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3 4 6 10 8 A HOME RUN FOR COLUMBUS’ YOUTH Columbus Youth Foundation still going strong THE IMPORTANCE OF STEWARDSHIP Burton Stevenson’s legacy lives on CELEBRATING 200 YEARS! Events honor Columbus’ historic birthday BOOMING BIZTOWN Junior Achievement program prospers NEX∙US (nĕk’s s) N., 1. A MEANS OF CONNECTION; A LINK OR TIE. 2. A CONNECTED SERIES OR GROUP. 3. THE CORE OR CENTER. SUMMER 2012 FORMERLY KNOWN AS Commentary IT IS HERE that history resounds and opportunity abounds
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Page 1: NEXUS_Summer 2012

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A HOME RUN FOR COLUMBUS’ YOUTHColumbus Youth Foundation still going strong

THE IMPORTANCE OF STEWARDSHIPBurton Stevenson’s legacy lives on

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS!Events honor Columbus’ historic birthday

BOOMING BIZTOWNJunior Achievement program prospers

NEX∙US (nĕk’s s) N., 1. A MEANS OF CONNECTION; A LINK OR TIE. 2. A CONNECTED SERIES OR GROUP. 3. THE CORE OR CENTER.

SUMMER 2012

FORMERLY KNOWN AS Commentary

IT IS HEREthat history resounds and opportunity abounds

Page 2: NEXUS_Summer 2012

For more information, visit www.

columbusfoundation.org or call

614/251-4000.

Photos by Nick George, unless noted.

OUR MISSION

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

OUR PROMISE

To help you help others through the most effective philanthropy possible.

©2012 The Columbus Foundation

Confirmed in compliance with national standards for U.S. community foundations.

2 / NEXUS SUMMER 2012

GOVERNING COMMITTEE

Michael J. Fiorile

Chairman

Barbara J. Siemer

Vice Chairman

David P. Blom

Jerry Jurgensen

C. Robert Kidder

Dwight E. Smith

Bruce A. Soll

Barbara Trueman

Matthew D. Walter

Douglas F. Kridler

President and CEO

Raymond J. Biddiscombe, CPA

Senior Vice President, CFO

Lisa Schweitzer Courtice, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President

Tamera Durrence

Vice President

Beth Fisher

Vice President

Carol Harmon

Vice President

EDITORIAL STAFF

Nick George

Raquel Gober

Amy Vick

Douglas F. Kridler

President and CEO

PRESIDENT’SPERSPECTIVE

CONTACT US!

If you have any questions or comments or want to tell us what you think about NEXUS, we would love

to hear from you. E-mail us at [email protected] or call 614/251-4000.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS Commentary

Upon receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature, the late Wislawa Szymborska wrote the following words: “There is, has been, and will always be a certain group of people whom inspiration visits. Their work becomes one continuous adventure as long as they manage to keep discovering new challenges in it. Difficulties and setbacks never quell their curiosity. A swarm of new questions emerges from every problem they solve.” This is what we aspire to at The Columbus Foundation—a place at the center, a place of inspiration where we can connect to each other and to ideas and information to help us help others, a place where problems are solved and new questions are carefully considered every day—a place that can be described as our community’s “nexus.”

Afew months ago, a good friend

and collaborator Jeff Lyttle sent

us this note: “There was a letter to

the editor in an issue of The New

Yorker magazine earlier this year

from Andrea Johnson of Bronx, New York. She

was commenting on a story about philanthropy

that had been published in an earlier edition.

I really liked the way she described the skills

necessary to be a successful philanthropist:

‘…an abundance of humility, high tolerance

for uncertainty and complexity, patience in

understanding context, and willingness to listen

to the people who live with problems that most

philanthropists encounter only occasionally.’”

Well stated.

One example of a philanthropist who has a full

appreciation for the complexities of this work is

Jeff Skoll, whose goal is to “live in a sustainable

world of peace and prosperity.” Through the

insightful and diverse investments he is making

in social progress around the world, he has

come to the following conclusion, as found in the

March/April issue of Stanford’s alumni magazine,

that “Amid all the goals that are ‘really hard, and

really hard to win,’…the best outcome depends

on igniting an army of educated and motivated

citizens.”

