Pulse - Volume 16: Issue 4

Giving Matters More

GIVING FEELS GREAT.

You know that feeling when you do something — anything — to help someone else? There’s a warmth that fills your soul. You’ll notice a smile, outward evidence of a feeling of pride, that’s impossible to wipe from your face. It doesn’t matter how big or how small — many of us would argue giving is better than getting.

There’s no better time to explore the gift of giving than in December. Not surprisingly, we didn’t have to look farther than our collective backyard to find some shining stars who take giving to the next level.

Lorain County is, indeed, a big player in the world of nonprofits. Their influence and impact isn’t just happening now — it has been happening for years. It’s in this region’s fabric. In fact, did you know that Easterseals got its start right here?

In “Lorain County Gives,” you’ll read about how passion has translated to activism all around us. We explore how local nonprofit organizations are crucial to the success of our communities and the businesses and residents within them. Their work is felt in the lives of our neighbors — young and old — who just need a little help and a lot of love.

You’ll meet some of the people who are driving the efforts, including Brittany Lovett, who recently received a state-wide award for her role in philanthropy. You’ll read how little projects (literally) are translating to big opportunities for our children.

In every case, it’s a labor of love. The good that comes from giving, in any form, is paramount to the health of everyone around us. Read on to learn more about these stories. Then think about how you, too, can give this year.

JENNIFER BOWEN SIMA EDITOR, PULSE LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE

Caring for the Community

Britt Lovett is recognized as Ohio’s Emerging Philanthropist of the Year.

By Kristen Hampshire

“Unifying my community is my purpose,” says Brittany Lovett, marketing and communications officer at the Community Foundation of Lorain County.

“Philanthropy is a big word, and it isn’t just giving financially, but at the community level,” she relates. “I remember visiting the nursing home to see my great uncle, and I would walk around and visit with the other residents. I’d sit and listen to their stories and join them in the dining hall. It has always been ingrained in me and natural to be there for people in my community.”

Lovett’s passion and heart for the community was recognized when Philanthropy Ohio celebrated its Philanthropy Forward ’23 conference in October, celebrating outstanding give-back warriors in the state who are making a difference. Lovett was awarded Emerging Philanthropist of the Year.

One of her latest hallmark contributions is the foundation’s Connect to a Cause annual, 12-hour crowd-funding campaign to support the county’s nonprofits. The event launched in 2020 and has raised more than $1 million in that time for local charities. Last year, 94 nonprofits were recipients of funds from donors who participated.

“Anyone can be a philanthropist,” Lovett says, relating that the campaign highlights this by introducing nonprofits to community members and businesses who can give a few dollars or much more. “This is not something we do alone. We are a staff of 12,” she adds.

In 2022, Lovett spearheaded a pilot program meeting with local nonprofits one-on-one for a pick-your-brain session. “We created a blueprint for how we are going to move forward to support these organizations, and help each other grow and build,” she says.

Last year, Lovett was named a trustee of Philanthropy Ohio, where for years she has engaged in professional

“Philanthropy is a big word, and it isn’t just giving financially, but at the community level.”

– Brittany Lovett

development and volunteering. She also serves on the board of Lorain County Urban League and is president of the young professionals chapter.

“I’m a mentor to anyone of any age, and I’m grateful to be a part of these programs,” she says. Lovett created and led the Toni Morrison essay contest for young people, building coalitions with the Lorain County School District to

recognize youth creativity and writing in celebration of the hometown hero. She also chartered Urban League Young Professionals chapters in southwest Ohio and Cleveland, introducing the initiative to Lorain County in 2022. She is proud of its recognition as the National Rookie Chapter of the Year. “I have been a part of this movement for a long time, and it helps me get out in the community to get that feet-onthe-street vibe,” she says.

Indeed, Lovett’s good works are stitched into the community’s fabric. Born in Oberlin, she eventually moved to Elyria and then graduated from Avon High School before attending Xavier College to earn a degree in marketing. At that time, she began working for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rooted in Oberlin, she is committed to a grassroots fund her great Aunt Ruby started in Oberlin to support students in Oberlin financially and through mentoring, so they can pursue higher education. She currently serves as a board member and vice chair of the organization.

“They are first-generation collegegoers or need support, and we make sure every board member is paired with a student to make sure they complete their journey,” Lovett relates.

Lovett lives in New Russia Township with her sons, setting an example for what it means to give back and support something bigger than yourself. She says, “Yes, my plate is always full, but it’s full of all the things I am passionate about.”

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Couture & Community

Jevon Terance takes his clothing design talents to the country.

By Kristen Hampshire

His passion for fashion started at a fourth-grade school desk in Lorain, sketching sneaker designs inspired by Michael Jordan’s kicks. This is a detail Jevon Terance, self-taught designer and now internationally acclaimed owner of the Jevon Terance Fashion Line, always paid attention to when watching games with his family.

He never stopped drawing. Through high school his sketches evolved into 3-dimenstional renderings and then models. He considered pursuing industrial design, attended art school for a year at Lorain County Community College and did a brief stint at the former Virginia Marti.

brand at Fashion Weeks and is affiliated with The Confessional Showroom NYC, a go-to source editors, stylists and influencers rely on for new, fashion-forward designers.

“What would you wear if you were walking around the city?” he asks, pointing to signature pieces including coats — especially trench coats — dresses and pants. “I always take chances with fabrics,” he says. Fringe and reflective material graced his designs “before people were really using it.” Terance scours the country’s leading garment districts with a mindset of beating the mainstream. “I want to push new concepts out there,” he says.

Notably, in 2018 he introduced a trench fabricated from newsprint material that he says, “is a walking billboard,” and earned accolades in New York City. He has showcased his

But, mostly, Terance experimented with style, growing his technique. At 21, he received a sewing machine for Christmas. This gift quite literally opened a world of opportunity. “I became my own fashion college,” he says, eventually launching a brand in 2007 and opening a boutique in 2012 through Lorain’s holiday pop-up shop program.

Except Terance wasn’t planning on just popping up short-term.

