University Park Alliance (UPA)  announced that University Park Development Corporation (UPDC) has agreed to merge with UPA and enhance its efforts to transform the University Park neighborhood.  The merger was announced at UPA's Annual Awards Luncheon on May 10th.  The two organizations have shared similar missions for years.  Doing business going forward as "University Park Alliance," the merged single nonprofit organization will be able to leverage UPA's institutional strength with UPDC's grassroots connection with the community.

 "The united organization will bring together both institutional and community perspectives to catalyze change that is transformational to the University Park neighborhood," says UPA board president Tony O'Leary.  "It will focus investment in the neighborhood so there can be increased impact for every dollar spent in University Park."

The new organization will be an independent, board-governed 501(c)(3).  Board members were installed and an executive committee was elected at a special meeting on April 19th.   "We are deeply grateful to the previous UPDC board of directors for their leadership and support," says O'Leary.

A search is underway for a new UPA executive director who will report directly to the board.  Ken Stapleton has continued to lead the organization as its executive director, and at the end of this month will return to Miami, Florida to reactivate his consulting firm.  The UPA board of directors hopes to have a new executive director in place soon after that.  Through a strategic planning process and approval of the board, UPA's new executive director will assess program priorities and potential future funding sources and will manage the organization and staff to achieve program objectives.

The seventh annual University Park Alliance Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Dominion Foundation, was held on May 10 in the Student Union Ballroom at The University of Akron with more than 450 in attendance.  The keynote address was delivered by Paul Grogan, president and CEO of the Boston Foundation as well as founder of "CEOs for Cities," past president and CEO of the nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and current trustee of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. 

Students and student organizations, faculty, businesses, community members and groups, alumni, and others were honored for their contributions to the revitalization of the University Park neighborhood. Event proceeds benefited  UPA's scholarship fund for long-term residents of University Park.