If not an “army,” you are certainly a “special

force” of educated and motivated citizens—an

invaluable community resource and capacity. It

is our goal that through our work and through

our programs, and by clearly communicating our

discoveries, we will continue to ignite in you the

inspiration to work to help others through the

most effective philanthropy possible.

You remember these lines from William

Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”: “What’s in a

name? That which we call a rose By any other

name would smell as sweet.” Those famous lines

remind us that names matter little compared to

the real substance of things.

So it is, that we have come to change the

name of our newsletter from Commentary to

NEXUS. “Commentary” was a name; “Nexus” is

what we are—the place from which we pursue

community progress with and for our donors.

Through a variety of paths taken, it is here that

we find ourselves, at this place of connection,

care, humility, inspiration, endurance, generosity,

challenges and solutions called The Columbus

Foundation. Welcome to your “Nexus.”

Summer 2012

Page 3: NEXUS_Summer 2012

George “Buddy” Byers, Jr. and Robert “Bob”

Lazarus, Jr. remember when their fathers helped

start the baseball team and bought Jets Stadium.

They also recall

the decision the

group made to

establish the

Columbus Youth

Foundation (CYF),

which used all the

profits from the

team to help sick,

underprivileged, and disabled youth in

Columbus—with a particular emphasis on

Franklinton.

For more than 55 years, CYF has been

actively supporting nonprofit organizations that

provide recreational opportunities for Columbus’

youth. In 1975, Franklin County bought Jets

Stadium from CYF, with the proceeds benefiting

the foundation.

“With the funds CYF received from the sale of

the stadium, the trustees wanted to preserve and

continue its longstanding relationship with the

community,” said Tami Durrence, vice president

for Supporting Foundations. “In 1976, CYF

became the first Supporting Foundation at The

Columbus Foundation.

It is unique in that

instead of being

driven by a family

or corporation, its

grantmaking is guided

by the intentions of

its initial founders,

more than a half

century ago.”

Through its competitive grantmaking

program, CYF has awarded hundreds of

grants totaling more than $3 million since

1976 to area organizations focused on giving

youth opportunities to participate in programs

emphasizing recreation and fun.

One organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of

Columbus, has been receiving support from

CYF for decades. Since 1976, the foundation has

awarded more than $800,000 to the nonprofit,

including grants for capital projects and to

support afterschool and summer programs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus provides

afterschool and summer programs for hundreds

of kids at its Westside, Milo-Grogan, and Linden

neighborhood centers.

“Take a look at this building,” said Mr. Lazarus,

sitting in the library at its Westside location. “To

see what they have done here is thrilling. It

makes me feel good.”

Since 1985, CYF has sponsored the annual

Best All-Around Student Awards, first at Cooper

Stadium (formerly Jets Stadium) and now at

Huntington Park. The evening celebration

features food, family, and baseball—and honors

one male and one female student from every

middle and high school in Columbus City

Schools. Recipients are selected based on their

citizenship, academic achievements or progress,

perseverance, athletic accomplishments, or for

their ability to overcome adversity. More than

2,800 students have been recognized to date,

and the event is a highlight of the year for CYF

and the trustees.

“I’ve had parents come up to me and say, ‘It’s

so nice to have somebody slap my kid on the

back and say what a good job they are doing,’”

said Mr. Byers.

Mr. Byers and Mr. Lazarus both serve on CYF’s

board of trustees, continuing the efforts of their

fathers.

“I think they would be surprised it’s still going

on,” Mr. Lazarus laughed. “And very pleased

at what the results have been over the past

50 years and the things it has accomplished. I

think they would take a great deal of pleasure in

knowing their relatively modest initial gifts have

done a lot of good.”

To learn more about the Columbus Youth

Foundation, visit http://columbusfoundation.org/

publication/nexus-summer-2012/

When their fathers teamed up with a group of civic leaders in 1955 to form the Columbus Jets, they set in motion a legacy of giving that still exists today.

NEXUS SUMMER 2012 / 3

A Home Run for Columbus’ Youth

Pictured (l-r) Buddy Byers, Bob Lazarus

“I THINK THEY WOULD TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE IN KNOWING THEIR RELATIVELY MODEST INITIAL GIFTS HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD.”

—BOB LAZARUS

Page 4: NEXUS_Summer 2012

Community Foundations, Inc. holds,

invests, and makes grants from nearly

140 funds that benefit organizations

primarily outside of Columbus and

Franklin County.

