nominations for the Game Changer and Blooming Impact Awards are accepted year-round. Nominations received by June 30 will be considered for that year’s awards. Nominations received after June 30 will be considered the following year.
Nominators are encouraged to provide specific examples that demonstrate the nominee’s impact and to include letters of recommendation from others who can speak to the nominee’s leadership, service, character, or contributions to the community.
You may also encourage others to submit their own nominations. Multiple nominations from people who have experienced a nominee’s impact firsthand can help the Community Engagement Committee better understand the breadth and significance of their contributions.
