Another year with COVID-19! It may have been less stressful in some ways, perhaps more stressful in others, but adjustments were made. The Medina County Community Fund had to cancel its annual meeting, so we couldn’t meet in person to celebrate our grantees and share good news with our supporters. However, the kick-off of the Pillars of Giving campaign sparked donations, and that generosity helped us to realize some very significant gifts in 2021. For this, we are very grateful.
One of the other areas of focus for 2021 was the rebuilding of the Medina County Community Fund Advisory Board in numbers and breadth of experience, as well as location. With longtime board members Bill Heck of Chippewa Lake and Tim Smith of Brunswick stepping off the board due to term limits, and Brian Gale, a former business owner in Brunswick, leaving the board when he sold his business, there was an opportunity for major board reconstruction. Strategically building a board that reflects all the reaches of Medina County is a major undertaking that began in late 2020 and continued to make great progress in 2021.
Six new board members were welcomed to the board in 2021. It is my pleasure to introduce Erika Branch, Jim Brocklehurst, Dan Calvin, Mark Dorman, Michelle Masica, and Kimberly Bolas-Miller. You can learn more about each of these new additions below. The search is still on for additional board members that represent the southwest, western, and northern areas of the county. If interested in serving Medina County and our fund through board leadership or with a charitable gift, please contact me at 330-607-8811.
The board will hold its annual meeting, grants presentations, and a special program to honor fund founders, Jack Holland and Nobby Lewandowski. Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 23 and join us for this celebration. We are also actively searching for all former board members to reconstruct board history, so please contact me if you previously served on the board.
Sincerely,
Barbara Dzur, Chair
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With an annual gift of $1,000 or more to the Medina County Community Fund, you join our Pillars of Giving Circle, which helps sustain our fund and increase annual grantmaking efforts to improve the lives of Medina County residents, particularly in the areas of education, health, community service, and arts and culture. For more information about our Pillars of Giving Circle, contact Renee Scherick at rscherick@akroncf.org.
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Meet Our Newest Board Members |
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Erika Branch is a Client Executive with One Digital, a benefits and Human Resources firm in Medina Township. Erika and her family live in the Highland Schools area of Montville Township.
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Jim Brocklehurst is a retired Huntington Bank executive who returned to Medina County and now makes his home with his family in the city of Wadsworth.
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Dan Calvin, an attorney with Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston, Ltd., works in the areas of corporate and real estate law. Dan and his family live in the city of Medina.
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Mark Dorman is president of Dorman Legacy Advisors now located in Granger Township. Mark and his family reside in the Medina Schools area of Montville Township.
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Michelle Masica is a real estate broker with Sperry Commercial Global – The Masica Group. Michelle and her husband live in Wadsworth Township.
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Kimberly Bolas-Miller is a Vice President/Private Banker for Westfield Bank. Kimberly is also a Sharon Township Trustee and lives with her family in Sharon Township.
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Medina County Community Fund is in the process of growing its Advisory Board and its visibility in Medina County. To accomplish this, it is imperative to have a strong, working board that represents the various areas of our county. Since 1994, the primary task of the board has been to raise funds to underwrite its grant distribution program, as well as committing to a personal gift in support of the fund. Board members must live or work in Medina County.
Board members should understand and believe in the importance of philanthropy as a way of serving others. By supporting the missions of the many nonprofits at work in Medina County, the fund is able to maximize the impact of its annual grants over a broader area of needs. Medina County Community Fund has given back over $650,000 in grants since its inception.
The fund's search for additional board members is focused on the southwest, west and northern sections of Medina County, but applications from all interested parties will be accepted. The Nominations Committee will interview all applicants. Applications are due by April 15, 2022.
If you have questions or need further information, please contact the current Board Chair and Nominations Committee Chair, Barbara Dzur at bjdzur@zoominternet.net.
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Save the Date and Get Ready to 'Spark Hope' at Our Annual Meeting |
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We hope you'll plan to join us on Thursday, June 23 at the Blue Heron Brewery & Event Center for Spark Hope, our annual meeting. During the event, we'll celebrate our fund's impact in the community and announce our 2022 grants to some of Medina County's most deserving nonprofit organizations.
To become a sponsor, fill out a form using the button below and submit it to Deb Hoffman at dhoffman@akroncf.org.
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In 2021, the Medina County Community Fund awarded $33,000 to nine nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for Medina County residents. These grants support the fund’s four pillars of grantmaking – education, health, community service and arts and culture.
Below, you can read accounts from three of the nonprofits that received funding this past year. Grants for 2022 will be announced at our annual meeting on June 23.
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Medina Cares provides temporary financial assistance and community resources to Medina County residents ages 19-64 who are experiencing a medical crisis. In 2021, Medina Cares helped 36 people pay for the expenses in 50 households. Approved expenses included utilities, rent, food, education, and car repairs. The grant from the Medina County Community Fund funded marketing and setting up an improved phone system.
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Love INC has served over 1,024 families and individuals with financial assistance for rent, utilities, homeless motel stay, medical and dental needs, car repairs, insurance, furniture and other essentials. The fund's grant allowed Love INC to provide community members with vouchers to buy furniture and other necessities from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Medina. Volunteers helped transport items from the store, and watched as people turned empty apartments into their new home.
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In 2021, the Medina County Community Fund supported the Aspire: Learn More, Earn More project through Project LEARN. The grant offered FREE academic skills instruction in a classroom setting and one-on-one tutoring. The students worked on increasing their employability skills, learning English as a second language, and preparing to enter post-secondary education. In total, Project: LEARN helped five constituents earn their high school diplomas.
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Thank You For Your Gifts
Thank you to the generous donors who contributed to the Medina County Community Fund from Aug. 1, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022. Your gifts will impact the lives of Medina County residents for years to come. For a complete list of donors, visit www.akroncf.org/MCCFgifts.
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Make Your Gift Last Forever
Giving to the Medina County Community Fund through your will or trust is a simple and tax-friendly way to improve the quality of life in Medina County now and for future generations. Learn more about all of your planned giving options and get sample bequest language by downloading our free guide.
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Ways to Give
From cash to mutual funds, and retirement assets to real estate, there are many ways to give to the Medina County Community Fund.
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