Foundation2015impactreport

Winter Report 2014

Celebrating Our Past . . .

From Jim Stonkus

Jim Stonkus, President & CEO

Foundation Board of Directors The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of civic and community leaders who possess both a deep knowledge of and commitment to the future of Barberton. The Directors establish and govern all Foundation policy with respect to operations and investments and approve grants made by the Foundation.

To learn more, visit www.barbertoncf.org.

Tom Harnden, Chairman Michael Chisnell, Vice Chairman Mary Jo Goss, Secretary Stephen Kelleher C. Thomas Anders Tina Linton Edna Boyle Fred Maurer Patti Cleary Bruce May Josh Gordon Michael Vinay Brett Haverlick Richard Wiley Mayor William Judge As of 1/9/2015

It’s been nine months since I was given the privilege to lead the Barberton Community Foundation and each day I am reminded of the Board of Directors and the Foundation staff’s strong commitment we’ve made to make Barberton an even better community. It has been a year of change in some respects as we have added new staff members, new board members and new community friends along with new ideas and initiatives.

Our Annual Dinner even took a new direction. Themed “Celebrating our Past – Building Our Future,” this event honored the visionaries who played an important role throughout the formation of the Foundation and recognized the importance of continued growth.

Not long ago I was asked to comment on both the best and most challenging part of leading the Foundation. The best is the opportunity to help improve the areas that need our attention the most. Whether it is working with the schools, the City or other stakeholders – our connection and communication with the community is important. The challenging part is understanding

that everything cannot be fixed overnight. It takes time to establish new jobs, bring new families to our community and improve upon the areas that make us a stronger city.

Our mission remains steadfast as we strive to improve the quality of life for the residents of Barberton. As we move forward, it is important to think about our future. The same visionaries that were recognized at our dinner envisioned a Foundation that would be around now and forever. In order to better serve and adapt to the changing needs of our community, it is important to start thinking in a way that will grow the Foundation.

As always, thank you for your continued support and commitment in making our community an even better place to live and work. Together, we are building a better Barberton.

On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe New Year!

In Memory of

Milan Pavkov

Founding Chairman of the Foundation, dedicated leader and visionary 1926 - 2014

Meet The Foundation Staff

Left to Right: Janice Stephenson, Chief Financial Officer Ashley Colando, Director of Marketing & Communications Jim Stonkus, President & CEO Christy Melert, Administrative Assistant Debby Rolland, Vice President of Community Impact

Our internal team is made up of a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of experience. Together, we aim to provide services and support of the highest quality to serve Barberton Citizens.

Our Beginning In 1995, senior management and the Board of Trustees of Barberton Citizens Hospital were concerned with the hospital’s ability to compete long-term with other hospitals in the area. The hospital board agreed to sell the hospital to a group consisting of Tennessee’s Quorum Health Group, Inc. (95%), Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2.5%) and Summa Health System (2.5%). A letter of intent to sell was signed on June 14, 1996. The new owners would be given the right to continue using the name “Barberton Citizens Hospital” and the original hospital company would remain a legal entity by changing its name to Tuscora Park Company.

Permanent Endowment An agreement made in 1949 and 1951 between the City of Barberton and the hospital provided that proceeds from the sale of the hospital would revert to the City of Barberton.

The City, the hospital as well as certain individuals within the community, proposed the money pass to a newly created community foundation, which would secure the funds in a permanent endowment. An endowment would allow for the foundation to grant money from the profits of the investments, instead of from the original principal.

Foundation Formed

Given that the original agreements were made by the City on behalf of the citizens of Barberton, the issue of amending the 1949 and 1951 agreements were given to the citizens of Barberton in November 1996. They voted overwhelmingly to amend the agreements, authorizing the money from the sale to be endowed in the new Barberton Community Foundation.

First Grant The first grant made by the Foundation was on February 2, 1997. The Foundation Board voted to fund the $32 million necessary to build an entirely new facility for the Barberton High School. This grant was contingent on the citizens of Barberton approving a $32 million bond, which they did.

1915: Barberton Citizens Hospital on Wooster Road.

1954: Barberton Citizens Hospital moved to its current location on Fifth Street.

Recognizing the Foundation ‘Game Changers’ The Barberton Community Foundation celebrated its 15th annual recognition dinner on Thursday, November 6 at Prime 93.

More than 200 community members and friends of Barberton gathered to celebrate the foundation’s history. The night boasted a snapshot performance of “A Christmas Carol,” with a special twist tailored to the Foundation – by the Magical Theatre Company. The theme for this year’s dinner was “Celebrating our Past – Building Our Future.” As a way to commemorate the many individuals who led the way in creating the Foundation 18 years ago, a plaque which was unveiled at the dinner is now permanently displayed at the Barberton Community Foundation.

Three exceptional community leaders were honored for their vision and leadership with the first-ever Game Changer Award. The late Milan Pavkov, Gary Matney and Lisa Okolish Miller were chosen for their work and dedication given to making the Barberton Community Foundation a reality. Last but not least, a toast was made to recognize the citizens of Barberton who voted in 1996 to direct the proceeds from the sale of the Barberton Citizens Hospital to an endowment fund. Since the original $75 million endowment was created following the sale, the Foundation has been able to grant more than $82 million and will continue to build a legacy for Barberton’s future.

View all dinner photos at: www.flickr.com/photos/bcfcharity/sets/

Connecting People . . . Enriching Barberton On Wednesday, May 28, a new pedestrian bridge connecting the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail to downtown Barberton, received its dedication.

Four Barberton third-graders were chosen to help cut the ribbon at the ceremonies that attracted close to 150 people.

Barberton Mayor William Judge created a contest asking the students to write an essay on why they should be chosen to cut the ribbon at the dedication.