“The program really helped me have a brick-and-mortar presence because, before that, I was doing college shows, club shows and fashion shows throughout Ohio,” Terance says.

He worked out a bit of a barter lease agreement with the landlord. Terance was improving the space, paying utilities and attracting patrons to a block that needed some love and fresh blood. Within a few years, his notoriety and brand momentum had grown, and he relocated to his current space next to The Palace Theatre.

Terance’s mantra: “Dress like you are in New York.”

Every year, Terance organizes a fashion show in Lorain. He reintroduced the event after a pandemic hiatus in summer 2023 at The Oasis Marinas at Port Lorain. “I love Lorain, and we’re living in a renaissance of businesses coming to Broadway,” says Terance, who serves on the Main Street Lorain board and is equally passionate about the community as he is fashion. He travels often, but his rooted in his hometown and prioritizes time in the boutique, where he is intentionally approachable. Guests are often surprised to find him in the shop sewing. But there’s no place else he’d rather be other than with his family.

“I’m excited that we are serving the community, building relationships, moving into other states and, design-wise, we keep being creative,” Terance says.

Terance has dressed names like singers of SWV (Sisters with Voices), NBA point guard and Olympic gold medalist Chris Paul and two-time women’s world champion WWE wrestler Natalya Neidhart. He has also worked with Director Steven Caple Jr. of Transformers on set as a costume designer. Terance’s designs have been featured in a variety of publications, including Glamour and Elléments Magazine

Initially and for the bulk of his time in business, Terance sewed everything he designed. Now, as he expands the brand, collaborations with small garment manufacturers are allowing him to extend his inventory and footprint.

“We are constantly styling original pieces,” Terance says. “And with a 16-year brand, we have the aesthetic and build off of that.”

Books for EVERYONE

The Lorain County Little Free Library Program engages readers of all ages and improves access to reading material for families.

By Kristen Hampshire

Twenty-nine Little Free Libraries stewarded by the United Way of Greater Lorain County provide an engaging take-a-book-leave-a-book swap that puts reading material in the hands of children and their families. The national, free book exchange program provides kits to build libraries that look like little houses — much like a generous, decorated mailbox that’s painted and whimsical.

“It’s a great way to encourage reading, improve kindergarten readiness and middle school success,” says Colleen Walts, marketing and engagement director for the United Way of Greater Lorain County. “Books that are age appropriate can be costly, so being mindful about having those books available for families is so important.”

Academically, children who grow up in homes without books are three years behind those who have access to lots of books. And 61% of families who are low-to-moderate income do not have any age-appropriate books at home for their kids, according to an International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Literacy Study.

“Reading prepares children for kindergarten and to be light years ahead,”

Walts explains. “And it’s a great way for families to get involved with reading to their kids.”

Kindergarten readiness and school success are important initiatives for the United Way. “We are always encouraging parents to read to their kids — it doesn’t matter if it’s a book, cereal boxes, signs — it helps get children on the right track,” Walts says.

The United Way partnered with employees from Avient Corporation in September to grow the Little Library system throughout Lorain County by

15 more “book stops,” which doubled the number of libraries the organization stewards to its current count. They are mostly stationed at parks, childcare centers, social services agencies and churches. But anyone can have a Little Free Library.

The Little Free Libraries increase access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. You’ll find them stocked with board books, textbooks, chapter books, adult fiction and nonfiction.

“This ties into our Collect. Sort. Deliver. initiative for high-need items,

including school supplies, books and feminine products,” Walts adds, noting that by collecting books on site at United Way of Greater Lorain County, the organization can be sure the Little Free Libraries are well stocked.

The Little Free Libraries effort is in partnership with The Stocker Foundation.

The Lorain County Little Free Library (LCLFL) project launched in 2013 with a $30,000 startup grant from The Stocker Foundation with Lorain County Educational Service Center serving as the fiscal agent. LCLFL is part of a worldwide network of more than 80,000 registered libraries — a model created by Todd H. Bol, who was a frequent visitor to Northeast Ohio, making sure the program was implemented with love. The project circulates thousands of books in the community.

Walts says social media efforts show the project is spreading lots of good words throughout Lorain County. “It’s so cool to see the community of folks who are participating and sharing what they are reading to their families.”

EARLY CHILDHOOD READS

Scholastic suggests these popular books to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

• Kindergarten, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg

• Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly

Our Usual Table

The Grafton space that used to house The Unicorn is now open under the same owners as Gehring’s Tavern.

By Myra Orenstein

Owning a restaurant is never easy. Owning a restaurant during Covid was even harder.

Those who managed to survive the pandemic are the troupers — the people with the flexibility to adapt to change. Gail and Kevin Flanigan are among them.

As the owners of The Unicorn for 37 years, they understand the restaurant business. They also know their neighbors in Grafton. So, when Covid emerged they recognized the impact it was having on the community and their staff. They knew the time had come to take break, so they temporarily closed The Unicorn.

“We knew the restaurant needed a refresh and gave considerable thought to what we could do to bring this restaurant into this century,” Gail explains. “We wanted something that was appropriate, less format, less fine-dining. We wanted something that was relaxing and a place where people could socialize. And we wanted people in our area to feel like they had a go-to place that was close to home.”

In October 2023, they opened Gehring’s Tavern — a “new chapter” in their restaurant’s life.

The entire restaurant received a refresh from paint to new furnishings. The former bar area was transformed,

becoming a small dining room with ceilings sufficiently elevated to accommodate high-top tables and seating for up to 30 people. The larger dining room now also serves as a social room with an expansive, 16-person-seat bar. Restrooms received an upgrade.

The new configuration set the tone for Gehring’s Tavern providing flexible seating. Now tables may be moved to accommodate smaller or larger groups of guests.

In addition to cosmetic changes, major changes were made to the menu. Following post-Covid industry trends, the Flanigans opted for a menu featuring “grab-and-go” and in-restaurant dining, thereby catering to a broader cross section of clientele.

Eclectic appetizers range from Buffalo wings and mussels to an unconventional Scotch Egg. French

TRY IT

Planning to dine at Gehring’s Tavern? Owner Gail Flanigan found it difficult to choose one “Try It” item.

