About Us
We believe that the health and wellness of our community is directly dependent on developing opportunities, skills, relationships and values that young people need to be healthy, caring and responsible. Hudson Community First is comprised of a Youth Board, a Volunteer Board, and Advisory Board and the Executive Board.
Executive Board
Alisa Wright, President
Marietta Marquart, Vice President
Jim Yurak, Treasurer
Tim Clepper, Secretary
Lynn Krapf, Member
Jack Lieske, Emeritus Member
Our History
Hudson Community First was first conceived by the Hudson City School District in 1995.
The school administrators were observing a pattern of negative student behaviors involving drugs and alcohol. School leaders strove to combat the bad decisions being made by youth and enlisted the business community and organizational leaders to discuss what our community could do to support youth. The district's drug prevention officer researched the country for programs that addressed the issues the district was facing and what he found was the Search Institute in Minnesota.
There, educators had researched and developed 40 Developmental Assets that kids needed to possess in order to grow up healthy and happy and to thrive. Assets are skills, opportunities and self-perceptions that kids need to have. Research shows if kids have 31 of these assets, their outcome is positive and they thrive as young adults and make better life decisions.
Hudson Community First was formed and all staff was trained on the importance of the 40 Developmental Assets. In 2004, Hudson Community First was reignited as a community organization and with a grant from Hudson Community Foundation, co-directors Laura Gasbarro and Cheryl Rauch were hired.
Currently, Laura Jones and Jennifer Fisher serve as co-directors of this now vibrant community effort that promotes positive youth development. Today, working with 3 boards with over 250 members, Community First programs cover a variety of topics and support Hudson youth of all ages.
Youth Board
Thank you to all the students who have served as president over the Hudson Community First Youth Board!
2018-2019 Lauren Niewolak & Maggie Lehman
2019-2020 Sadie Mrakuzic
2020-2021 Sydney Jones
2021-2022 Emi Uijtewaal
2022-2023 Easton Rowell
2023-2024 Sophie Uijtewaal
2024-2025 Alaina Walker
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS
$5000 - $2501
Michael and Marietta Marquart
Stonemont Financial Group
$2500 - $1001
Nellie and Bill Booth
Steven and Patti Engelman
Tom and Jenel Maxwell
Paul and Sara Stibich
Miavana Inc
$1000 - $501
George and Leah Roth
Marian Saxon
$500 - $251
Donald and Shelly Chadwick
James Boex and Denise Gibson
John and Jennifer Kabat
Lisa London
$250 - $101
Donald and Shelly Chadwick
Matthew and Abbie Chandler
Jeff and Janie Lehman
Christopher and Laura Mikolay
Jim and Marybeth Miller
Christopher Naples
Christopher and Elaine Yuhos
$5000 - $2501
Michael and Marietta Marquart
Stonemont Financial Group
$2500 - $1001
Steven and Patti Engelman
Tom and Jenel Maxwell
Paul and Sara Stibich
Miavana Inc
$1000 - $501
George and Leah Roth
Marian Saxon
$500 - $251
Nellie and Bill Booth
Donald and Shelly Chadwick
James Boex and Denise Gibson
John and Jennifer Kabat
Lisa London
$250 - $101
Donald and Shelly Chadwick
Matthew and Abbie Chandler
Jeff and Janie Lehman
Christopher and Laura Mikolay
Jim and Marybeth Miller
Christopher Naples
Christopher and Elaine Yuhos
$100 - $51
Anonymous
David and Deborah Basil
David and Jessica Dennsteadt
Megan Higgins
Jim and Linda Orwig
John and Alison Quagliata
Kristin Reynolds
Eric and Laura Speakman
Christopher and Maria Tazzi
Bill and Jo Wooldredge
Pat and Tracy Zappone
Printer's Devil
$50 - $1
Janice Arch
Jacqueline R. Beam
Mary Anne Bronza
Grazia Cervone
Susan Christensen
Angela Covert
Linda Cunningham
Frank & Julie Griffiths
Stacey Hackenberg
Gerald Hajarian
Amber Harriff
Megan Herrity
Lesley Hoover
Laura Jones
Rebecca Kapur
Tess Kirtz
Neha Kumar
Tricia Marchand
Leigh Martin
Emily McNerney
Tania Nemer
Richard and Trudy Painting
Erika Piland
Dia Ray
Rathna Shenoy