Foundation staff provide assistance

to advisory committees (the feet on

the ground, if you will) in the oversight

and grantmaking deliberations

for these funds that benefit their

respective communities. One such fund is the Burton

E. Stevenson Endowment for Children Fund, which

became associated with Community Foundations, Inc.

in 1992.

The advisory committee and its volunteer

coordinator, Chillicothe resident Marilyn Carnes,

meet semiannually to deliberate on how the

available grantmaking dollars will

be allocated to the agencies and

nonprofit organizations that serve the

underprivileged children in this area.

One organization that has received

regular support from the Stevenson

Fund is Carver Community Center.

The center provides recreational

facilities and meals for needy children

in Chillicothe.

Since its association with Community Foundations,

Inc., the Burton E. Stevenson Endowment Fund has

made nearly 750 grants totaling almost $2 million.

Foundation staff have been privileged to assist in

the work of this fund’s advisory committee—helping

to strengthen and improve life for children in Ross

County, just as Mr. Stevenson wished.

BURTON

STEVENSON

was born in

Chillicothe

in 1872. He

graduated from

Chillicothe High

School in 1889

and attended

Princeton

University for three years. He accepted

a job with the Chillicothe Leader,

and eventually became city editor of

the Chillicothe Daily News and Daily

Advertiser.

In 1899, he became the city librarian,

a position he held until 1957 except

for a brief stint in Europe during World

War I, and during a job as director of

the American Library in Paris in 1925.

While working, he wrote more than 20

detective, adventure, and children’s

stories.

Mr. Stevenson, who died in 1962

at the age of 89, established his fund

to serve underprivileged children of

Chillicothe and Ross County.

Raymond J. Biddiscombe, CPA

Senior Vice President, CFO

4 / NEXUS SUMMER 2012

MANY OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION HAS ANOTHER ENTITY—STATEWIDE AFFILIATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, INC.

TheImportanceof Stewardship

GRANTS

750totaling nearly $2 million

INTRODUCING A COLUMN ON STEWARDSHIP BY RAY BIDDISCOMBE

Page 5: NEXUS_Summer 2012

REGINA MOELLENKAMP has seen the world

change dramatically during her lifetime. Born in West

Jefferson in 1911, she remembers how hard it was to

be a farming family during the Depression.

After graduating from high school in 1929 and

moving to Columbus, Mrs. Moellenkamp took a

job as a switchboard operator with the Ohio Bell

Telephone Company, where her career lasted more

than 32 years.

In 2003, she established a planned gift through

The Columbus Foundation. Her fund, to be named

the F.A. and R.A.M. Fund after her and her late

husband, will help support nonprofits that serve the

homeless and disabled, and organizations working

with individuals who have cerebral palsy. Her fund

will also provide scholarships for central Ohio

students with special needs.

Many roads can lead to creating a legacy—each path

as unique as the individual or family that takes it. One

of the most remarkable things about charitable giving

is the vast number of ways you can make it work for

you—and have an impact on the people, places, and

things you care about most.

One route is through estate giving, a growing

trend that allows you to create a future fund that will

award grants in perpetuity, ensuring an enduring

contribution to the organizations you are passionate

about. According to a 2011 report from the Giving

USA Foundation, which tracks U.S. charitable giving

trends, bequests were up nearly 19 percent in 2010.

In recent years, The Columbus Foundation, too,

has seen this increase, welcoming a growing number

of legacy gifts from individuals of all ages dedicated

to helping the community today and in the future.

Many individuals are drawn to the fact that the

Foundation has flexible options, and appreciate the

assurance that by working with the Foundation, their

charitable intent will be honored in perpetuity.

Since 1991, The Columbus

Foundation’s Legacy Society has

recognized individuals who have let

the Foundation know they plan to

leave a gift to the community through

a bequest, trust, life insurance policy,

retirement fund, or charitable gift

annuity. Serving as a trusted steward

of these legacies, the Foundation

ensures donors’ intent will be

followed, benefiting the community

for many years to come.

THELEGACY SOCIETY

Professional Council Chairs Named

We’re pleased to introduce the 2012 chairs of The Columbus Foundation’s Professional

Council: KAREN MOORE, partner with Bricker & Eckler and chair of the firm’s Trusts and

Estates practice group, and JIM BUDROS, principal of Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc.

