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Foundation celebrates decade of serving city

Past and current presidents of the Fairfield Community Foundation (left to right) Howard Dirksen, John Brunner, Sally Braun and Dick Niehaus will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the foundation with a dinner Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Past and current presidents of the Fairfield Community Foundation (left to right) Howard Dirksen, John Brunner, Sally Braun and Dick Niehaus will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the foundation with a dinner Tuesday, Nov. 10.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Past and current presidents of the Fairfield Community Foundation (from left) Howard Dirksen, John Brunner, Sally Braun and Dick Niehaus will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the foundation with a dinner Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Past and current presidents of the Fairfield Community Foundation (from left) Howard Dirksen, John Brunner, Sally Braun and Dick Niehaus will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the foundation with a dinner Tuesday, Nov. 10.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 3:51 PM Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Fairfield Community Foundation started with an idea and a meeting in August 1999.

Now, the foundation is celebrating 10 years of supporting Fairfield with an anniversary dinner entitled “Music from the Movies Hosted by Nick Clooney.” It begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Receptions Conference Center, 5975 Boymel Drive.

When Howard Dirksen decided to call that first meeting in 1999, he said he recognized the potential to support and connect with the community.

“At the time, you look at the awards given and the Hamilton Community Foundation gave five awards to Fairfield and 200-some to Hamilton kids,” said Dirksen, the foundation’s second board of trustees president. “I am elated at the potential of this foundation. It’s been used in a variety of ways I didn’t even imagine.”

The idea originated with Dirksen after he was honored by the Greater Cincinnati foundation. Then the idea was discussed with the Community Connections Group.

“Looking at it retrospectively, I thought that research was critical for having a smooth start,” he said.

Dick Niehaus was voted the foundation’s first board president.

Ten people committed $5,000 during five years and in December 1999, the foundation received its 501c3 status. Shirley Harvey was named the foundation’s first administrator, a volunteer position. At the end of Niehaus’ term in 2001, the foundation had raised $700,000.

“I think it will go on forever now,” Niehaus said. “We do enough good things that (people) should invest their extra cash in the foundation.”

Sally Braun was the foundation’s third president, serving three years.

“My heart has always been with scholarships, with kids and young people,” Braun said.

Under her watch, the foundation reached more than $2 million in value, increased grants and scholarships issued, took over organizing the Joe Nuxhall Golf Outing and scholarship luncheon, expanded the foundation’s paid staff, and enlarged the board of trustees to 13.

“I can’t take credit for everything that was done,” said Braun, who chaired seven annual celebrations. “There were a bunch of people that did a lot of work.”

John Brunner is in his second year as the board’s fourth president. He joined five years ago, but has volunteered since the foundation’s second year.

“I had tremendous faith,” he said. “The people that came together to start this are just stellar citizens that had the interest in the community at heart.”

A number of accomplishments have realized under Brunner that started while Braun was president — most notably the foundation’s certification with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.

“We were continuing to grow, but last year the economic situation hit all aspects of the world. We’ve continued to remain strong in terms of our giving,” Brunner said.

There were $100,000 in scholarships and $40,000 in grants issued last year, Brunner said.

A future challenge is raising operating funds.

“We are a victim of our own success,” Brunner said. “As we get larger, the cost of doing business increases. We need to make sure the funds are there to run the foundation, and continue to build the assets.”