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Akron, OH (October 6, 2022) – Leadership Akron presented the 2022 Read Family Difference Maker Award to Ken Babby and the Akron RubberDucks at a ceremony on September 28, 2022. Each year, the award recognizes an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have been instrumental in expanding the scope or impact of Leadership Akron’s mission and work.
In January 2015, Ken Babby launched a monthly speaker series for Leadership Akron Alumni members and Torchbearers called Leadership on Main. This speaker series highlights change-making leaders from different sectors each month, and it has become an essential monthly event for many Leadership Akron alumni members.
“Ken Babby and the Akron RubberDucks have been instrumental in advancing Leadership Akron’s work since Ken Babby took over ownership of the team ten years ago,” states Justin Hilton, President & CEO of Leadership Akron. “The Akron RubberDucks host hundreds of Leadership Akron participants each year, helping inspire, strengthen, and empower leaders to create a greater Akron.”
The Read Family Difference Maker Award, created in July 2017, honors the Read family, Roger, Judy, and Scott, in recognition of their involvement in advancing the mission and work of Leadership Akron, promoting community leadership, and strengthening the Akron community’s well-being. Each year, the award recognizes an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have been instrumental in expanding the scope or impact of Leadership Akron’s mission and work.
To show gratitude, two sculptures were created by Zeber Martell, one for the Akron RubberDucks to display in its offices at Canal Park and a second for Ken Babby. And, as Scott Read noted when presenting the award, “…this event has been a work of love by the entire Akron RubberDucks staff that is greatly appreciated by the alumni of Leadership Akron.”
Leadership Akron would like to also thank the organizations that have been involved in the preparation and maintenance of the site for the Read Family Difference Maker Award, including the City of Akron, Summit Metro Parks, Cascade Locks Park Association, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, and Environmental Design Group, as well as Michael Marras, who created the original sculpture at the site, titled “Together We Grow.”
For more information on Leadership Akron, please visit LeadershipAkron.org.
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About Leadership Akron: Since its founding in 1984, with the purpose to connect leaders to advance community, Leadership Akron has served over 1300 graduates who remain involved in the community. The Leadership Akron Alumni Association serves as an ongoing hub for leaders to connect and collaborate. Its graduates share a common commitment to serving the community and working together to strengthen the Akron area. Visit leadershipakron.org to learn more about Leadership Akron program offerings.
The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The RubberDucks season at Canal Park begins on Thursday, April 6 against the Erie SeaWolves. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 330-253-5151 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or visit akronrubberducks.com/. For more information about the team, please call 330-253-5151, visit the website at akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, or on Twitter @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram @akronrubberducks.