Lisa Desatnik
Rose Syracuse Retires After 73 Years At Macy’s
Wow! How about this for job loyalty? At 92 years young, Rose Syracuse is just now retiring from a 73 year career with Macy’s…and the only reason she is leaving now is because she broke her hip six months ago. (as reported in the New York Daily News) “This was my first job and I didn’t go anyplace else,” she told The News after being feted by teary-eyed coworkers Wednesday. “I was happy here.” To read the full story, visit the New York Daily News.
Community Donated Over 240 Backpacks To Beech Acres Parenting Center
Each year, Beech Acres Parenting Center, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening families for children, works with more than 17,000 children and parents throughout Hamilton, Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties to become better equipped to raise capable, caring, contributing children. For those who are working to overcome financial challenges, this work is that much more difficult.
Beech Acres’ Beech Reach Projects consists of three projects to help in this effort. Fill-a-Backpack provides their kids with the tools they’ll need to succeed in the classroom. This year, caring neighbors and friends generously donated more than 240 backpacks filled with school supplies! Donations are accepted year-round for the new School Supply Store, to have supplies readily available as families need them. Adopt-a-Family will kick off by November 1st to provide gifts for the holidays. For more information on how to get involved, please visit www.BeechAcres.org/BeechReach or call (513) 231-6630.
Happy 116th Birthday, Besse Cooper!
Honoring A Hero, Neil Armstrong
The world lost a true hero this week. Neil Armstrong’s family issued this written statement for us all…
“For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”
Building Nonprofit Capacity Is What SVP Cincinnati Does
In 2007 it may have seemed unimaginable that the run down, abandoned space on Reading Road where a gas station once stood would be transformed into one of the region’s most unique hands-on learning laboratories teaching youth and adults about sustaina
ble practices.
It was to be a dream-come-true for Cincinnati’s Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati. The staff of the Center brought the idea…along with a request for funding and professional leadership support to a group of local philanthropists wanting to build the capacity of area nonprofits.
And soon, the very first grant of Social Venture Partners Cincinnati (SVP) was awarded. By 2009 the innovative Green Learning Station was open, teaching people about environmentally responsible methods for growing gardens – anywhere and everywhere. That includes yards, walls, patios, driveways, parking lots…and even roof tops.
SVP not only granted the Civic Garden Center $74,000 over four years, its partners also gave of their professional expertise and time. They provided guidance and assistance with strategic planning, leadership development, marketing, and fundraising.
That is just the beginning of the SVP story. Since June, 2008 until December, 2011, the organization and its 38 partners have invested over $598,000 collectively including financial contributions and professional service volunteer time to four different Cincinnati area causes. (SVP is in the process of deciding upon its fifth investee.) Those nonprofits include – the Gorman Heritage Farm, Whole Again International, Imago for Earth, and the Civic Garden Center.
Money is good. Capacity is better.
“We had the audacious idea that, instead of just throwing money at a nonprofit to address its needs, we would throw ourselves into the organization, giving of our diverse talents to become a true partner,” SVP Chair Wijdan Jreisat wrote in its report to the community. Wijdan is also an attorney at Katz, Teller, Brant & Hild.
When I spoke first with director Lisa Davis Roberts, director, and then Wijdan, their passion came through loud and clear. If we had had all day together, I know each of them could have spent the entire time talking about their common cause.
How does it work? At the heart of SVP are its partners who each donate a minimum of $6000 annually and volunteer their time. (There are 38 partners in Cincinnati.) They go through a rigorous process in deciding upon the organizations they will support, and then, for the next three years they basically give of their hearts and their minds to further missions that are important to them.
“SVP is hands-down my favorite volunteer experience,” said founding partner Susan Ingmire, president of Ingmire Philanthropy Advisors.