The Doubly, a two-patty smash burger with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and the sweet/tangy house sauce is a great go-to choice. While it’s served with chips, a la carte sides include tater tots, cole slaw or mac & cheese.

The Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese has garnered rave reviews. This hearty dish of cavatappi has a threecheese sauce and is topped with seasoned pulled pork.

Onion soup and an array of salads with optional proteins cater to those seeking a lighter fare.

Smash burgers — a hot nationwide trend — come in a host of different options. While the Doubly, a traditional double burger with toppings, may be the most conventional, there’s also The Smash Breakfast, a beef/ sausage blend with American cheese, bacon an over-easy egg and hot honey, as well as so many more.

Glizzies, or hot dogs, have unusual choices ranging from The Gehring with Applewood smoked bacon, onion, relish, cheddar cheese and bacon ketchup to The Wild Card with goat cheese, caramelized onion, bacon, arugula and balsamic redux.

For those seeking heartier fare, entrees include a dry-aged ribeye, salmon with curried vegetables, red pepper ravioli, pan-seared scallops and more.

Gehring’s Tavern is open from 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Hours may be extended over time.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Lorain County Community College celebrates 60 years of impact and leadership

Head of the Class

As Lorain County Community College celebrates 60 years it stays true to its tradition of putting community first.

As Marcia Ballinger, president of Lorain County Community College (LCCC), looks out at the campus from her second-floor office in College Center, she reflects on how LCCC has grown and the milestones it’s achieved since being chartered in 1963 as the first Ohio community college to have a permanent campus. Although the college’s evolving range of academic accomplishments is renowned throughout the state, there’s one that’s remained constant during the institution’s history.

“We’ve never stopped leaning hard into our middle name — which is ‘community,’” says Ballinger, who joined LCCC in 1991, and served as vice president for strategic and institutional development; provost and vice president for academic affairs; and

DR. MARCIA BALLINGER

director of marketing and media relations before taking the helm in 2016. “When the college was created 60 years ago, it was driven by employers in our community who wanted to ensure they had access to

a qualified workforce, and residents in our community who wanted access to higher education close to home. It was a coming together of those two pieces which led to where we find ourselves today.”

The goal of establishing a network of community colleges around the country was sparked following World War II, when President Harry Truman’s Commission on Higher Education recommended that community colleges expand their mission to include apprentice training and cooperative programs for youth and adults; ensure students are prepared to earn a living for a productive life by offering integrated programs that include general education and vocational coursework; and provide comprehensive adult-education programs.

“In the early ’60s, Lorain County was experiencing a time of transition,” Ballinger explains. “Back then, the transformation was from an industrial perspective. It was automotive, it was the steel mills, it was the supply chain. Fast-forward six decades, and we find ourselves at a similar moment in time where technological change is creating immense opportunities with the onshoring of microchips being manufactured in the United States.

“Lorain County,” she adds, “is uniquely positioned in the middle of that ecosystem. Part of the reason for that is because of the talent we have here. Grit, perseverance and determination are part of the DNA of the county, our residents, our employers and Lorain County Community College.”

Those attributes were clearly evident in 1995 when Lorain County voters approved the launch of the University Partnership with a 1.2 mill

ALUMNI

levy, which was renewed in 2022. The program enables students to obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees on the LCCC campus from 14 partner institutions across Ohio in more than 100 programs. Groundwork for the program was laid the year before the election when the college convened more than 300 community residents as part of the University Center Partnership Plan Summit Conference. Together, they developed the proposal which assured that residents didn’t have to travel miles to earn additional degrees.

“The collaboration and partnership we have with universities is truly a hallmark of ours,” says Ballinger, who penned the

Still proud of her antiquated student number “00007,” Georgeane Poplar recalls her hopeful excitement as she attended her first LCCC classes at an elementary school in Elyria. Her family couldn’t afford to send her away to college, so she was grateful for the opportunity to earn an associate degree locally. After graduating in 1966, there was a teacher shortage in the area, so she started her career teaching fifth grade at the age of 19 while also pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Kent State University. Years later, while working as a guidance counselor, Poplar found her way back to LCCC and her old “00007” student number when she decided to earn a special education certificate through the University Partnership program. She was thrilled to have bragging rights with the younger students and yet another avenue to boost her successful career.

“I really feel that LCCC gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to get an education and then to move on with a career that I’ve loved and worked in for a very long time.”

As a seasoned educator still working in Lorain County as an intervention specialist, she’s just as impressed with the education offered by LCCC today as she was almost 60 years ago.

“I think I knew at the time that I was receiving a good education and now I probably appreciate it even more as I’ve gone through the education system all of these years,” she adds.

Scan here to learn more about Georgeane:

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Lloyd Miller

1971

While working at the General Motors factory, Lloyd Miller decided he wanted something more. So he headed to the unemployment center in Elyria to explore some other options. When he was offered the opportunity to attend LCCC through the GI Bill, Miller, who served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965, and his wife of 60 years, Judy, knew it was the right decision at the time for their growing family. But it wasn’t always easy. Miller’s class schedule, Judy’s pregnancy complications, jobs and maintaining a household, forced them to persevere together to achieve their mutual goal of him earning a degree. Miller graduated in 1971 from LCCC with an associate’s degree in accounting and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Baldwin Wallace University.

“Well, actually, if it hadn’t been here, Oberlin is very expensive. Kent State is an hour away and that’s hard with the jobs. So it really made it possible,” Judy says.

Lloyd adds that he remembers his graduation day fondly. “I was graduating in the courtyard. Her parents came. And my parents came. I felt very proud that I could get my education here,” he says.

Lloyd went on to put his degree in accounting to use working at Bendix before starting his own companies.

Scan here to learn more about Lloyd:

Georgeane Poplar

1966

original concept paper. “While associate degrees prepare our students for great jobs, many of them come here planning to transfer to a [four-year college] for a bachelor’s degree. The University Partnership provides a unique model and opportunity our community has continued to support.”

