Heart to Heart Leadership and United Way of Summit & Medina counties intend to merge this summer, the two organizations said in a statement Thursday.
The more-than-35-year-old Heart to Heart Leadership will become part of United Way June 1. Jeremy Lile, the executive director of Heart to Heart, will launch an initiative within United Way to provide leadership development and workplace training programs in both Summit and Medina counties.
Heart to Heart, founded by the Rev. Norm Douglas and Larry Vuillemin, was designed to bring people together to talk about the things that matter in their communities, the pair said in a statement. They said they “fully and enthusiastically support this merger” and “the new possibilities that it opens up for this community that we value so much.”
The merger was announced by the boards of both organizations; each has a history of collaboration to train nonprofit and business leaders, they said. United Way’s development and training programs will continue.
Barb Whiddon, chair of the board of directors of Heart to Heart Leadership, said in a statement that the organization can expand its services and make “an even more significant difference in the greater Akron community and beyond” through the merger.
“We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey and to the possibilities that lie ahead,” she said.
Brad Wright, chair of the board of directors of United Way of Summit & Medina, said in a statement he was proud to deepen the collaboration with a longtime partner. One of the greatest investments the organization can make in Akron’s long-term health is to help create service-minded leaders, he said.