Today, the Council consists of more than 160 attorneys, accountants, and other professional

advisors partnering with us to help their clients create personalized philanthropic plans.

They meet periodically to network and learn more about their field, the community, and the

Foundation. For a complete list of members, visit http://columbusfoundation.org/publication/

nexus-summer-2012/

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!Learn more about The Columbus Foundation and our Planned Giving services by contacting Angela Parsons, J.D., associate director of planned giving, at 614/251-4000, or by e-mail, [email protected].

NEXUS SUMMER 2012 / 5

Charting your own course

101 and giving for the future!

members of The Legacy Society

674

FOUNDATION OFFERS MANY OPTIONS TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

825.1 total amount of planned gifts

as of 12/31/10

$

MILLION

Page 6: NEXUS_Summer 2012

INNOVATIVE Technology + Philanthropy

Through the recently enhanced

PowerPhilanthropy,® thousands of

people who participated in The Big

Give had a simple, smart, and secure

way to give to the programs and

organizations they are passionate

about.

VALUABLEThanks to the remarkable spirit of

dedication and commitment by Big

Give participants in central Ohio and

across the country, 501 nonprofit

organizations can now do more,

serve more, and go further than

ever before.

COLLABORATIVEThe Big Give was bolstered from

the start by $1 million in matching

funds from a Governing Committee

approved grant and a group of

Foundation donors. Thanks to these

initial matching funds, everyone’s

donations went even further.

Initially created by The Columbus Foundation to give central Ohio nonprofits an economic boost, The Big

Give became a philanthropic milestone for our community. Over a 24-hour-period, thousands of gifts poured

in from all over the country, supporting everything from cancer research to the arts.

Fueled by a desire to help and a passion to strengthen and improve our community, Foundation donors and

members of the community came together and made history.

6 / NEXUS SUMMER 2012

Over a 24-hour period, our big-hearted community came together to leverage $8,524,928 for 501 central Ohio nonprofit organizations.

THANKS TO YOU, THE BIG GIVE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

“WE THANK

AND CONGRATULATE

everyone who was part of The

Big Give—our generous donors,

dedicated

nonprofits, and

our responsive

community!

You helped

central Ohio

realize a

magnificent

achievement,” said David R.

Meuse, 2011 Columbus Foundation

Governing Committee Chairman.

INSPIRINGHabitat for

Humanity

Greater

Columbus will

be constructing

the “Big Give

House” this year to celebrate the

83 donors who generously gave

more than $100,000 to support the

organization during The Big Give.

Page 7: NEXUS_Summer 2012

NEXUS SUMMER 2012 / 7

Over a 24-hour period, our big-hearted community came together to leverage $8,524,928 for 501 central Ohio nonprofit organizations.

THE BIG GIVE BY THE NUMBERS

given from current

Foundation donors and

Supporting Foundations

SIX AREASOF GIVING

46%

Foundation donors

and community members

who participated

10K

new Foundation

funds created

FOUR

MILLION

$

in matching funds from

a Governing Committee

approved grant and

Foundation donors

36% Social Services

30% Education

18%

Health

12%

Arts

2%

Animal Welfare

2%

Environment

Donations from 670 cities, including Baltimore,

Baton Rouge, Chicago, Lexington, Los Angeles, Miami Beach,

Milwaukee, Nashville, New York City, Phoenix,

San Antonio, Seattle, Tallahassee.

13.5¢ matched each

dollar contributed

$ 1

¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢

¢ ¢ ¢ ¢

¢ ¢ ¢

¢ ¢

hours of historic giving

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Art

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of gifts received were from

new donors or lapsed givers

39%Nonprofits surveyed reported

Page 8: NEXUS_Summer 2012

Hundreds of donors, community leaders, and friends

came together to celebrate Columbus’ Bicentennial at

a series of extraordinary events held in The Columbus

Foundation’s Davis Hall.

To honor the city and this historic occasion, the

Foundation commissioned two remarkable young

artists, Aaron Diehl and Barbara Fant, to create works

that were premiered during the events held February

14, on Columbus’ birthday. Two central Ohio nonprofit

organizations were also honored for their dedication

to educating and strengthening our city and state.

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest

Foodbanks’ (OASHF) Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) and

Columbus Historical Society (CHS) were recognized

as the first recipients of the Foundation’s new

Bicentennial Leadership Award. The award, created

to benefit Columbus and the working poor across the

state, honors the city’s past, present, and future.