The president understands the program’s value firsthand: A University

ALUMNI David Fisher

1970

Partnership graduate, Ballinger earned her MBA from Kent State University on the LCCC campus.

“Having seen the program come full circle by helping to design it, work with the community to create it and then walking in the shoes of being an adult learner taking classes on Friday nights and Saturday mornings was a tremendous opportunity,” Ballinger recalls.

After David Fisher spent most of high school just getting by to stay eligible for sports, he really didn’t have a desire to go to college. But his parents urged him to just give it a try and thankfully, he did. Two years later in 1970, he earned an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering. And today, he credits LCCC for igniting his passion for engineering and paving the way for his successful career.

“When I was in high school in machine shop class, we had a teacher that made you learn every part of the machine before you could even start it up. And then I remember coming in here. It was all hands-on. And to me, that’s the best way to learn.”

In 1985, he was working full-time, married and had two children when he opted to return to LCCC to continue his education. A little extra effort and a few late nights paid off when he earned an additional associate degree in electrical engineering, which he spent most of his career putting to use. His successful path included positions with prominent Lorain County companies, including Ridge Tool. His last role was as a senior electrical engineer at Forest City Technologies Inc. in Wellington.

“I feel very fortunate that I came to LCCC. It gave me a great career. It’s a great opportunity for young people, and it’s right here.”

Soon after the college launched the University Partnership, it wasted no time in preparing for the opportunities that lay ahead as a new technological age dawned.

In 2018, LCCC became the first community college in Ohio to receive authorization to offer an applied bachelor’s degree in Microelectronic Manufacturing (MEMS). The program prepares students to master and apply the engineering principles and technical skills needed for design, assembly, prototyping and manufacturing of

ALUMNI Jackie Below 1978

Standout volleyball, basketball and track athlete, Jackie Below, thought her athletic career was over in 1976 after graduating from Elyria High School. But when she discovered that LCCC had a women’s basketball team in 1978, all of that changed. Not one to sit on the sidelines, Below tried out and made the team and pursued a degree in accounting. Then one day after practice, the late Coach John “Jack” Wilhelm, who would eventually become like a father figure to her, suggested that she run track as well.

“We didn’t have a track, but Coach made it work in the grass. We did drills. There was a hill — I think it’s still there — that we ran up and down. We just trained with what we had. There was just something about him. Very positive. He believed in me,” Below says of the coach who was instrumental in training and instilling confidence in her.

The absence of a track proved to be irrelevant as Below was soon headed to the national championship. But on the day of the meet, Wilhelm’s wife was very ill and he couldn’t go. Below was devastated.

Once again, Wilhelm’s words gave her the boost she needed, “Just have confidence in yourself. I trained you. You are ready. Go represent LCCC.”

When she returned home with a gold medal, she gave it to Wilhelm. Today, it can be found in a display case at LCCC.

For the last 34 years, she has coached track at Elyria High, continuing to share Wilhelm’s legacy. She tells her athletes, “Now it’s up to you. I train you up to a certain point, but you’ve got to dig deep within yourself if you want to be a champion. There’s only so much I can do. The rest comes from you.”

Scan here to learn more about Jackie:

Scan here to learn more about David:

printed circuit boards (PCPs) used in electronic hardware containing digital microcontrollers, analog circuitry and MEMS sensors.

In 2021, the college debuted its second bachelor of applied science degree in Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology. The multidisciplinary engineering field focuses on the design, modeling, analysis and control of predominantly computer-based automated systems — often referred to as smart manufacturing. The program is designed to meet the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology requirements, and train students for jobs that include automation engineer, controls engineer and systems engineer.

“Chips drive the smart technology that’s embedded in everything we use from our cell phones to our watches to our cars — absolutely everything our world has become dependent on,” Ballinger says. “As always, our faculty, staff, leadership and board of trustees ensure LCCC remains innovative.”

That attention to cutting-edge detail was crucial with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. While other institutions grappled with remote connection, LCCC already had the tools in place to seamlessly create courses for online learning.

“We went back to that grit, perseverance and determination the college and community are known for,” Ballinger says. “We were able to hold classes in a way that ensured our students would get to the finish line.”

And they did with aplomb: In 2021, Lorain County Community College awarded 2,585 degrees and certificates. It was the largest graduating class in LCCC history.

As the college looks ahead to its seventh decade, Ballinger, her team and Lorain County leaders employ strategic foresight to study megatrends regionally, statewide, nationally and globally. The process, known as VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) is a pivotal component in building a framework for the future.

“It’s no longer about designing curriculum from a rearview mirror based on what needs have been,” Ballinger says. “As we’re poised to become the Silicon Heartland of Ohio, having a talented workforce is critically important.

“Our community,” she adds, “is aligned to make sure we’re well on our way to successfully providing that.”

Take a look at highlights from the the last 60 years on the next pages.

ALUMNI

Tim Alcorn 1983

It all started in the Radio-TV Department at Lorain County Community College for the current radio play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tim Alcorn. Growing up in nearby Grafton, LCCC was the most affordable and accessible choice for Alcorn after graduating from Midview High School in 1981. And although the look of the current television production studios and facilities have drastically changed in the last 40 years, he believes the value and the caliber of the hands-on educational experiences at LCCC have not. Plus he could easily rattle off a list of fond memories from his time at LCCC, including meeting his wife, Diane, in speech class and invaluable experiences that led to an incredible amount of educational, interpersonal, and individual growth.

After receiving an associate of arts degree from LCCC in 1983, Alcorn took his solid foundation to Kent State University to finish his bachelor’s degree. Having settled on Lorain County as home, he and his wife moved back after graduation and Alcorn started his career at WOBL in Oberlin. In 1992, he transitioned to WEOL in Elyria. Almost 27 years later, his dream came true when he was named the radio voice of the Cavs.

Alcorn credits his LCCC foundation as the impetus of his career. He’s thankful he got a little taste of LCCC while dabbling in a few college courses in high school.

“It’s amazing to see where it has come from in the last 40 years. And to think where it can still go and where it will go. The leadership of Marcia Ballinger and her team, the progress, all the different avenues, and the university partnerships that they now have are incredible. It’s truly a resource for Lorain County.”

