YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Alexa Sweeney Blackann, interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development and former president of Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC in Youngstown, and her husband, Josh Blackann, have donated $100,000 to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign.
The West Spring Street Entrance to the Kilcawley Center will be named the Sweeney Blackann Family Entrance.
Scott Schulick, campaign chairman, said he is grateful for the Blackanns’ support.
“Alexa and Josh’s generous gift and commitment to YSU are invaluable,” he said. “Alexa’s leadership as a member of the Kilcawley Center Campaign Cabinet and her family’s dedication to both the YSU community and the Mahoning Valley will leave a lasting impact, and the naming of the Sweeney Blackann Family Entrance will serve as a lasting tribute to their contributions.”
Sweeney Blackann’s involvement in the community and leadership extends beyond her professional career. A current YSU Foundation board member, she is connected to YSU through her family’s legacy. Her grandfather, Robert Sweeney, served as a YSU Foundation trustee from 1992 to 2001, and her father, Doug Sweeney, served as a YSU Foundation trustee from 2014 to 2023.
“Josh and Alexa Sweeney Blackann’s generous donation to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign underscores their clear understanding of the importance of addressing student needs at Youngstown State University,” President Bill Johnson said. “This contribution will help sustain Kilcawley Center as a hub of innovation and collaboration, ensuring it remains a vibrant space for future generations of students to learn, grow and connect. The naming of the Sweeney Blackann Family Entrance is a well-deserved recognition of their dedication to and her lasting impact on the YSU community.”
In addition to her philanthropic work, Sweeney Blackann serves on numerous boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Advisory Council, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation and others.
The Sweeney family has contributed more than $1 million to YSU, establishing the Patricia McGovern Sweeney Professorship in Nursing.
Sweeney Blackann holds a BSBA in marketing management from YSU and is a graduate of the NADA Dealer Academy. Josh Blackann holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from YSU. The couple lives in Poland with their four children.
The Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign is a comprehensive initiative designed to transform and modernize Kilcawley Center, which serves as the heart of student life at YSU. The renovation will provide flexible, collaborative spaces that promote innovation, creativity and community-building.