If you’ve ever wanted to get a closer look inside some of Akron’s historic and modern homes and see how they transform for the holidays — now is your chance.
The Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes is the annual fundraiser for the Gay Community Endowment Fund, a permanent endowment of Akron Community Foundation that awards grants to support the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community.
Owners of grand homes throughout Greater Akron will open their doors to visitors during the event, which kicks off Sunday, December 3, with a live tour of five homes, followed by virtual tours of seven homes on December 9 and 10. General admission tickets are $35 for either the live or virtual tour, or $60 for a bundle of both tours.
The mix of goodwill and cheer drew Joshua Blythe to participate as a homeowner — not once, but twice. He had his first home featured in 2009, followed by a second home in 2018.
“Having your home featured is pretty exciting. It’s something like your wedding day or having a starring role in a stage play or concert,” relates Blythe, who is this year’s Sugar Plum co-chair. “Hopefully this year’s homeowners walk away with a filament of sharing something that they love for a great cause or bringing joy and excitement to the community.”
Community pride
Blythe is inspired by the crest above Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens — which reads Non Nobis Solum, or “Not for us alone.”
“The Sugar Plum tour brings the community together,” he says. “And we need that especially now. Both the event and the season are all about ‘not for us alone’ and about hope, giving and sharing.”
As LGBTQ+ communities in Ohio — and throughout the rest of the country — push back against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, the need to build and celebrate community is more important than ever.
Last year alone, the Sugar Plum Tour raised more than $140,000 for the Gay Community Endowment Fund, which was started in 2001 as a way to increase awareness of local LGBTQ+ programs and initiatives. The money raised helped the Summa Health Pride Clinic to provide gender-affirming hormone therapy injection kits to patients, Plexus Education Foundation to connect LGBTQ+ job seekers with employers and Stewart’s Caring Place to promote its free wellness services for LGBTQ+ people affected by cancer.
All told, the fund has invested more than $750,000 back into the community since its inception.
“We’re able to give back to the community in impactful ways,” says Adam Besenyodi, a fund advisory board member. “It’s really amazing to see the good that comes from this event.”
Homes for the holidays
For Besenyodi, thinking about the holidays is a year-round endeavor.
As the tour’s home procurement chair since 2022, he is always on the lookout for Akron-area residents open to having their homes featured on the tour.
“My best leads come from people who go on the tour, see that their house is decorated just as amazingly, and approach me about having their home on the tour,” says Besenyodi, whose own home was featured in 2022.
But it’s not all about the decorations. Houses with interesting architecture or interiors are also considered. The square footage of a home can vary as well — large, small or somewhere in between. Location may also play a role, to ensure ease of traveling through the tour.
It’s all a delicate mix of planning, word-of-mouth and teamwork. “It’s a huge effort that’s ongoing,” says Besenyodi. “The entire committee is a part of the process as far as identifying homes and helping us secure what we need.”
This year’s home includes a 1939 Federal-style Merriman Heights home, a 1952 Fairlawn Heights Cape Cod, a 1922 Good & Wagner-designed Tudor in West Akron, an updated 1928 French Tudor Revival in Merriman Heights and a 1953 Cape Cod in Highland Square.
For Besenyodi, working as the procurement chair has been a rewarding experience that connects him with people throughout Greater Akron.
“My favorite part is meeting people,” he says. “It’s a neat way to meet people and to find common ground with folks.”
“Having our home on the tour last year was extremely rewarding,” he adds. “My wife and I were most surprised by how much we got out of the event and the number of people who stopped to thank us for opening our home.”
Fa-la-la-la fun
The Sugar Plum tour has become such a well-known and fun event that for many it’s a highlight of the holiday season.
“It’s an opportunity for families and friends to get together on a Sunday afternoon and really get into the holiday spirit and get inspired,” says Besenyodi.
And while you might pick up a decorating tip or two, ultimately the Sugar Plum tour is about building on the strong foundation of Akron’s LGBTQ+ community.
“It sets a positive tone for the holidays,” says Blythe. “You get to meet your fellow neighbors and see their sense of creativity while helping others.” 🔥
Ignite Action
- To purchase tickets for the 2023 Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes, click here. Tickets are $35. The Live and Virtual Tour Bundle is $60.
- To learn more about the Gay Community Endowment Fund and view a full list of grant recipients, click here.
- To learn more about how to apply for a grant from the Gay Community Endowment Fund, click here.
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