Victim Assistance Program's Angel Tree Ceremony
Victim Assistance Program’s Angel Tree Ceremony Marks Three Decades of Honoring Victims Who Have Lost Their Lives
Summit County Officially Proclaims “Summit County Angels Remembrance Day”
Victim Assistance Program (VAP) will host its 30th annual Angel Tree Ceremony on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Akron Summit-County Public Library Auditorium located at 60 High St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. This year, the ceremony will honor the memories of over 1,400 victims from Summit County who have tragically lost their lives at the hands of another, including homicide and DWI/DUI incidents.
In recognition of this milestone occasion, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro has officially proclaimed the first Monday of December as “Summit County Angels Remembrance Day.” This day serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of violence on individuals and families and reflects the community’s commitment to healing and solidarity.
Leanne Graham, President and CEO of Victim Assistance Program, stated, “As we gather once again with family and friends of loved ones for the 30th annual Angel Tree Ceremony, we not only honor the memories of over 1,400 lives lost in our community over the past three decades but also reaffirm our commitment to healing and support for those affected by violence. The proclamation of ‘Summit County Angels Remembrance Day’ serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of these tragedies and the strength we find in coming together.”
Victim’s family members and/or friends are invited to contribute one photo of their loved one, if not previously provided, for the memorial video and Wall of Remembrance by emailing their photo and the loved one’s name to [email protected] by November 21 2024.
Upon arrival, guests will receive an angel ornament bearing the name of their loved one to place on one of six trees that will adorn the venue throughout December. The event will feature a keynote address by Jeffrey Dennis, Senior Pastor at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Akron. Additionally, Shianne Eagleheart, Native American Ceremonial Leader and Executive Director and Founder of Red Bird Center, Inc, a multicultural healing center, will deliver a message intended to address the heartbreak in our community and lay the blueprint for healing. Each victim’s name and picture (if provided) will be displayed in remembrance as family and friends hang their loved one’s angel on a tree during the ceremony. If someone is unable to attend in person, their loved one’s angel will still be placed on the trees with care by our victim advocates.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed on VAP’s Facebook page and posted later on our YouTube channel. Virtual attendees are encouraged to download a copy of the event program on December 2nd from our website.
The Angel Trees and the Wall of Remembrance will be displayed at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 South High Street in Akron, throughout the month of December. Family members and friends are encouraged to visit the display to view their loved ones’ angel ornaments and photos.
2023 Angel Tree Ceremony:
Victim Assistance Program’s Annual Angel Tree Ceremony was held on Monday, December 4, 2023 from 5:30-7:30 PM, as community members, friends, and family members of homicide victims came together to honor the memory of over 1,000 victims lost in Summit County at the hands of another over the last 29 years.
The Angel Tree Ceremony was also live streamed and can be viewed below:
