2023 August CEO Blog
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”- H.E. Luccock
Happy end of August … or does it feel more like Fall? During a conference call last week, one of the participants referenced the end of summer. I stopped them and admitted that yes, it was back-to-school time, but emphasized that we are still in mid-August – the dog days of summer, my favorite time of year. We should all continue to be present in the moment and enjoy every day of these beautiful summer months.
At the Community Foundation, this means continuing to get out in the community and connect with all of you. So, despite some lingering clouds and spotty showers, we recently enjoyed a fantastic event with the Women’s Fund and Oberlin Business Partnership at the Inspiring Women’s Series at Lakeview Park in Lorain. My special thanks to our panel – be sure to check out the photos from the event here. We also recently celebrated the work of The Nord Center with the Mind Over Miles walk at Bur Oak Park a few weeks ago. Enjoying walks in our local parks is one of my favorite summer activities. What do you have planned for the rest of the summer? What is on your bucket list to enjoy these last few weeks?
Enjoying these activities with our affiliate funds and inspiring non-profits is not only an opportunity to support and celebrate their important work, but truly showcases one of our core values here at the Community Foundation: Collaboration. In essence, it is putting self aside for the betterment of the whole. There is no better living example of collaboration in our work than Connect to a Cause. Conceived in the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connect to a Cause focused on a tangible way to connect to the non-profits on the frontlines of our community. While this event may look a bit different than 2020, our spirit of collaboration has only increased. We are excited to announce that we expect to reach $1M in funds raised for the 94 participating non-profits.
In addition to the participating non-profits, over 30 local businesses are collaborating with us as Business Champions. Over the last two years, our Business Champions have served as the primary source of funding for incentives that are awarded on and after the actual event day. The Business Champion dollars ensure that each contribution is amplified and makes a more significant impact. We are grateful to these generous businesses that see the power of collaboration in our community. Please join us on September 21st for this year’s Connect to a Cause. Your participation and collaboration with us make this event greater each year. This is your Community Foundation, and you belong here.
Be sure to hold on to these last few weeks of summer and check off some of those activities on your bucket list.
Happy Summer,
Cindy
