The National Multiple Sclerosis Society presented the recently retired President and Chief Executive Officer of the First Energy Corporation, Anthony Alexander with its most prestigious award, The Norman Cohn Hope Award.
The second annual Akron/Canton Dinner of Champions (DOC) Gala presented by Oak Associates was held on Sept. 18 at the University of Akron. Alexander was chosen for the Norman Cohn Hope Award because he demonstrated outstanding philanthropic generosity and community service. His wife, Becky, accompanied him to the gala.
Alexander is an Akron native and a resident of Green. He attended the University of Akron, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 2000, Alexander has been the president of First Energy and the CEO since 2004. He is known for his work with numerous charity groups and served on the Inaugural Akron/Canton Dinner of Champions Gala last year, helping to get the event off the ground. Through First Energy he supported the Cleveland Dinner of Champions, now in its thirteenth year.
Currently, Alexander is a member of the boards of the Edison Electric Institute, the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, the Ohio Electric Utility Institute, and the Ohio Business Roundtable. He also is a member of the board of trustees of Akron Tomorrow. He also is a recipient of the Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Award from The University of Akron.
More than 240 people attended the event including co-chairs President and Chief Executive Officer of Akron Children’s Hospital William Considine, and Vice President Legal at FirstEnergy Corporation Robert Reffner. The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner and the program. The master of ceremonies for the event was Angela Bellios of 98.1 WKDD. Award presenters were Considine and Reffner who gave Alexander accolades for his accomplishments.
“This was a trifecta-winning ticket which is hard to come by,” Considine said. “It’s a winner for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the community of Akron and Tony Alexander of FirstEnergy.”
The Dinner of Champions Gala raised a total of $140,000. Of that total, Presenting Sponsor Oak Associates donated $25,000 and First Energy was a Platinum Sponsor having made a contribution of $15,000. WVIZ/PBS Ideastream delivered an in-kind donation through the development of a video tribute of Alexander that was shown to the guests. First Energy also donated theatre tickets and Cleveland Browns tickets for the silent auction.
Proceeds from the benefit will help the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The MS Society funds research and services to people with MS. Call Multiple Sclerosis Society at 1-800-667-7131 or visit the Web site at www.MSohiobuckeye.org.
