Foundation reports annual numbers and welcomes new board of trustee members

Pictured is Gunther Meisse, John C.Roby, Bradford Groves and Julie McCready.

Richland County Foundation is planning how to help in the community and reviewing what it did in 2013.

During its annual meeting May 5 at the Mid Ohio Education Center. Richland County Foundation President Bradford Groves thanked individuals, families, businesses and organizations for their generosity.

According to its 2013 annual report, Foundation assets were $136.6 million; $3,273,717 was awarded in grants. Since the Foundation was established in 1945, $62.4million in grants has been awarded.

Many Richland County organizations benefited from Foundation funds and grants last year including Ohio State University-Mansfield, North Central State College, Ashland University, Raemelton Equestrian Therapeutic Center, Renaissance Theater, The Playhouse, Mansfield Art Center, Catalyst Life Services and the Mansfield Area YMCA.

New Foundation board of trustee members approved were Julie McCready, owner, Norwalk the Furniture Idea – McCready Interiors and Gunther Meisse, owner, WMFD-TV/WVNO Radio.

New officers elected were John C. Roby, chairman; Beth DeLaney, chairman-elect, Bruce Cummins, treasurer and Mark Masters, secretary.

Suzanne Allen, PhD, president of Philanthropy Ohio was the keynote speaker. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the first community foundation in the United States, the Cleveland Foundation. The idea of communities pooling charitable assets to achieve greater social impact quickly caught on. Today there are more than 700 community foundations in the United States.