1963

The State of Ohio grants LCCC’s charter on July 15, 1963.

63

1966 LCCC moves to its current location, making it the first community college in Ohio with a permanent campus.

1971 LCCC receives full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the highest ranking accrediting association of higher education institutions.

LORAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1963

1972

The Health Sciences building opens.

LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1963 - 2023

LCCC Presidents

1963-1970

• Dr. Max Lerner

1970-1971

• Thomas Bowen

1971-1986

• Dr. Omar L. Olson

1986-1987

• Dr. Richard R. Mellott

1987-2016

• Dr. Roy A. Church

2016 - Present

• Dr. Marcia J. Ballinger

75 80 84 88

1975 Learning Resources Center (first library) opens.

1980 The C. Paul Stocker Humanities and Fine Arts Center opens and presents its first season.

1984 The Nord Advanced Technologies Center opens.

1988

The Mabel L. Ewing Activities Center opens.

• Lorain County citizens approve the creation of the University Partnership, bringing bachelor’s and master’s degrees to the LCCC campus.

1998 The University Center building opens to house the University Partnership program.

2001 LCCC’s first outreach center, the Lorain Learning Center, opens in downtown Lorain at the St. Joseph Community Center.

• County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Department of Development and LCCC create the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise, a regional business incubator.

2001

The Patsie C. Campana, Sr. Engineering and Development Center opens.

2004 LCCC enrollment tops 10,000 students in fall semester for the first time in the College’s history.

• LCCC is named one of the state’s fastest-growing colleges.

• The Lorain County Early College High School opens on campus, providing firstgeneration college students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously.

1995 The John A. Spitzer Conference Center opens.

LCCC Fab

opens, the first of its kind on a community college campus, making invention accessible to the community.

• NEO LaunchNet opens on campus to provide free access to business and entrepreneurship support services for students and alumni.

• Innovation Fund is created to assist emerging technology entrepreneurs.

10

College enrollment tops 13,000 in the fall semester, a 120 percent increase in just a decade.

2006

Lab

2007 The Richard Desich Business and Entrepreneurship Center opens to inspire, support and connect entrepreneurs.

2007 LCCC opens the Wellington Learning Center.

2008 Barbara and Mike Bass Library/Community Resource Center opens.

07

2010

2011 Renovated College Center building re-opens.

LCCC IMPACT

12

college library.

13

Lorain

15

2015 Achieving the Dream names LCCC as a Leader College of Distinction, a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps.

18

2018 LCCC is authorized to offer Ohio’s first bachelor of applied science in microelectronic manufacturing degree.

• LCCC is named the top community college in the country for Excellence in Student Success by the American Association of Community Colleges.

2012 Innovative Learning Opportunities for Tomorrow (iLOFT) opens in a renovated building that was the original

2013 The Ben and Jane Norton Culinary Arts Center opens.

• The University Partnership Ridge Campus learning center opens in North Ridgeville.

2014 The Laboratory Sciences LifeShare Science and Health Education Center building opens.

2014

The Richard A. Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems opens.

•

Learning Center relocates to the City Center on West Erie Avenue.

2019 LCCC unveils the expansion and renaming of the Patsie C. and Dolores Jeneé Campana Center for Ideation and Invention, home to a digital manufacturing line, industrial 3D printing lab, expanded Super Fab Lab and virtual reality cave.

• The Aspen Institute recognizes LCCC in the Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges.

• LCCC adopts the its new strategic plan that declares a bold goal of 10,000 individuals earning a degree or certificate by 2025.

2020 Achieving the Dream awards LCCC the Leah Meyer Austin Award, a national prize reserved for network colleges that show the greatest, sustained improvements in student outcomes and student success.

21

2021 LCCC launches Career by Design, a college-wide focus on supporting individual and family needs related to career and employment.

LCCC is authorized to offer a bachelor of applied science in smart Industrial automated systems engineering technology.

2023 The Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center name LCCC as one of 10 colleges selected for the Unlocking Opportunity initiative, aimed at improving student outcomes in higher education.

• Harvard University’s Project on Workforce releases a book featuring LCCC as one of five exemplary community colleges nationally contributing to regional economic growth and opportunity.

2022 LCCC is recognized by Achieving the Dream as a 2022 Leader College of Distinction.

LORAIN COUNTYGives

In big ways, in every way, no matter the economic climate. Nonprofits, donors, volunteers and supporters do what is possible to maintain a thriving community that keeps the county strong and growing.

By Kristen Hampshire

Giving back is a way of life in Lorain County. It’s a significant part of the community’s heritage, with more than 2,200 nonprofit organizations supporting children, families, veterans, animals, education and a wide array of causes that touch the sick, vulnerable and anyone in a time of need.

“Lorain County is incredibly fortunate to have a robust philanthropic network supporting local nonprofit organizations,” says Patricia O’Brien, executive director of The Stocker Foundation, adding that no single donor or foundation has the resources to meet all of a community’s financial needs.

Because of the county’s diversity of nonprofits, more good work can be accomplished. Often, organizations partner to elevate the impact.

“I am always encouraged when The Stocker Foundation can join with other Lorain Countians to help nonprofits avoid crisis or find solutions to longtime community challenges,” O’Brien relates. For instance, the foundation is a longtime partner of Neighborhood Alliance and has awarded 55 grants during the last 43 years, “the most any nonprofit organization has ever received,” she says.

Indeed, not only do “for-purpose organizations” lift up the community, they also support each other to achieve vital missions. The Community Foundation of Lorain County’s Connect to a Cause annual daylong campaign has raised over $1 million for 94 different nonprofits since its inception in 2020.

“Our tagline is, ‘Connecting people who care with causes that matter,’ and especially in this day and age, people want to connect,” says Cynthia Andrews, the foundation’s president and CEO.

Support for Lorain County’s helping organizations comes from all angles, including at the chamber level where nonprofit and business members can get the word out about their purpose and find common threads.

