NewsThank You Thursday - Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation04.06.2017 Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation is part of a volunteer organization that has sponsored professional golf tournaments at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio for more than 60 years. Tournaments have provided over $25 million to local charities seeking to improve the quality of life in northeast Ohio. Organizations that have benefitted from the proceeds of tournaments include Akron Children's Hospital, the American Red Cross, Golden Age Centers of Cleveland, the Regional Food Banks of both Akron-Canton and Cleveland, Metroparks, the Akron Art Museum and the International Soap Box Derby. In 2013 the Derby was awarded a grant from the foundation and a permanent sound system was added to the track at Derby Downs in July 2013. “What a difference the sound system has made to the experience at the track,” said Derby Vice President Bobby Dinkins. “Prior to being awarded the grant we would have to rent a sound system for our large events like the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby and the Gravity Racing Challenge STEM Team Competition and didn’t have sound for all of the other events at the track. We now are able to play music and announce people going down the track. It is such a great atmosphere now.” In 2015 the Derby was awarded another grant from the foundation and a passenger bus (pictured below right) was purchased that was wrapped in a special Soap Box Derby themed design. The bus is used to transport racers from the bottom of Derby Downs track back to the starting gate and to the topside area during events. “Like the sound system having the bus available for events makes for a better experience for everyone attending events at the track,” added Dinkins. The Derby would like to say THANK YOU to the Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation for helping us continue our mission of building knowledge and character, and creating meaningful experiences through collaboration and fair and honest competition. This is the 28th installment of our weekly “Thank You Thursday” feature. Each week we will offer a heartfelt “Thank You” to a corporation, civic or community leader, volunteer, foundation or an individual who has helped us continue our mission. To view previous features please click below. Thank You ThursdayThursday, September 29, 2016 - FirstEnergy Corp.Thursday, October 6, 2016 - Don PlusquellicThursday, October 13, 2016 - Bill GinterThursday, October 20, 2016 - Marous Brothers ConstructionThursday, October 27, 2016 - Meggitt Aircraft Braking SystemsThursday, November 3, 2016 - Myers IndustriesThursday, November 10, 2016 - Outgoing Board MembersThursday, November 17, 2016 - New Board MembersThursday. November 24, 2016 - VolunteersThursday, December 1, 2016 - Dairy Queen Thursday, December 8, 2016 - Curriculum FundersThursday, December 15, 2016 - SUBWAY®Thursday, December 22, 2016 - Will LoomanThursday, December 29, 2016 - Taylor Made JewelryThursday, January 5, 2017 - Greater Akron ChamberThursday, January 12, 2017 - Bob TroyerThursday, January 19, 2017 - GPD GroupThursday, January 26, 2017 - Former Summit County Executive Russ Pry and the County of Summit, OhioThursday, February 2, 2017 - Pilot Flying JThursday, February 9, 2017 - Dave HubbellThursday, February 16, 2017 - AAA Akron Auto Club Thursday, February 23, 2017 - Danny HughesThursday, March 2, 2017 - Corbin BernsenThursday, March 9, 2017 - Dave Lieberth Thursday, March 16, 2017 - Joe MazurThursday, March 23, 2017 - Mary S. and David C. Corbin FoundationThursday, March 30, 2017 - Chris Harris