Summer 2021
Board of Directors Josh Gordon, Chair Jason Slater, Vice Chair Jennifer Bidlingmyer, Treasurer Lynne Holcomb, Secretary Jim Bauschlinger Moriah Cheatham-Williams Paul Epner Brett Haverlick Trevor Hunt Mayor William Judge Denny Liddle Elizabeth Mayreis Craig Megyes Jeff Ramnytz Deb Shreiner Staff Suzanne Allen, Ph.D. Executive Director Kate DeAngelis Director of Marketing Brett Fogle, CPA, MT Director of Finance Carrie Herman Director of Community Impact Ted Herncane Director of Economic Development Kim Miller Office Manager
Congratulations Game Changers 2021 Individual Lisa McLean
2021 Organizations
Summa Health System - Barberton Campus Barberton City Schools We honor Lisa McLean for more than thirty years of service to the Barberton community through the City’s beautification program and coordination of Barberton’s largest and most beloved event, the Mum Festival. Friends describe Lisa as a person who can not only come up with ideas, but someone who has the ability to see them through. Though Lisa retired in January 2021, we recognize her careerlong commitment to Barberton and thank her for her legacy of community celebration and engagement. Summa Health System - Barberton Campus and Barberton City Schools are two of our city’s greatest assets. As we come upon the 25th anniversary of the Foundation this year, we recognize our beginnings with the sale of the hospital and our promise to build a new high school. This year marks our final payment on the debt service to the high school, and the completion of the first agreement the Foundation board made with the citizens of Barberton. The Foundation celebrates their special roles in our history and we commend the strength of these two organizations and their exceptional response to the pandemic.
Summa Health Barberton Campus, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Hughes, and Barberton City Schools, under the leadership of Superintendent Jeff Ramnytz, have weathered incredible challenges in the face of COVID-19. Over the past 18 months, when the majority of citizens were advised to stay home, the school and hospital staff rallied. Summa Health Barberton Campus and its first responders have been at the forefront of the pandemic, fighting to return us to “normal.” Summa handled the initial influx of COVID-19 patients and continues to provide testing and vaccinations. Barberton City Schools continues to offer both in-person and online learning, with approximately 1,200 families using online learning taught by Barberton teachers last year. The schools have implemented several supplemental learning opportunities for students, provided food, support, and leadership as we all navigate the changes COVID-19 has brought us. We thank the individuals behind these organizations: the nurses, teachers, doctors, administrators, tech teams, lab workers, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, counselors, specialists, and advocates for their incredible efforts this year.
Welcome Ted Herncane, Director of Economic Development Barberton Community Foundation welcomed Ted Herncane to the staff on June 7. Ted is the Foundation’s first director of economic development. Economic development has long been a focus of the Foundation through grant making and PRI partnerships with BCDC. This new role presents an opportunity to work in a greater strategic role with BCDC and the City of Barberton to expand the possibilities of business in Barberton. Ted will help the Foundation support current businesses, welcome new business, convene and facilitate conversations that leverage partnerships, and foster investments in downtown Barberton and its corridors.
We interviewed Ted for his initial thoughts on Barberton and the work to come: Welcome Ted! Have you enjoyed your first months here? Yes! The Foundation staff and community here have been very welcoming. I really appreciate that. What are some things on the horizon for you? Initially, I am getting acquainted with the existing economic development partners and learning how they interact. It’s been great getting to know them and see what they do. Moving forward, my goal is to support their roles and help fill any service gaps to complete our economic development ecosystem. What aspect of Barberton has made the biggest impression on you? The people, for sure. Barberton is a tightknit community where people know each other. I come from a place just like that so I feel right at home. Also, the number of family-owned-and-operated businesses is a huge plus for the community. What do you hope to have accomplished a year from now? My goal is to work with the City, BCDC, the South Summit Chamber, Downtown Merchants Association, and external economic development partners to articulate a meaningful economic development strategy that can increase Barberton’s economic viability for the future. There is a strong economic foundation here and we can enhance that by working collaboratively and focusing our economic development investments.
Welcome from the Board Chair We have an important date coming up… this fall marks the 25th anniversary of Barberton Community Foundation. Anniversaries are a time for celebration! We will celebrate with several events, including our Annual Dinner on Thursday, November 4th, which returns after a pause last year due to COVID-19. At this year’s event we will honor our 2020 Game Changers, Dorothy Somerville and the Barberton Area Jaycees. We will also celebrate our newly-announced 2021 Game Changers. Congratulations to Lisa McLean, Dr. Michael Hughes and staff at Summa Health Barberton Campus, and Jeff Ramnytz and staff at Barberton City Schools. We are also celebrating the completion of our arts and community grant cycle of 2021. Six grants were made, including to the City of Barberton to help upgrade the lights at Foundation Fields, to the Parks and Recreation Department, and to Habitat for Humanity to start another new home project in Barberton, amongst others. We are thrilled to welcome the talented and accomplished Ted Herncane to our team! He joins us after years of helping spur economic growth in Massillon. He is already working with the City of Barberton and Barberton Community Development Corporation on a variety of economic development projects and initiatives. The goal is to support the community-wide goal of bringing more businesses to Barberton. Big anniversaries demand reflection. The Foundation has touched so many lives in the past 25 years, giving $109 million in grants and scholarships. How has the Foundation impacted your experience in Barberton or your life? Please share your stories on our Facebook page. As we begin a season of celebration, I’m also reflecting on a quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We all have the great gift and responsibility of being part of the Barberton community. If we want it to be great, it’s up to us to make it that way. Now is our time! We look forward to seeing you during our season of celebration! Sincerely,
Josh Gordon, Chair of the Board of Directors
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Thank You Donors!