“When we have new businesses move into the area and they might not be familiar with Lorain County or Northeast Ohio, a lot of times they want to support a cause in the community, so they might ask us if there is a food bank, animal shelter or other nonprofit with a cause that’s close to them,” says Tony Gallo, president and CEO of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. “We can connect the dots.”

Following is a snapshot of how Lorain County gives.

LORAIN COUNTY Gives

A CHAMPION AND CONDUIT

“Everyone has their passion, and we have so many different nonprofits in Lorain County — there is something for everyone,” Gallo says, relating that the chamber hosts Business After Hours that showcases various businesses and causes. A recent event highlighted You Belong, which offers on-the-job support and helps place diverse employees into the workplace, focusing on individuals with disabilities.

“Our workforce is in a situation where we are constantly needing to add employees, and we have to start recruiting in different ways, and organizations like You Belong, a vocational and pre-employment transition services company, allows great people to find meaningful work in the county’s businesses,” Gallo shares.

Similarly, P2R in Elyria helps marginalized populations and particularly those previously incarcerated with resources to find success in the workplace. “We have organizations like the Nord Center who counsel those fighting addiction and/or mental health issues so they can better themselves,” Gallo says, noting another pipeline for employing those who desire to wake up with a sense of purpose, “And a job allows them to do that.”

Gallo adds, “We are blessed in Lorain County to have so many

programs that help people get studies under their belts, while addressing potential obstacles that might hinder them, such as childcare and transportation issues.”

In Lorain County, there are so many ways to give.

“We have a vast array of nonprofits in Lorain County and all of them need support from the business community and residents to accomplish their programs of work, and we have a very generous county,” Gallo says. “In spite of coming out of the pandemic and inflation, people haven’t stopped giving. There is a long history of supporting nonprofits that give back to help the most vulnerable people in Lorain County.”

SAFE AND SOUND, WITH BLESSINGS

The vibrant red heart that hangs like a wreath of hope over the entrance to Blessing House on Elyria Township’s Olivet Avenue is a telling symbol of what families find inside. When parents or guardians experience a crisis and need a home for their children while they stabilize, Blessing House is “the kid hotel,” as one of its four-year-old guests once called the cheerful shelter.

“We started out with a very simple idea of these kids need a place to stay,” says Sister Mary Berigan, relating a

When parents or guardians experience a crisis and need a home for their children while they stabilize, Blessing House is “the kid hotel.”

vision she shared with co-founder Donna Humphrey while they were working as guardian ad litems in the children’s advocacy program, Voices for Children. They wanted to find a way to prevent vulnerable families from entering the child welfare system.

There are all sorts of reasons why a family might need a temporary home for a child — intermittent homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse, hospitalization and health issues, legal concerns or unsafe housing. The majority of clients who seek help from Blessing House are single moms.

Consider the dilemma. Mom is hospitalized and there is no one to care for the children at home. Blessing House is a safe, nurturing home for children ages birth through 12 years

Blessing House

old. And aside from offering a home with decorated bedrooms, engaging play-and-learn spaces, a dining room and family meeting spaces, Blessing House offers support for parents by way of quarterly Parent Cafes. Families share a meal, the kids play and a child advocate helps process some aspect of parenting.

Blessing House can host supervised visits with family in a comfortable space where they can build a positive relationship. Staff provides referrals for parents and caregivers. Children participate in age-appropriate activities delivered by professionals with trauma-informed care. Plus, Blessing House offers extended, ongoing support for families as part of its aftercare services.

All of this developed over time and because of generous donor support. The greatest milestone was “getting the doors open,” Sr. Berigan says, describing the first child-friendly, five-bedroom home that became Blessing House in 2005 when the nonprofit secured its state licensing.

The new building, which has been open for a little over two years, is nearly 17,000 square feet and can house up to 20 children at one time. “We will build that number as we grow staff,” Sr. Berigan says. With eight bedrooms, families can stay together if appropriate. “Sometimes, you have an older child who has been caring for younger siblings, and now we can offer them their own room next to brothers and sisters, so they have a space of their own.”

Sr. Berigan says, “There is so much more to come.” And there is so much Blessing House has provided to families. In 2022, 150 children from 73 families stayed there. “It’s much bigger than we ever anticipated in terms of what we can provide for children and families.”

The impact is loud and clear from the young voices who are guests at the “kid hotel.” Berigan relates that one child who had stayed a number of times through the years was about to turn 13. Sr. Berigan says, “She asked if she could have one more stay before her birthday.”

A Legacy of Giving

Lorain County is mourning the loss of a devoted philanthropist but celebrating her marked impact on numerous nonprofits and local organizations. Sara Jane Norton Stocker — the first executive director of The Stocker Foundation from 1980 until her retirement in 1999 — passed away in April 2023.

Norton Stocker’s passion was family and improving the quality of life in Lorain, as a lifelong resident who married her high school sweetheart, Benjamin G. Norton. They were married for 58 years.

She was a lifelong Girl Scout, working as a camp counselor for many years, serving on the board of Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio (GSNEO) and co-chairing its capital campaign for GSNEO Western Division to renovate Camp Timberlane. She shared her skills with her three sons and grandchildren.

Her giving was second nature.

Norton Stocker was awarded the Lorain YWCA Woman of Achievement, Erie Shores Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction, Heart of Ohio Boy Scout Council Distinguished Citizen and is in the Lake Ridge Academy Hall of Fame. With her surviving husband, Ben, the couple was a Best in Class 1993 Leadership Lorain County Distinguished Citizens Award recipient. She posthumously received the DAR Medal of Honor.

She was described as distinguished and humble. Enjoying the little-big things in life like cheering on children and grandchildren at the sidelines and supporting the family’s activities were most important.

Community Foundation Connect to a Cause

CONNECTING IN THE COMMUNITY

Community is intentionally the first word in the foundation’s name, Andrews says. The 43-year-old organization started when trustees of the Nordson Foundation wanted to make charitable giving more accessible. They pledged $500,000 to start the Community Foundation of Lorain County if others could match their gift — and this came to fruition. Early on, the foundation pioneered school endowment funds and created organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Leadership Lorain County.

“We have the back office that helps nonprofits and donors, and by providing that service to the community we are able to lift these voices,” Andrews says.

