Article published November 13, 2009
OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST AWARD
Andersons honored for service to community
Dick Anderson, left, greets U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) while Carol Struckholz admires Fran Anderson's corsage, right, at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon at the Pinnacle.
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THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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BLADE STAFF
The Fran and Dick Anderson Community Support Fund, designed to provide financial assistance to charitable organizations struggling to make ends meet in this down-turned economy, has been established to show appreciation for the couple's philanthropic activities and to honor Mr. Anderson at 80.
Money from the fund will be used to support eligible charitable organizations that may be suffering from the recent economic woes or other special circumstances.
Keith Burwell, president of the Toledo Community Foundation, yesterday announced the creation of the fund during the National Philanthropy Day luncheon at the Pinnacle. Several awards were presented during the event attended by about 400 people. Among the honorees were Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, who received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award.
Jim Findley, of Findley Davies, said a few community leaders, who at the time were unaware that the Andersons would be honored with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, approached the Toledo Community Foundation with the idea to create the fund as a way to thank the Andersons for their philanthropic contributions and to honor Mr. Anderson.
The fund so far exceeds $500,000, Mr. Findley said yesterday, and the amount is growing. There have been well over 100 contributors, and that number will increase, he said.
The intention is to deplete the fund in two years, with contributions accepted through December, 2010."I expect the funds to be gone by 2011," Mr. Findley said. "It is a one-time fund to help in the community."
Mr. Anderson said last night, "Raising money now is really tough for nonprofits."
That makes the amount raised so far "all the more astonishing to me," Mr. Anderson said.
All money raised will be distributed, and the Toledo Community Foundation will take no fee to manage the fund or make distributions from it.
Distributions from the funds will be made to eligible charitable organizations at the recommendation of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson with assistance from the Toledo Community Foundation board, Mr. Findley said.
"It was a very nice gesture and, my gosh, we couldn't feel more blessed to have all the support of the people in the community who have been so good to us," Mrs. Anderson said.
A few months back, a friend called Mrs. Anderson to ask what she thought of such a fund. She hesitated until she learned that everyone contacted to contribute had agreed.
She kept the news to herself. Her husband first learned of the fund at the luncheon.
"I had no idea," he said last night. She added: "He thought, 'I can't believe my wife could keep a secret for so long.'•"
Mr. Anderson continued, "I thought it was great. It's something awful nice."
Anyone interested in contributing to the fund can contact the foundation at toledocf.org.
The National Philanthropy Day luncheon was presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Northwest Ohio Chapter.
Among the honorees, in addition to the Andersons, were Robert Savage, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award, who was nominated by the University of Toledo; the Miniger Foundation, Outstanding Foundation Award; Adam Haynes, Outstanding Youth In Philanthropy Award (for ages 18 to 23), nominated by Bowling Green State University; WTVG Toledo Channel 13 ABC, Outstanding Media Outlet/Best Nonprofit Media Coverage, nominated by the Lucas County Colorectal Cancer Coalition, and Marcia Sloan Latta, Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award, nominated by BGSU.
The northwest Ohio chapter is one of 206 chapters internationally in the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The chapter's core purpose is to advance ethical and effective fund-raising and its vision is to have fund-raising viewed as a credible and respected profession for civic betterment everywhere.
The chapter represents a variety of people from small, local nonprofit organizations to large health-care and university foundations.
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