Celebrating Our Generous Donors In July, we welcomed a group of people who’ve made significant gifts to our Foundation at the inaugral “Celebration of Donors” event. It was the first time we’ve been able to host a group of friends in almost two years and it was truly delightful to see all the hugs and handshakes. The theme of the event was simple: a celebration of our donors and a chance to gather and give thanks. Our speaker, Joe Bull, shared stories during his talk “Creating a Legacy through Planned Giving,” about how people chose to leave a bequest to a charity in their will and how that made a real difference. In each example, the donors saw three main benefits: •
Major tax savings was a deciding factor in choosing to create a planned gift.
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The donor has more control over how the gift is used.
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Most importantly, the donor had the ability to leave a lasting legacy.
Barberton Community Foundation has been the recipient of gifts from several estates; each was established with the donor’s intent and sometimes adjusted throughout the donor’s lifetime. Each planned gift also created a lasting legacy for the organizations the donor loved. Some donors used their planned gift to create a new fund, others added to an existing fund, and some have provided an endowment for their favorite charities. There are many options. If you’d like more information on planned giving, I hope you’ll have a conversation with your attorney or financial planner, and then let the Foundation know of your intention. We can help you think about how best to meet your philanthropic goals for you and your family. Warmly.
Suzanne Allen, Ph.D. Executive Director 2
Grant Partner Feature: Victim Assistance Program Victim Assistance Program is a long-time grant partner of Barberton Community Foundation. The Foundation most recently awarded Victim Assistance Program $6,000 in 2020 toward hiring a full-time Victim Advocate for Barberton. In a nutshell, Victim Assistance Program aids victims of violent crimes. Their mission “is to empower our community to restore lives impacted by crisis, violence and tragedy.” They provide 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy and education to victims of crime and trauma and the professional community who serves this population. Victim Assistance Program staff are available 24/7 from their crisis intervention teams, which provide free immediate support at a crime scene, to their advocacy services, which provide support through the criminal justice system. Advocates utilize a unique collaboration with the police, prosecutors, and the courts to support their clients. Victim Assistance Program staff also refer to and connect services, including everything from protection orders and counseling to resources for food and housing. The Foundation visited Victim Assistance Program’s Barberton office, found on the first floor of the municipal building, to meet with newly-hired Chelsea Robertson, Barberton Victim Advocate; Dr. Evelyn Williams, Barberton Victim Advocate Coordinator; and Rebecca Cool, the Akron office’s Assistant Director of Community Resources. Rebecca explained that the Barberton Municipal Court serves more than just Barberton. The communities of Green, New Franklin, Norton, Copley, Coventry, and Clinton all utilize the Barberton court. Sometimes a case comes from ODNR and the parks or the State Highway Patrol. The court conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases, handles traffic and criminal misdemeanors, and small civil cases. This large jurisdiction has kept Barberton Victim Advocate Coordinator Evelyn Williams very busy. Her day typically starts by getting the docket for that morning. She reviews any jail arraignments and felony cases, noting all the different hearings that are taking place that day. “Often we know what the charge is, but the docket won’t show victim information,” Evelyn explained. She uses her connections with the police to obtain victim contact information. Rebecca shared, “One aspect of Evelyn’s role is to educate officers about Victim Assistance Program and their resources, so police will refer victims directly to us. She has done an excellent job building rapport with the police departments in the area.” Evelyn typically manages 48 – 62 active cases, which includes follow-up, making sure people are aware of court dates, updating people about what to expect, explaining legal rights, and providing emotional
L-R: Chelsea Robertson, Barberton Victim Advocate; Carrie Herman, Barberton Community Foundation Director of Community Impact; Evelyn Williams, Barberton Victim Advocate Coordinator; and Rebecca Cool, Director of Community Resources
24-hour crisis and text hotline: 330-376-0040 24-hour online chat: victimassistanceprogram.org support. “It’s a lot of work, which is why I’m so excited to have Chelsea join us,” Evelyn said. Chelsea’s position at the Barberton office is possible in part through the Foundation’s grant. Regarding their work, Chelsea said it’s important to remember that many things can constitute a traumatic or violent crime, including events such as house fires, road rage, and identity theft. “You might think a victim fits a certain profile, but we’ve seen every age, race, and income. For example, identity theft can be very traumatic. We help them navigate the whole process,” said Chelsea. Regarding the concept of victimhood, she said, “We let people self-define if they are a ‘victim’ of a crime or not. Many people don’t want to be labeled as victims, so we try to approach it from a place of empowerment. We let each person define what that means for themselves.” The sense of empowerment and quiet support embodied by both Chelsea and Evelyn lends an idea of the core services provided by Victim Assistance Program. If you would like to learn more about Victim Assistance Program, go to: victimassistanceprogram.org or call 330-375-7022.