A $200,000 grant to the OASHF will support OBB,

a web-based, counselor-assisted program that helps

Ohioans apply for and receive benefits and tax credits.

A $100,000 grant to CHS will help preserve and

promote Columbus’ diverse history, including a new

partnership and recent move to COSI. Founded in

1990, CHS preserves and collects artifacts and stories

while educating Columbus residents about the history

of the city.

In total, the Foundation has awarded more than

$1.2 million in Bicentennial grants to support nonprofit

organizations, programs, and services that positively

impact the community. To see a full list of Bicentennial

grants, visit http://columbusfoundation.org/publication/

nexus-summer-2012/

FOUNDATION EVENTS HONOR CITY’S HERITAGE AND CELEBRATE BRIGHT FUTURE

8 / NEXUS SUMMER 2012

ACCLAIMED PIANIST AARON DIEHL was commissioned

by The Columbus Foundation to compose a tribute for

Columbus in celebration of the city’s 200th birthday. Aaron

was born and raised in Columbus. A graduate of Juilliard, he

received the coveted international Cole Porter Jazz Fellowship

in 2011 at the age of 25. To see a video that features Aaron

at the Lincoln Theatre recording his musical gift to the city,

visit http://columbusfoundation.org/publication/nexus-

summer-2012/

A SONG FOR THE AGES

Celebrating200 Years!

200Kgrant to Ohio Association of

Second Harvest Foodbanks

$

100Kgrant to Columbus

Historical Society

$

Page 9: NEXUS_Summer 2012

NEXUS SUMMER 2012 / 9

COLUMBUS’ HISTORY SPRINGS TO LIFEDo you know how many Christopher

Columbus statues there are in Columbus?

Or what city council did in 1818 to pay its

operating expenses?

These answers and more were part of

an entertaining presentation Michael Wilkos

shared on the history of Columbus at recent

events celebrating the Bicentennial.

A passionate fan of Columbus since

childhood, Michael, senior Community

Research and Grants Management officer

at the Foundation, was recently named

Columbus’ #1 Fan by Columbus Monthly. To

see Michael’s full presentation, visit http://

columbusfoundation.org/publication/nexus-

summer-2012/

Speaking From the HeartBARBARA FANT, an extremely talented and

community-minded Columbus artist, was commissioned

by The Columbus Foundation to create a spoken-

word piece to celebrate and reflect on Columbus’

Bicentennial. This is an excerpt from the remarkable

tribute to Columbus, titled “Today Beginning Again—

‘For Columbus.’”

Columbus, I found the sun tucked beneath the “us”

at the end of the column, “B”

You honeyed me into reflection of myself

I was as smart and as open as a city light

Found my face in the face of your eyes

How your cocoon of a heart fireflied me into existence

Rocketed me into moon and today

We begin again

Remember the moment you caught your worth!

Columbus, your waters showed me how to dive

To break the aquarium’s glass of my own mind

Whatever kind your seed, there’s room

Whatever color your bud, let it bloom

We all bend from the same colored stem

And everyday

Every new morning

We get to begin

Again

To listen to the full piece and get a behind-the-

scenes look at Barbara’s artistic process, visit

http://columbusfoundation.org/publication/nexus-

summer-2012/

FOUNDATIONSNAPSHOTS

Phot

o by

: Dan

Sha

rpe

Foundation donors Paula and Fred Brothers and Amy and Jim Chapman generously hosted two Foundation events in February for Florida-based friends and donors. Pictured at the Sarasota event are (l-r) Zuheir Sofia, Governing Committee Vice Chairman Barbara Siemer, and Susan Sofia.

The Foundation’s Lisa Courtice, executive vice president for Community Research and Grants Management, left, moderates a panel discussion surrounding Progress Made. Ground Lost. A Comprehensive Report on Child Care in Franklin County. Panelists (l-r) are: Paula Brooks, president of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners; Jessie Cannon, project director of the Ohio Business Roundtable; Alex Fischer, president and CEO of The Columbus Partnership; and Janet Jackson, president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio.

The Foundation’s Lisa Jolley, director of Donor Services and Development, standing, chats with Legacy Society members (l-r): George and Debbie Smith, Ann and Jerry Newsom during a special Bicentennial-focused Legacy Society event at the Foundation.