The contest ties into the thirdgrade social studies curriculum required by the Ohio Department of Education titled “Communities: Past to Present, Near and Far.�

The Barberton Community Foundation, Barberton Parks and Recreation, and Barberton schools were among organizations that helped to fund and organize the dedication of the bridge. Measuring 120-feet-long, the pedestrian bridge is built over the Tuscarawas River. It sits parallel to the south side of the Robinson Avenue Bridge that merges into Wooster Road.

Today, the bridge connects people using the towpath to downtown Barberton businesses.

From Cradle to Career

Sprout Backpacks Available at Barberton Public Library Through a grant from the Barberton Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Committee, Sprout Early Learning Backpacks are now available at the Barberton Public Library for infants, toddlers and preschool children. The backpacks are used to make learning fun while teaching valuable concepts to prepare children for kindergarten and can be used by parents, caregivers and teachers. Infant and toddler backpacks focus on: cause and effect, categorizing, spatial relationships, memory, problem solving and imitation. Each preschool backpack is themed with one of the Content Standard areas of learning: social studies, language arts, math, science and social/emotional development. A typical backpack includes picture books, educational games or toys and an activity guide.

Committed to Educational Excellence Youth Philanthropy The Barberton Community Foundation (BCF) established the Youth Philanthropy Committee (YPC) in 2000, giving students the opportunity to help improve the quality of life for Barberton residents.

This committee supports the Foundation’s cradle to career initiative which promotes learning from preschool to college at any age. A grant funded last year by the YPC

was for the Sprout Early Learning Backpacks.

The Foundation provides $5,000 worth of grant money that students direct to Barberton-based nonprofit organizations. The program teaches students about nonprofits, conducting interviews and decision making skills as well as leadership development.

A committee of selected Barberton High School students

meet once a month during the school year to review nonprofit grant proposals. Heather McMullen, a math teacher at Barberton High School, and Debora Rolland, Vice President of Community Impact for the Foundation, facilitate and provide guidance to the committee. At the end of the program, students present their grant recommendations to the BCF Board of Directors’ Grants Committee.

College Now The Barberton Public Library has a new resident organization inside its 602 W. Park Avenue location. College Now Greater Cleveland, the oldest nonprofit advising service of its kind nationwide, is a free resource available to any Summit County resident.

College Now provides counseling on careers, obtaining financial aid, post secondary opportunities, scholarship information and more.

The organization’s main campus is located in Cleveland, but the Magic City is fortunate to have its own office made possible by a $70,000 grant from the Barberton Community Foundation and the

City of Barberton. Of the available jobs in Barberton and the surrounding area, most require training beyond high school, making College Now a great fit for our community. Jason Miller, a graduate of the University of Akron, is the resident advising specialist for College Now in Barberton and is available by appointment five days a week. Since the office opened in April 2014, close to 300 one-on-one appointments have been made.

Along with the services that the organization provides, Miller works with adults to try and resolve issues that may be keeping them out of higher education, such as debt.

For over 45 years, College Now advisors have helped students pursue their educational dreams.

It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey, there are resources available to help you meet your goals. Learn more at www.collegenowgc.org.

To set-up an appointment, contact Jason Miller at jmiller@collegenowgc.org or 330-319-2491.

Appointment Times: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. M, W, F; 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. T, Th

Left to Right: Jason Miller James Eritano

Scholarship Spotlight!

James Eritano is the Certified Building Operator and building superintendent at the Barberton Public Library and also one of the first people to visit the College Now office in Barberton.

James has been attending Kent State University for five years as a part-time student studying Applied Communication. He spends his day managing the facilities at the library and in the evening he attends college courses to obtain his Bachelor’s degree.

He hopes to one day retire from the library and spend his time as a freelance writer. Over the last five years, he only received loans from the federal student aid program.

Even though he is a longtime resident of Barberton, he had no knowledge of the Barberton Community Foundation and their adult scholarship program.

James completed an advising session at College Now where he was informed of the many scholarship resources available to him. College Now also gave him suggestions on how to get engaged on campus and increase marketability. James took the information he was provided and completed two scholarship applications; the Barberton Community Foundation’s Adult Learner Scholarship and the Summit County AAA Scholarship.

He received both scholarships totaling $3,000.

. . . Building Our Future Like every snowflake is unique, so is the Foundation to the Barberton Community. There are fewer than 800 community foundations in the United States. From the Barberton High School, to the Towpath Connector Bridge to the many students who receive college scholarships each year – the Barberton Community Foundation is a proud sponsor of growth.

We’re Here to Help!

Giving to the Barberton Community Foundation does not require great wealth. We make it easy for you to support the causes you care about by offering opportunities to give to an existing fund or create your own! Established funds are available in the following categories:

About the Barberton Community Foundation Since 1996, the Barberton Community Foundation has awarded over 3,400 grants and scholarships totaling more than $82 million and invested over $22 million more to promote job creation, neighborhood improvements and educational opportunities within Barberton.

barbertoncf.org 460 W. Paige Avenue • Barberton, OH 44203 (330)745-5995

• Arts • Culture & Events • Athletic Legacy & Programs • Beautify Our World

• Disaster & Crisis Relief • Fighting Hunger • Helping Hands • Learning Opportunities

• Promoting Literacy • Preserving History • For Our Furry Friends • Medical Care & Health

Your donations solely support our community and help grow the Foundation to better manage the changing needs of Barberton.

For a complete listing of funds, please visit our website: barbertoncf.org/funds Donate online: Barbertoncf.org/donate-now

Donate by Mail: 460 W. Paige Avenue Barberton, OH 44203

Please make checks payable to Barberton Community Foundation and note the fund name in the memo line

To receive a Funds brochure, please contact the Foundation (330) 745-5995