100 years old and going strong in preserving our communities

100 years old and going strong in preserving our communities

Since Nov. 12-18 is Community Foundation Week, I am writing to express our foundation’s deep appreciation for the hundreds of Mahoning Valley residents who have donated money and time to the many causes the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley supports.

I would also like to take this time to wish a Happy 100th Birthday to the community foundation movement, which began in Cleveland in 1914 and has sparked the creation of some 750 community foundations nationwide. Each one is a powerful, locally based engine for grant-making and activism that aim to preserve good works in our communities for future generations.

The Community Foundation lifts the quality of life in Mahoning and Trumbull counties in three ways. First, we deliver grants that support excellent programs. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, our foundation provided more than $1 million to dozens of diverse causes, ranging from exercise and nutrition sessions for under-privileged children to renovations at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Second, we help donors preserve and invest their assets. We assist more than 100 donors in a variety of ways, from facilitating their funding decisions to supporting local nonprofit operations. These are funds established by companies, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, families, individuals and other groups with warm hearts for our community.

Third, and perhaps more importantly, we provide big-picture perspective and strategy to the donors and agencies who rely on us. We align multiple funds behind community priorities that match their goals. We integrate work by multiple agencies to generate greater impact.

We differ from private foundations in that we’re led not by one family or company, but rather by a diverse board of community leaders from backgrounds in health, the arts, social services, business and government. Among community foundations, we differ in that we’re not aligned with one financial institution but work closely with several local banks providing investment management services.

As Ohioans, we should be proud that the community foundation concept got its start here in the Buckeye State 100 years ago. Let’s give some thought this week to what we can do to sustain this powerful movement.

Shari Harrell President, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley