Foundation Friday Newsletter

Villager Al Schlueter with food from his garden for Community Solutions' food security programs

For the fourth year, the Foundation has nominated local individuals and organizations to receive a Philanthropy Award for specific community endeavors. The Foundation enthusiastically presented the following awards to this year’s recipients. For their award, each recipient chooses a local nonprofit to which to donate $300.

Community Impact Award – Village Impact Project (VIP)

The Community Impact award is given to a local organization that has made a powerful—and empowering—impact on the community through initiatives and projects. The VIP has continually increased the number of mentors and youth VIPs, building potentially empowering and long-term relationships. The VIP will put their award to use supporting their mission, “changing our community two people at a time.”

Active Citizenship Award – Dave Smith, YS High School Counselor

The Active Citizenship Award is given to an individual who had a great impact on the community. YS High School Counselor Dave Smith has exhibited incredible support to high school students in guiding them through the last two years of high school in preparation for the many potential paths they take on their trajectory into their next phase of life. Dave’s work with community members, Melissa Heston (Foundation Outreach Manager), Harvey Curran (Foundation volunteer), and Foundant Technologies to create the online scholarship process with over 30 scholarships now available will streamline the scholarship application process for 2020 and beyond. These scholarships are either managed by the Foundation or by committees in the community. Dave designated his award of $300 to the Yellow Springs Community Food Pantry. In Dave’s words, “It's tough to choose from among all the amazing groups in this village, but food scarcity is so intense these days, so I'd love to help support their very fine work.”

Youth Philanthropy Award – Zoe Clark, 2020 YSHS Graduate

Zoe Clark was nominated for the Youth Philanthropy Award. This award is given to a youth who is quietly making a difference in their community. Zoe designated the YS Schools’ Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) with a $300 grant to support its activities towards funding events and activities supporting LGBTQ+ youth and their allies.

Miller Fellow Engagement Award – Chris Welter, Miller Fellow

The Foundation nominated Antioch College Miller Fellow Chris Welter for the Miller Fellow Engagement Award for the leadership and overall engagement Chris demonstrated as a Miller Fellow at Tecumseh Land Trust and as a frequent subject matter expert at numerous Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Institutes. Chris is designating his $300 award to the YS Village Utilities Roundup Program, which provides for residents to voluntarily “round up” their utility payments or make a direct donation to assist villagers in danger of disconnection of service.

Congratulations to these individuals and organizations who are making a real difference in our community!

Board of Trustees Member Highlight
Roger Reynolds

I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. I happily attended OSU and managed to graduate with a degree in Economics and Statistics. After college, I joined the Air Force and was assigned to the Foreign Technology Division (now the National Air and Space Intelligence Center) at WPAFB. While on active duty, I completed an MBA degree at Wright State University.

I left the Air Force in 1971 and accepted a temporary civilian job at the base, and 26 years later, retired from WPAFB.

Most of my time at WPAFB was spent working in the AF Security Assistance Center. It turned out to be a wonderful experience involving travel (visiting 35+ countries) and working with people from around the world to help support US friends and allies. In addition to a variety of jobs in Security Assistance, I also had the opportunity to spend a year in the President’s Executive Exchange Program. I retired as the Executive Director of the AF Security Assistance Center in 1997.

Outside of WPAFB activities, my wife Macy and I were part owners in 3 retail businesses located in the Town and Country Shopping Center.—an “interesting” experience that led to a much greater appreciation of running a small retail business.

Shortly before retiring from the base, I accepted an adjunct faculty position in the Engineering Technology Department at the University of Dayton and ended up working there for almost 20 years. It was an ideal and gradual transition from a full-time job to full-time retirement.

Macy and I moved to Yellow Springs in 2006 and decided to try some volunteering work as a way to get involved with the community. Little did we know that it would lead to so many interesting experiences, wonderful new friends and a real sense of accomplishment. I have served on many nonprofit boards in the community and through those connections learned about the diverse philanthropic work done by the Foundation. I am happy to serve on the Foundation board and have the opportunity to help make a difference in the quality of life in our community.

Remember to b r e a t h e – as together we will get through this and whatever comes our way. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please reach out: yscf@yscf.org or call 937-767-2655.

Our Journey towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Foundation released a letter in June, attached. We will begin sharing our journey next week. A Letter to the Community

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