Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Julie King, United Way of Medina County, 330-725-3926, jking@unitedwaymedina.org
Barbara Cumming, Medina County Community Fund, 330-723-9039
6-04-09
History in the Making
Not-for-profit agencies collaborated under the umbrella of LEAVE A LEGACY® to provide continuing education credits for professionals. 38 attorneys, CPA’s, financial planners, insurance professionals and agency representatives gathered at Williams on the Lake June 3, 2009 to meet in a first ever effort to enhance relationships between the agencies and professionals. They came together in a mutually beneficial environment to answer the question, “How do we build on the culture of philanthropy in Medina County?”
Speakers included Commissioner Stephen Hambley, Brian Cowles, Attorney Amy Demlow and Attorney Marie Mirro Edmonds. Commissioner Hambley, the key note speaker, explained the value not-for-profit organizations bring to the county. Revenues reported in 2009 equaled $191,795,835. Assets reported were $198,674,047. He indicated total revenues for reporting nonprofit organizations increased by 91 percent over the past ten years. They are a viable part of the economy.
According to Hambley nonprofits make the government’s job easier by not only providing services to residents, but by also building social capital through relationships and trust in each community. Benefits of increased social capital are: better knowledge sharing, lower transaction costs due to high level of trust and cooperative spirit, low turnover rates reducing severance costs and hiring and training expenses, and greater coherence of action due to organizational stability and shared understanding.
Solid social capital translates into a culture of philanthropy which enhances the sustainability of the county and quality of life.
Discussions that ensued began to answer the questions about next steps and opportunities for future collaborative efforts. History has been made. The first step toward building on the county’s philanthropic culture has been taken. Stay tuned.
LEAVE A LEGACY® Summit/Portage/Medina is an unprecedented regional collaborative effort to encourage people from all walks of life to make a bequest or planned gift to their favorite charitable or nonprofit organization. LEAVE A LEGACY works hand in hand with charitable or nonprofit groups including social service and arts organizations, churches, hospitals, educational institutions and other philanthropic groups to encourage this activity.
Many of our area's charitable or nonprofit organizations will struggle to survive in the coming years without an increase in planned or bequest giving. That's why many people who give generously to their favorite charitable organizations while they are alive are concerned that their contributions will be missed when they're gone. And rightly so. Information from our probate courts shows that only a small percentage of local wills leave any money to charity. People can continue to make a difference with a little planning. For more information on how you can get started, please go to www.leavealegacyspm.org or talk with your financial planner, attorney or CPA today.