Greene County Foundation expands reach, gives $60K in financial awards

The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) is expanding its reach into Montgomery County and the region, officials announced.

The foundation was started to promote philanthropy and stewardship of charitable giving in Greene County, but is now serving Centerville, Huber Heights and Kettering are located primarily in Montgomery County, but a portion of each city is located in the county.

GCCF announced the new areas during its 16th annual luncheon on Thursday at the he Fairborn Holiday Inn where it gave out more than $60,000 in financial awards to area organizations including the Foodbank and Road to Recovery.

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Growing in the region has been a win-win situation, Edward Marrinan, executive director of the GCCF, said.

“Community foundations are located throughout the region,” Marrinan said. “Donors and their advisers have come to appreciate the flexibility, responsiveness and overall value for folks with an interest in philanthropy.”

Matt Pauley, a State Farm agent and a resident of Bellbrook, has a real interest in philanthropy. He is the newly elected chair of the GCCF. He noted that there has always been an ample opportunity to grow in the region.

“I think this region, just because where we are positioned, in between so many of the large cities and the economic hubs in Ohio we reach a lot of different areas,” Pauley explained. “If you look around the room here, it’s just a very diverse mix of civic leaders and business leaders along with non-profits that touch lives not only in Greene County but the region at large.”

Jane Newton, a GCCF board member, said the annual luncheon was a great way to showcase the organization’s growth.

“Today was our 16th annual luncheon, we had over 200 people representing Montgomery, Greene and Clark counties residents. Lots of components of the foundation were here today,” she said. “We gave out over 15 awards today, but it was close to $50,000 or $60,000.”

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Bill Ward, who received his MBA degree from the University of Dayton and undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from the University of Cincinnati, said he believes that community foundations help people thrive.

He now works for Morgan Stanley in Centerville and has been active in philanthropic efforts.

“There are many opportunities for companies, families, individuals and organizations to contribute through community foundations, through gifts of any size and many types,” he said. “Giving to one or more accounts within a community foundation is always encouraged on my part, and that is important for growth of the philanthropy.”

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