Patrick Losinski, Columbus Metropolitan Library CEO, center, chats with Victor Ferguson, right, and Dick Oman, during a recent Your Philanthropy event at the Foundation. The event focused on the future of the nation’s #1 library.

The Foundation’s Michael Wilkos, senior Community Research and Grants Management officer, delivers his “Columbus’ Surprising Past” presentation during a special event at the Foundation for professional advisors.

Phot

o by

: Lis

a Jo

lley

Page 10: NEXUS_Summer 2012

10 / NEXUS SUMMER 2012

Walking into Junior Achievement’s (JA) BizTown in

the middle of a session has a similar feeling to the

excitement and organized chaos of an evening of

Gallery Hop on nearby High Street in the Short North.

BizTown, located in the former 2nd Avenue

Elementary School, is JA’s simulated town for students

from fourth through sixth grades. Over the past five

years, the program has taught more than 50,000

students a great deal about life skills, economics,

citizen rights and responsibilities, and much more.

Students, roughly 90 percent of them fifth-graders,

work through 19 lesson plans with their teachers in

advance of coming to BizTown for the big day. This

preparation teaches many practical life skills and

allows the students to swoop into action upon arrival

at BizTown, where they take their positions at one of

14 shops, businesses, and institutions.

“They run a real town. They apply for jobs, elect a

mayor, and a lot more before they even get here. They

might be a CEO, a CFO, an artist, or an ad executive.

They come up with a business plan, take out a loan,

all with the goal of paying off that loan, plus interest,

by the end of the day,” said Jodi Shafley, co-director

of JA BizTown.

This innovative learning environment is clearly

successful in engaging and inspiring the students.

They rush about from Huntington Bank, the post

office, the Blue Jackets office, quickly broadcasting

live television and radio announcements throughout

BizTown, all

with an air of

excitement and

seriousness that is

rare in traditional

classrooms.

This

excitement about

learning and

confidence building are a key part of BizTown’s

success and why businesses and corporations are

supporting its mission. Beyond confidence building,

the life skills that BizTown teaches are very important,

especially in our current economic climate.

INSPIRING PROGRAM TEACHES REAL-WORLD SKILLS

Columbus Foundation Opens Satellite Office at BizTownThe Columbus Foundation recently set up a “satellite office” in BizTown to inspire community building

and teach the importance of philanthropy while also supporting the mission of BizTown. On a recent

afternoon, the Foundation’s 11-year-old development director was busy taking donations, making

grants, and teaching peers what philanthropy and the Foundation are all about.

“Help us help others,” said Harmonie Thomas, a Sullivant Elementary fifth-grader. “I’m learning

how good philanthropy can be. It’s hard work though.”

Supporting Junior Achievement through a $45,000 grant last April has provided the Foundation

an opportunity to introduce philanthropy to local students. Thanks to support from ON Architects,

The Daimler Group, Dupler Office, Feinknopf Photography, and Facility Strategies Limited, the

Foundation was able to mimic many of the real-life elements in the BizTown replica.

“While the grant supports our philanthropy center, we have also had the unique opportunity to

have Columbus Foundation staff members volunteer, which makes this all the more worthwhile,” said

Diane Higginbotham, The Columbus Foundation’s scholarship manager.

BoomingBizTown

“NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEACH STUDENTS FINANCIAL LITERACY.” —JODI SHAFLEY, JA BIZTOWN

Page 11: NEXUS_Summer 2012

NEXUS SUMMER 2012 / 11

PowerPhilanthropy A goldmine of info on local nonprofits

Opened in 2009 and located just south of downtown on the

Scioto River, Grange Insurance Audubon Center has become

synonymous with inspiring central Ohioans to embrace the

wonders of nature and learn about conservation efforts.

The center’s hands-on programs offer children and adults a

firsthand look at conservation and nature in the heart

of the city.

“We work with approximately 400 to 500 Columbus City

Schools students a year,” said Christie Vargo, center director.

“We build on their experiences over the course of 12 field

trips for each classroom. We also tie our curriculum directly to

classroom learning with a focus on science concepts, math, and

language arts.”

In addition to being open to the public six days a week, the

center offers adult and family nature education programs and

special events throughout the year.