It’s one of the first community foundations in the country to be certified in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations and, by 2013, its assets topped $100 million — a significant milestone marking its rise to the top 2% of all U.S. foundations. In 2019, prior to its 40th anniversary, the Community Foundation had awarded more than $100 million in grants and scholarships during its time. In 2022, it awarded $6.2 million, and the 2023 Connect to a Cause 12hour campaign raised $311,788 for 94 county nonprofits.

“I received a card the other day that said, ‘Thank you. If not for this, we would not have been able to raise those dollars,’” Andrews says of the annual day of giving, now moving into its fifth year.

The Community Foundation’s four affiliate funds include The African American Community Fund, Hispanic Fund, Women’s Fund and Youth Fund. Among its many initiatives is the Imagination Library, an effort launched by Dolly Parton in 1995 that now gifts more than 2 million free books every month to children across the globe, including about 11,000 children in Lorain County.

The Stocker Foundation initially spearheaded Imagination Library with the Community Foundation supporting its back-office needs. Now, a

The Community Foundation of Lorain County’s Connect to a Cause annual daylong campaign has raised over $1 million for 94 different nonprofits since its inception in 2020.

coalition of partners including Stocker and the United Way of Greater Lorain County manages the early childhood reading program.

Imagination Library supports early literacy by delivering a free book to families’ homes every month until age five. The books are paid for through a partnership with the Lorain County Imagination Library Coalition, the Ohio General Assembly and other local donors and foundations.

The Community Foundation is committed to education for all children, and strategically considers how every student in the county who wants to go to college, earn a certificate or join the military can achieve their dreams. “We know in Lorain County that only 55%

Nick Abraham Cares

Every month, the Nick Abraham Cares program highlights a different charity, using its voice and publicity to raise awareness and support for nonprofits that make a difference in Lorain County. The initiative launched in October 2023 and includes a spotlight on Channel 8’s New Day Cleveland.

So far, Nick Abraham Auto Mall’s effort has highlighted Power 4 Pink, an organization supporting women and men fighting breast cancer who cannot financially support themselves. “We donated $50 per new and used vehicle we sold in October and all of our commercials spoke about Power 4 Pink,” says Michelle Sartor, daughter of Nick Abraham and the dealership’s business development manager.

Nick Abraham Cares has also supported Blessing House with a monetary donation, served as the

presenting sponsor of Blessing House’s biggest fundraising gala and hosted a children’s clothing drive. “We spread the word to our employees and vendors, and the whole idea is to inspire others to give to these great charities,” Sartor says.

Giving is a tradition for the 40-year-old business. Sartor describes a food drive the auto mall organized for Saint Jude Helping Hands Food Distribution Center in Elyria. “We had a customer bring in two pallets of pasta” she says. “Another customer saw the commercial and went to B.J.’s and bought so much food they had to order two Ubers to get it all to the dealership. It’s pretty special when you can get the community to contribute.”

All told, the Nick Abraham team delivered two pickup trucks full of food to Saint Jude.

COURTESY NICK ABRAHAM AUTO MALL

Gives

of our students have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and we hold a FAFSA workshop at El Centro,” Andrews says. “But moving forward we are reimagining our scholarship work to focus on access and all of the things a community foundation and our partners can do to engage all parts of our community to make sure kids get the education they need to succeed.”

ALIGNING TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS

“Choosing a favorite grant or nonprofit organization is somewhat like being asked to select which child is favorite,” says The Stocker Foundation’s executive director, Patricia O’Brien. “Lucky for me, I don’t ever have to choose because The Stocker Foundation has nothing but outstanding grantee partners.”

Established in 1979, The Stocker Foundation initially funded in the areas of arts-and-culture, community needs, education, health, social services and women’s issues. Following a lengthy strategic planning process in 2009, the foundation narrowed its grantmaking approach to focus on furthering reading literacy — and then in 2019, the addition of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

Imagination Library

Since its inception, 6,651 grants have been awarded to more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations totaling more than $67 million, O’Brien reports.

Notably, in 2023 The Stocker Foundation supported Neighborhood Alliance’s Repair, Renovate & Reimagine capital campaign, granting a $1-million gift to foster early childhood education and kindergarten readiness in alignment with the foundation’s grantmaking focus.

“It is our strong belief that over time, the methodology behind The Child and Family Continuum of Care [at Neighborhood Alliance] has the potential of being replicated in any community throughout the country using existing resources, expanding the reach of those services, and fostering connections and relationships that will allow families to have referrals to the resources they need in their own community,” O’Brien says.

Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, The Stocker Foundation will make submitting grant applications easier for nonprofits through its online portal. O’Brien says, “We will continue hosting a community convening around improved literacy outcomes for students and finding new ways to advocate for and promote our grantee partners.”

Imagination Library supports early literacy by delivering a free book to families’ homes every month until age five.

A CARING CONTINUUM

What started as a resettlement agency in 1927 providing housing has grown into a full-service nonprofit that meets critical needs including emergency shelter, homeless outreach, daily meal delivery, nutrition services, socialization for seniors, childcare and enrichment and access to family support programs such as Help Me Grow for addressing developmental delays.

Its Haven Center Emergency Shelter in Lorain has 68 beds, many of which are occupied by families and children in times of crisis when they have no place to call home, says Alicia Foss, president and CEO.

In September, Neighborhood Alliance broke ground on an addition to its shelter and expects to add about a dozen more beds. There is dire need. “It will also help us move from being a congregate shelter to offering more privacy and dignity,” Foss says,

STEAM

describing a plan to move toward bedroom/family room settings with private bathrooms versus a dormstyle arrangement.

“We want it to feel a little more like home so families can do something that is as incredibly normal as watching T.V. together — something we take for granted,” Foss relates.

This is possible following a historic $1 million grant awarded to the alliance by The Stocker Foundation. The funds will also help support its plan to foster early childhood education and development through The Child and Family Continuum of Care programs. A strategic grantmaking goal is to close the education equity gap by supporting kindergarten readiness, foundation reading and writing skills, and making sure students can read at or above grade-level by third grade.

