Last year, the MCF awarded 188 area high school students $900,000 in college scholarships and $401,000 to 71 local non-profit agencies. Since 1986, the MCF has awarded $55 million in scholarships and grants, Barnett said.
Barnett said the foundation wants to increase its membership donations by 20 percent by 2022 and donor funds by 10 percent. The goal is to have 248 donor funds by 2022 and five have been added so far in 2019.
“We’re very pleased with that,” she said.
The MCF total assets also are rising, she said. By the end of last year, the foundation’s assets had fallen to below $30 million, but 2019 has been “a very, very good year” for the stock market. She said the foundation has $35 million in assets, and $21.3 million is endowed.
It’s time, she said, to move the MCF from “good to great.” So in January, the MCF staff, board of trustees and 20 community leaders gathered for a one-day planning retreat to map out a four-year strategy. The group identified challenges facing the region and opportunities to make the most impact in the communities, she said.
The group created four pillars: Community, Assets, Resources and Education.
She said Community includes members, volunteers, donors, non-profit organizations, the arts, recreational venues, festivals and other events. Assets comprise donations and funds set up by donors. Resources, she said, encompass workforce, businesses, educational institutions, and city government. Education continues to be a “priority” of the MCF and that means getting children ready for school, post high school and the future, she said.
Workforce readiness and economic vitality are priorities that will receive more emphasis than in the past, she told the crowd. By investing in programs that elevate the standard of living and partnering with businesses, schools and government to “revitalize and bring new residents” to the region, the MCF is taking “a proactive approach to strengthening our communities,” she said.
Several awards were presented Thursday night during the 33rd annual Middletown Community Foundation dinner at Miami Valley Gaming.
Mary Maurer Volunteer of the Year: Dustin Hurley. This award honors the younger generation of volunteers in the community between the ages of 30 and 50. Hurley has been a law partner with Hurley Gunsher, LTD since 2013. He is the president of the Mid-Miami Valley Bar Association and is a pro bono attorney for the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Group. This award came with a $500 donation to the recipient's choice, which was Middletown Moving Forward.
Mary Jane Palmer "I Love Middletown" Award: Cathie Mulligan. This award honors an unsung hero in the community. Honorees are community champions who make significant contributions to the Middletown area, but mostly go unnoticed for their efforts. This award came with a $500 donation to the recipient's choice, which was Middletown City Schools Math Department.
AK Steel Magnolia Award: Mary Cundiff. The award honors women of all ages who have faced personal adversity and have shown exceptional strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities. She lives in Middletown with her three children, two of whom are nonverbal and need constant care. This award came with a $2,500 donation to the recipient's choice, which was the Middletown Salvation Army.
Roland P. Ely Jr. President's Award: Ken Cohen. This award honors someone who exemplifies the spirit of humility, leadership and community. Cohen is a past member of the Board of Trustees for MCF, having provided his leadership and business acumen to assist the foundation in expanding from a small to a medium sized foundation.
New Legacy Society Members: Gerald and Jacqueline Banks, Mary Maurer, David and Carole Schul, Lou and Joyce Christy, Don and Betty Elworth, Doug Hattery and Kay Lawrence.
SOURCE: Middletown Community Foundation
About the Author