Ed and Mary Sogan
Kristen Stoehr
Angela Pearl Strach-Gotthardt
Kathleen Vijaywergiya
David and Barbara Warrington
Kristina Wegmann
Cara Wright
THANK YOU TOAST 2026 SPONSORS
Patrons
Luis and Colleen Camacho
Joe and Anita Creehan
Scott and Judi Dalton
Amy Corrigall Jones
Joseph Daher and Tania Nemer
Drs. Jon C. and Karen R. Peterson
David and Kirstin Toth
Dan and Courtney Cahoon White
Jim and Carrie Will
CAPTRUST
Howard’s Jewelry Center
Hudson Community Living
Virtus9
Benefactors
Doug and Lynn Krapf
Emily and Jon-Michael Lemon
Mike and Marietta Marquart
Brad and Alisa Wright
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026-2027
ASSET SPONSORS
Greg and Dina Anzevino
Jeff and Marilyn Anzevino
The Blankenship Family
The Bonner/Mooney Family
Sue and Jay Carter
Amy and Tim Clepper
The Dooley Family
Cynthia and James Field
The Fisher Family
The Gurreri Family
Michelle and Steve Hervey
Hudson Counseling and Wellness
Lisa and Matt Kaulig
Holly and Peter Murdough
Pixel Drift Marketing
The Pulte Family
Christine and Brian Queiser
Eve and Tom Sliwinski
Brad and Alisa Wright
Cara and Mike Wright and Family
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED AUCTION ITEMS FOR TOAST 2026
3 Palms
Abby Kern
Acme
Akron Civic Theater
Akron Rubber Ducks
Akron Zoo
Apex Skin Hudson
Becca Gates Photography
Brad & Alisa Wright
Brian & Lisa Canterbury
Callahans Wood, Tile, Carpet, Area Rugs.
Carhartt
Casey & Amanda Weinstein
Chef Gina's Bakeshop
Chris & Cathy Cook
City of Hudson
CLE Whiskey
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Charge
Cleveland Monsters
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cookielicious
Crave
Denim & Design
Derrick Hall
Douglas & Stacey Hackenberg
Dudley Baking Company
Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course
Elm Ridge Home
Estrela Consulting
Foil Hair Co.
Gary & Laura Gasbarro
GDP Group
Goldfish Swin School
Goodtime Cruise Line, Inc
Great Lakes Theater
Greg & Kristina Dooley
HHS MakerSpace
Holden Forests & Gardens
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Hudson City School District
Hudson City Schools Foundation
Hudson Closet Company
Hudson Community Education & Recreation
Hudson Garden Club
Hudson High School
Hudson Montessori School
Jay & Sue Carter
Jersey Mike's
JF & Carrie Babitsky
Jim & Mary Beth Miller
Johanna Yurak
John & Jennifer Kabat
Juniper Creative Co
K&K Pool and Spa
Kala Bagley
Kaulig Companies
Lager & Vine
Lake Forest Country Club
Leaf & Vessel
Marilyn Orr
Mark & Megan Dzurec
Mary Anne Bronza
Mike & Marietta Marquart
Michele Bogniard
Music Box Supper Club
Olive My Heart
Petitti Garden Center
Porta Rossa
RDP Sports
Roetzel
Sassy Grass Designs
Scenthound
Scott & Sue Swain
ScripType Publishing Inc.
Simply Sweet
Sky Zone
Smokers Etc.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Stirling
Studio 9
The Canterbury Trio
The Country Club of Hudson
The Family Table
The Hive Salon
The Learned Owl
The Shoppe: An Alea Michelle Salon
Tim & Genell Ritley
Western Reserve Academy
Zink Productions
SUPPORT HUDSON YOUTH
Hudson Community First provides opportunities to make our community a place where young people thrive. We cannot do this without your support! This is all made possible through grants, private donations and our Annual Fund drive. Please consider a donation that will support programming for all Hudson students.
Because of you… Hudson is a 100 Best Community for Young People!
One-Time Donation
Support our ongoing programs
Recurring Giving
Provide sustained support for our mission.
SUPPORT HUDSON YOUTH
Hudson Community First provides opportunities to make our community a place where young people thrive. We cannot do this without your support! This is all made possible through grants, private donations and our Annual Fund drive. Please consider a donation that will support programming for all Hudson students.
Because of you… Hudson is a 100 Best Community for Young People!
One-Time Donation
Support our ongoing programs
Recurring Giving
Provide sustained support for our mission.
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