“We are one of three agencies in the county that offers home visits for families that need additional parenting support, and we are the service coordination agency for Help Me Grow,” Foss says of the critical support services and navigation the program offers to families who suspect a development delay in a child ages birth to kindergarten. Trained professionals empower parents with skills and tools to help nurture their children.

Childcare programs are also an integral service. “If you think about a single mom who is re-entering the workforce, she lands a great job but needs childcare,” Foss relates. “We offer childcare programs and subsidies so she can feel good that her children are at a place where they can grow and develop while she works to support the family.”

Neighborhood Alliance’s services touch every age and stage in life.

“With our mobile senior centers, we can bring our services into the community where senior centers are not readily available,” Foss says, likening them to pop-up shops. “And we are the county’s provider of home-delivered meals and an affiliate partner of Meals on Wheels.”

Across the board, there is even greater demand for shelter, meals and support, Foss says. “Our organization

is continuing to grow, and the more we grow, the more we can provide services in the community,” she says.

IN-HOME SUPPORT, ENABLING INDEPENDENCE

The name came about in the 1950s when Easterseals’ most successful fundraising drive involved sending out stamps around Easter time, usually showcasing a lily or spring flower. (Prior to this, the organization was called the Society for Crippled Children.) The Easterseals, as the stamps were called, became a collectible for society ladies who coveted their annual sticker as a symbol of their support for the organization, which is now an international nonprofit with roughly 80 affiliates, including Easterseals Central and Southeast Ohio that serves Lorain County.

The organization started in Northwest Ohio, and in Lorain County, Easterseals provides in-home support through the Medicaid Individual Options Waiver that provides support services for “homemaker personal care.”

“We have a case worker in the county who works with a disabled young lady with quite a few hurdles that

COURTESY NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE

“The goal is to foster as much independence as humanly possible.”

– Easterseals

allows her to get assistance while living independently in an apartment,” explains Conor McGarvey, director of adult community and home services in the Northern Region.

“They share holidays together, she makes sure there are groceries, helps with medical advocacy, filling medications, paying bills and really making sure she receives whatever services are identified by the Individual Service Plan team,” McGarvey explains.

Currently, Easterseals serves individuals in Lorain County who require inhome support. “It’s very personalized

care, and it expands and contracts to the needs of the individual,” he says. “The goal is to foster as much independence as humanly possible.”

THE NORD WAY

Nordson Corporation’s late founder Walter G. Nord was a lifelong supporter of mental health services and maintained a tradition of community leadership and philanthropy. The Nord Family Foundation is a successor to the charitable trust he established in 1952 and provides grants to nonprofits to support projects in the areas of arts and culture, civic affairs, education and health and social services.

The foundation has contributed more than $145 million throughout Lorain County and beyond. Some of those grants include continued support for Blessing House in Elyria, funding for the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County, Firelands Association for the Visual Arts in Oberlin, Lorain

Historical

Society and Boys and Girls

Clubs of Northeast Ohio in Lorain.

In October 2023 alone, the foundation awarded $3,251,475.

With a mission to advance equity, expand access to opportunity and build thriving and inclusive communities, the family foundation’s support makes a measurable impact in the county and other regions of the country where family members live.

snapshot

ORAIN COUNTY

Tools of the Trade RIDGID

There are tools of every trade. Some are recognizable to everyone, others not so much.

Consider the pipe wrench. Every plumber’s toolkit has at least one. Yet 100 years ago tradespeople found finding a reliable tool to make or loosen pipe connections nothing short of challenging.

Enter RIDGID. With the launch of its pipe wrench in 1923, RIDGID changed everything. The company saw a needed and responded to it. What is equally impressive is that the pipe wrench remains about the same today as when it was invented. And it’s still manufactured in the USA from materials sourced within a 500-mile radius of its Elyriabased headquarters.

Not surprisingly, RIDGID considers its iconic pipe wrench to be a source of pride for the tradespeople who carry it and use it every day. Becky Brotherton, director of brand and engagement marketing says, “We often have customers send us photos of ‘wrench tattoos’ that they get as a badge of honor. These tools are also passed down from generation to generation with many of our original pipe wrenches still in use today.”

Today, in celebration of its 100th anniversary, RIDGID has produced 100-year commemorative anniversary wrenches and launched “RIDGID Wrenched 100 IPA,” a custom craft anniversary beer, developed in

collaboration with Unplugged Brewing Company, located a mile away from RIDGID’s Elyria headquarters.

But thinking of RIDGID as a one-trick pony doesn’t work. With more than 100 patents, RIDGID has consistently responded to the needs of the trades. In 1948, RIDGID launched power threading solutions. In 1967, it introduced drain cleaning equipment, followed by its introduction of press tools in 1999 and pipe patching in 2022. In fact, RIDGID currently offers more than 300 tools for the plumbing, mechanical and HVAC professional. Its products are sold in more than 100 countries.

Those are all reasons to celebrate. This summer, RIDGID hosted a day-long celebration with food, fun, games and entertainment for more than 1,000 employees, retirees and their family members. In June, it hosted its sixth annual RIDGID Experience, an all-expenses-paid, three-day VIP trip for select members of the skilled trades to join in experiences at the corporate headquarters. (Each guest was awarded a personalized, iconic RIDGID wrench.)

In addition to other festivities, RIDGID continued the celebration hosting winners of the European edition of the RIDGID Experience.

“The story of our founding reinforces RIDGID’s commitment to build products that help the hardest skilled tradespeople achieve better results,” Brotherton adds. — Myra Orenstein

Connecting People Who Care with Causes That Matter

Founded in 1980, the Community Foundation of Lorain County has served our community for 43 years. With more than 700+ endowment funds valued at approximately $140M, we are committed to investing wisely to maximize the impact of our funds. Each year, the interest earned from these investments provides $6.2M in scholarships and grants to support individuals and nonprofit organizations in Lorain County.

If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more about the Community Foundation, please contact Laura Malone, Development Office at the Community Foundation, at lmalone@peoplewhocare.org or 440.984.7390.