“While Audubon is about conservation outcomes, our

relationship with the schools is a win-win. The students

learn about science and the center moves the needle on

conservation impact,” Ms. Vargo said.

Spotlight on PowerPhilanthropy®

SCIOTO GREENWAYS PROJECT TO REVITALIZE SCIOTO RIVERThe Columbus Foundation was recently recognized by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation as

one of the early partners in the Scioto Greenways Project, which will remove the Main Street Dam to support

river restoration and create invaluable green space downtown.

A $500,000 grant, payable over four years from the Robert Bartels, Robert B. Hurst, James W. Overstreet,

and Martha G. Staub funds of The Columbus Foundation, will support the project, which will deepen the river

from its current depth of 7–8 feet to 16 feet deep in some areas, and reduce the width of the river from 520 feet

to 275 feet.

Removing the dam and restoring the river will restore a more natural channel for the Scioto River, have a

positive impact on the aquatic habitat resulting in improvement to the river’s health and water quality, and

eliminate another separation barrier that prevents native fish and mussel species from migrating upstream.

The plan will also create an additional 33 acres of green space downtown, increase pedestrian and bikeway

connections and recreational opportunities, and connect The Ohio State University with downtown through a

greenway corridor.

Transformative Community Investment

Did you know that 40 percent of

the 600 central Ohio nonprofit

organizations featured in

PowerPhilanthropy have received a

competitive grant from The Columbus

Foundation? These nonprofits have

been awarded funding after undergoing

a highly competitive, rigorous

application and review process.

Program areas include education, arts,

and social services.

The next time you log in, look for this

“TCF Competitive Grant” banner on a

nonprofit portrait.

If you have additional questions, please contact

Lisa Courtice at [email protected].

FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW GOVERNING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS

Michael J. Fiorile,

president and COO of The

Dispatch Printing Company,

was elected chairman.

Mr. Fiorile has been a

Committee member since 2008.

Barbara J. Siemer,

community leader and

Committee member since

2010, was elected vice

chairman.

The three new members were all

elected to seven-year terms.

David P. Blom has served

as president and CEO

of OhioHealth since

March 2002. Under his

leadership, OhioHealth

has grown from six to eight member

hospitals, and also manages two and

supports nine hospitals in Ohio under an

affiliation agreement. OhioHealth was

named one of the Ten Best Healthcare

Systems in America in 2009, 2010, and

2011 by Thomson Reuters.

C. Robert Kidder served

as chairman of the board

of Chrysler Group LLC

from June 2009 until

September 2011. He co-

founded 3Stone Advisors LLC in 2006,

after he joined Stonehenge Partners,

Inc., as a principal and partner in

2004. Previously, Mr. Kidder served as

chairman and CEO of Borden, Inc. and

Duracell International Inc.

Dwight E. Smith founded

Sophisticated Systems,

Inc., an IT consulting firm,

in 1990. Mr. Smith has 30

years of experience in the

IT industry, and previously held positions

with IBM, Cullinet Software, Inc., and

Software Alternatives, Inc.

Also serving on the Governing

Committee are Jerry Jurgensen,

Bruce A. Soll, Barbara Trueman, and

Matthew D. Walter.

The Columbus Foundation’s Governing

Committee has elected a new chair-

man and vice chairman, and welcomed

three new members. These community

leaders volunteer their time to provide

stewardship for the Foundation and its

charitable activities.

Michael J. Fiorile elected to lead Committee

TCF COMPETITIVEGRANTIN THE PAST 3 YEARS

To learn more about the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, and

about hundreds of other nonprofit organizations in our community,

visit PowerPhilanthropy at www.columbusfoundation.org/p2

TO LEARN MORE

FEATURE NONPROFIT (ONE OF 600!)

GRANGE INSURANCE AUDUBON CENTER

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Lisa Schweitzer Courtice, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management

Page 12: NEXUS_Summer 2012

FORMERLY KNOWN AS Commentary

Tanny joins us in thanking you for working with us to help others through the most effective philanthropy possible.

Smart Philanthropy for a Smart City

IN WEINLAND PARK, TANNY CRANE, a champion for children, is working with community leaders to develop strategies to strengthen and improve the neighborhood—and create a bright future for all the kids who call it home.

IT IS HERE

Tanny Crane, Foundation donor and past Governing Committee vice chairman, at the Schoenbaum Family Center