Salvation Army to honor Frances Seiberling Buchholzer at Red Kettle Kickoff

Frances Seiberling Buchholzer will receive the 20th annual Community Medal Award during the Salvation Army of Summit County ’s Red Kettle Kickoff luncheon Nov. 7.

The event will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. George Fellowship Hall at 3204 Ridgewood Road in Copley Township.

“We are honored to be recognizing Frances Buchholzer for her strong, positive impact on our community, the region and the state through her volunteer service and groundbreaking work in the natural sciences,” Capt. Bramwell Applin, area coordinator for the Salvation Army in Summit County, said in a prepared statement. “She understands the importance of local advocacy and the role science plays in nurturing the next generation of scientists and civil servants.”

The charitable organization is honoring Buchholzer for her positive impact on the community and groundbreaking work in natural sciences. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and English from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in geomorphology from the University of Iowa. She has served as a teacher, community activist, environmental champion and promoter of women and girls in STEM fields.

In 1991, Gov. George Voinovich appointed Buchholzer as the first woman to lead the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. She is a pioneer in biomimicry, a field that studies nature for solutions to human challenges.

She served 18 years as Summit County Metro Parks commissioner. She has earned honors from Ohio Citizens for the Arts, Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame, Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, Akron Women’s Hall of Fame, Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame, and Junior League of Akron.

Buchholzer has held government relations roles at B.F. Goodrich Co. and the Ohio Petroleum Council. She serves on the Ohio State Parks Foundation, the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition board, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History board, and is an emeritus member of the Salvation Army advisory board.

Individual luncheon tickets cost $80 with table sponsorships starting at $1,000. For reservations, visit www.salvationarmyakron.org or call 330-434-7110. For sponsorships, call 330-762-8481.

The event also serves as the formal launch of the 2024 Red Kettle campaign. Volunteer bell ringers will be at kettle locations from November through Christmas Eve at major retailers throughout the county.

“The funds generated by our Red Kettle campaign are more needed than ever,” Applin said. “Inflation disproportionally impacts low-income families because they spend a larger portion of their income on necessities prone to price spikes, like food, housing and utilities. A strong start to a successful Red Kettle Christmas campaign in 2024 is needed to support the safety-net programs we provide all year long in Summit County.”

The Salvation Army has been serving the Greater Akron community for 140 years. To donate or receive more information about the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmyakron.org or call 330-762-8481.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Salvation Army to honor Frances Seiberling Buchholzer at Red Kettle Kickoff