Newest Grant Partners: Arts & Community Cycle Barberton Community Foundation is pleased to announce our second grant cycle of 2021 totaling $63,179.50 to six area nonprofits serving Barberton. This cycle focused on arts and community programs. Coming up: our final deadline of 2021 is October 1 and focuses on health and wellness grants. Prospective grant applicants should first submit a letter of inquiry to Carrie Herman no later than three weeks prior to the grant deadline.
City of Barberton
City of Barberton was awarded $20,000 for a Foundation Fields lighting upgrade. This grant supports the installation of exterior LED lighting retrofit upgrades for all four fields at the complex. The current lighting system is the original system installed more than twenty years ago. Since then, technology has greatly improved, and an upgrade will provide more efficient and cost-effective lighting.
........................................................................... Magical Theatre Company
City of Barberton Parks and Recreation Department
The Foundation awarded $15,000 to the City of Barberton Parks and Recreation Department for operating support including: programming, youth camps, summer concerts, the Mum Fest, and park maintenance. The grant will allow the Parks Department to support additional services under park improvements, including tree removals, planting new trees, splash pad renovations and the installation of new park amenities.
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Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity received $15,000 from the Foundation for a Barberton New Home Build. Habitat builds homes for low-to-moderate income families and offers 30-year, zero-interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity of Summit County is honored and humbled to accept a grant from the Barberton Community Foundation to support building a new home for a family in our program in the City of Barberton. Homeownership is the key to so many outcomes for a family – improved health, financial stability, and self sufficiency as well as improved school performance for children. For every key we share with a family to their front door, we share it with the community that welcomes them, and the Barberton community has always been a place our families can call home. - Rochelle D. Sibbio, President & CEO Habitat for Humanity of Summit County
Magical Theatre Company was awarded $5,500 for operating support to help sustain the organization through the ongoing pandemic. Magical Theatre Company is northeast Ohio’s only professional resident and touring theatre for young audiences. They have brought theatre to thousands of families for 40 years. Their annual programming was completely cancelled due to the pandemic: resident performances at the Park Theater for school and family audiences; touring productions to schools; and educational programs (workshops, residencies, after-school programs, summer camps, and resource materials).
............................................................................ Barberton High School Art Department
Barberton High School Art Department was awarded $4,179.50 to purchase and integrate iPads for classroom use. iPads are a common tool for learning the creative applications many professionals use in their fields while creating art. The skills the students will learn will transfer to job skills for work in illustration, graphic design, architecture, interior design and other design-centered occupations.
.......................................................................... United Way of Summit & Medina
The Foundation granted $3,500 to United Way of Summit & Medina to support their 2-1-1 service. The 2-1-1 Information and Referral hotline is a free, confidential, 24/7 information helpline that helps residents find health and social services, food pantries, and more. From April 2020 to March 2021, 2-1-1 operators scheduled food assistance for 557 Barberton households seeking emergency food, which is the number one referral service for Barberton residents.
For more information, visit www.barbertoncf.org | Call 330.745.5995 Find us on Facebook @BarbertonCommunity Foundation =
460 W. Paige Ave. | Barberton, OH 44203
Barberton Labor Day BBQ & Music Festival September 4th-6th: Saturday and Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00 pm, Monday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Join us for barbeque vendors, music, fishing derby, cornhole and more! For information please email: info@barbertonlaborday.com The Labor Day BBQ & Music Festival still needs sponsors! You can become a Friend of the Festival ($100) which includes website promotions, social media mentions, and acknowledgement during the event. Make checks payable to Barberton Community Foundation (Attn: Dennis Liddle) and mail to 460 W. Paige Ave. Questions? Contact Paula Kallio at paula1724@att.net Labor Day Concert & Fireworks Saturday, September 4, at 7:00 pm - Disco Inferno Fireworks to follow concert. Labor Day Parade Monday, September 6, at 10:00 am
The mission of Barberton Community Foundation is to strengthen the Barberton community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration, and creating a legacy of giving to do good. For more information and event updates, visit www.barbertoncf.org 330.745.5995 | 460 W. Paige Ave. | Barberton, OH 44203 Find us on Facebook @BarbertonCommunity Foundation
We envision an improved quality of life for Barberton residents, now and forever.