William H. Considine will be the 42nd recipient of the award, which is named for the former president of Polsky’s Department Store and founding trustee of Akron Community Foundation.
Considine, a longtime resident and native of Akron, was selected to receive the Polsky Award by a committee of past honorees. The foundation presents the award each year to the individual or couple who best exemplify Bert Polsky’s selfless dedication to humanitarian causes in Akron. Recent recipients include Kathryn Hunter, Madeline Bozzelli, Bud and Susie Rogers, and Philip Maynard.
"It's just a real honor but even more so it's just so humbling. None of us do this stuff for awards. We do it because of good parents and it's just the right thing to do," Considine tells AkronNewsNow.
He says giving comes back to you in may ways and brings meaning to your life.
As president and CEO of Akron Children’s Hospital for 32 years, Considine has dedicated both his career and personal life to improving the quality of care in Summit County. He is an advocate for health and education initiatives at the national, state and local levels, positioning Akron as a leader in children’s health. Considine is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a member of the American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges, among many others. He is a past chairman and current board member of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, as well as a member of its Council on Child Advocacy. Locally, Considine is chairman of the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron. He also serves on the Akron Biomedical Corridor Executive Board and is an executive member of the Greater Akron Chamber Board of Trustees.
Beyond his leadership in the professional arena, Considine is perhaps best known for his personal dedication to improving life for Summit County children. In addition to serving on the boards of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Considine is past chair of the Summit Education Initiative and a leader in Summit County’s First Things First initiative, which focuses on the development of young children. He has also served on the boards of Archbishop Hoban High School, Children’s Family Care, Big Brothers & Sisters of Greater Akron, Children’s Miracle Network, and the United Way of Summit County. Bill and his wife, Becky, have been married for 39 years and have three children.
Considine’s tireless efforts in community activities have made him the recipient of dozens of awards, most recently Crain’s Cleveland Business “Health Care Hero” Award. He has been honored for his leadership and philanthropy by the American Red Cross, Akron Public Schools and Summit County Children Services. Considine is the recipient of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Doctor of Science Honoris Causa and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Akron. On Oct. 18, he will add the Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award to his distinctions.
The Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award Dinner event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7. Tickets start at $125, and corporate sponsorships are still available. For more information, or if you wish to attend, call 330-376-8522.
