2013 Annual Report

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WEST CHESTER / LIBERTY 2013 ANNUAL REPORT the Heart of our Community 2013 ANNUAL REPort OUR MISSION BOARD CHAIR’s LETTER To encourage, support and facilitate philanthropy and improve the quality of life in the West Chester/Liberty area. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead OUR VISION The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty serves as Dear Friends of the Foundation: a leader and resource for philanthropy; builds and The quote above is one of my favorites. When I think about that permanently holds a growing small group of women who gathered at my kitchen table, week after week, during the spring and summer of 1999…I always think of this endowment for the community’s quote. We were that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens changing needs; provides that created an organization that has had a significant impact on our flexible and cost-effective ways little corner of the world and will continue to make an impact for for donors to improve their decades to come. community now and into the future; promotes collaboration Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was The Community Foundation. among local funding Our very first impact on the community came with the Woodbridge organizations and service Fire on December 23, 1999. The Foundation spear-headed the providers to address community community effort to “make whole” the 55 families who lost everything needs; and, makes grants and that day. The outpouring from our area and surrounding areas was provides counsel and assistance astonishing. In just a few short days, we filled a warehouse with toys, that will have a significant impact clothing, food, furniture and cash! Remarkably, after taking care of upon the residents of West every need of the 55 families, there was enough “stuff” to give Chester and Liberty Township. truckloads to the thrift stores/food shelters in the tri-state area plus ship toys and clothing to South America and Europe. That, my friends, was my introduction to the goodness and love of the people in our community. A Community Foundation is about building a “pot of charitable dollars” to be used to meet the needs of the community and the people who live here. So, raising those dollars was paramount to National Standards Compliance our newly formed organization. Because we evolved from the Key Confirmation Event Fundraiser, we immediately acknowledged and made a Board In 2012, The Community decision that one of our goals was to have fund raisers that would Foundation of West Chester/ bring the community together to celebrate…while, at the same time, Liberty compliance with the raising funds to be used to do good here at home. The Board still National Standards for U.S. follows that philosophy yet today. Community Foundation was re-confirmed. This public symbol The Board also decided that we needed a “pot of money” to pay signifies that the Foundation is for the operations of the Foundation as we wanted to get to the in compliance with the rigorous point that all the money raised at fundraisers would be used for National Standards developed charitable purposes. While we had a vision for what the Foundation to U.S. community foundations. would mean to our community in the long run, as in all worthwhile This designation is an indication ideas and initiatives, it takes money to make it happen. So, in 2002, of our integrity and demonstrated I began speaking to families and businesses explaining the vision of excellence. The Foundation what the Community Foundation would mean to our community and first achieved this noteworthy asking for their financial support. That first ask for a significant gift achievement in 2007. of $25,000 was made to Dick Clarke as we were having breakfast at Bob Evans in Union Centre. When he said YES…I couldn’t believe my 1 ears….I was ecstatic! That began the campaign they are great proponents of the Foundation. Dan to raise $5M for the operations of the Foundation. was born and raised in West Chester. Dan had a long Now, 12 years later, we have 30 Founding Families, career in finance and recently retired from Huntington 35 Founding Businesses, 21 Anniversary 80 Families Bank where he served as the Senior Executive Vice plus 40 Community Supporters totaling $3.4M in our President of Huntington Bank as well as holding the Forever Fund, the operating fund endowment to titles of Director of Wealth Advisers and the head secure the existence of The Community Foundation of the Government Finances and Home Lending of West Chester/Liberty FOREVER! Group. He is intelligent, energetic and a passionate philanthropist. Dan has extensive Board experience Those early years brought a lot of change. Did you and is a natural leader! I am thrilled that he will be know that we had 2 prior names before settling leading the Foundation, and when you get to know on “The Community Foundation of West Chester/ him, you will be too! Liberty”? But, through it all, we forged on with the support of so many great people in our community. In closing, thank you to the current and past Board At 5 years, Paul Szydlowski wrote our history so that Members, Advisory Board and Board Committees we could capture our story and the stories of the for their service to this community. Thank you to our Founding Families who made it all happen. We still Staff…Melissa, Nancy, Lindsay, Karen and Annette have copies of this book available at the Foundation, for the tremendous job they do each and every day. and for a $25 donation…you could own one! With Thank you to our event chairs, Shellie Leder and her several members of our Founding Families deceased, Shuffle Committee, Gail Jackson-Miller and her the book is a step back in time. It is also a look at the Key Event Committee and Todd Bonnell and his history of our community as well. Community Golf Classic Committee for their leadership and tremendous success in 2013. Thank you to my By 2003-2004, we had Funds opening and Board mentor, partner, critic and the love of my life, my Funds being established. Board Funds are those husband …Dick. Thank you to our Business Sponsors, Funds set up by the Board to address needs our in kind sponsors, our volunteers and most determined in our community. The Angel Fund definitely, our Donors. You have made it all possible. and Kids2Kamp are two such funds. Our Youth in Philanthropy Fund (YIP) is also a Board fund It has been my honor and privilege to work with each established to educate our teens about all aspects and every one of you. Thank you for being there for of charitable giving. this community. Thank you for being there for me during the good times and the bad. I will never forget Today, we celebrate the Foundation granting more the great things accomplished because this community than $3.8M to benefit the community of West Chester/ pulls together…and you care. Together, we have Liberty and beyond. With more than 170 Funds doing made our community a better place and have built charitable work, the Community Foundation holds the FOUNDATION for even better things to come! assets totaling more than $11.2M! Never doubt what a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can With love, gratefulness and a wish for abundant accomplish! blessings to you and yours, Officially, this is my last letter as the Board Chair of The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. All good things must come to an end, and while I am stepping down from the Board as I have reached term limits, I am not going far. I will be retaining the CEO Patti Alderson title and will continue to oversee the business affairs Board Chair and CEO of the Foundation. However, I am leaving the Board of Directors and will turn over the Chairmanship to the very capable hands of Dan Benhase. Dan and his wife, Donna, are a Founding Family and together 2 2013 ANNUAL REPort 2013 GRANT AWARDS In 2013, the Community Foundation set aside $246,000 to be utilized for community needs Miami University now and in the future. These dollars represent Building Bridges to the generosity and vision of the West Chester/ Possibilities: The Opening Liberty community, and were made possible by Minds through Art the community’s support of The Foundation’s Methodology - $2,500 fundraising events: The Community Golf To support a 3-day training Classic, The Key Event and The Shamrock Shuffle. institute at Cedar Village Retirement Community for professionals affiliated Your generosity allowed $96,000 to be awarded with long-term care facilities, adult day programs through the Community Grants Fund to support and other entities serving some of the many non-profit organizations people with dementia. serving our community. The Board of Directors were pleased to earmark the remaining Reach Out Lakota, Inc. $150,000 for our Community Grants Endowment Food, clothing and Fund. Through this endowment, we are equipment purchases - continuing to build a sustainable pot of dollars $12,000 to address future community needs. Grant dollars were used to purchase additional food Together, we are making a difference in our supplies and clothing, as corner of the world. The Community Foundation well as, support Reach Out Lakota’s Thanksgiving encourages all non-profits serving the West Program and Adopt-a-Child Christmas Program. Chester/Liberty area to apply for assistance from the Community Grants Fund.

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