Community West Foundation Celebrates 25 Years of “Illuminating Hope”

Marty Uhle, Community West Foundation President and CEO, David and Martha Hessler with John Litten, Executive Director, and Michael Bernot, Director of Advancement, West Side Catholic Center.

Community West Foundation held their annual Community Update program at Market Square located at Crocker Park on Thursday, July 28th to connect with the people they serve including board members, donors and grantee nonprofits.

This year was a special celebration of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. In 1997, Community West Foundation became a freestanding philanthropic organization independent of Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals.

They have expanded their community-wide grantmaking significantly over the past 25 years while maintaining their support of their hospital partners. In fact, over the 25 years, Community West Foundation has awarded nearly $50 million to Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals and an additional $40 million in community grants to over 100 non-profits. That is nearly $100 million they’ve contributed to the community in that timeframe.

The program consisted of a look back at how it all started and details on their growth over the years. President and CEO, Marty Uhle, invited special guest David Dombrowiak, President Emeritus for Community West, to the stage to talk about the early years. In addition, Dr. Donald Malone, President of Cleveland Clinic Ohio Hospitals and Family Health Centers, also joined Marty on stage to talk about the success of the hospital partnership.

: Dena Adler, Hunger Network, Meredith LaVecchia, Village Project, Charlie Farrell, Carolyn Far-rell Foundation, Betty Kemper, Class A Member, Community West Foundation and Jerry Devis, Carolyn Farrell Foundation.

: Laura Uhle, Patricia Miller with David and Mary Ann Dombrowiak and Steve Wall.

The program closed with the announcement of West Side Catholic Center as the winner of the David and Martha Hessler Illuminating Hope Award. The award is named after long-time Community West supporters and philanthropists, David and Martha Hessler, and was created to recognize a local nonprofit with a deep history and commitment to our community that is truly Illuminating Hope. The award itself is a replica of the Homeless Jesus statue and a $10,000 unrestricted grant from the Foundation.

: Current Community West Foundation President Marty Uhle and President Emeritus David Dombrowiak discuss the early years of Community West Foundation.

: Marty Uhle welcomes guests to the Annual Community Update celebrating Community West Foundation’s 25th Anniversary.

Marty Uhle, CEO and President, Community West Foundation.

West Side Catholic Center has been providing food, clothing, shelter and more to those in need for the past 45 years. They also happen to be Community West’s longest continuously funded agency in their 25-year history. John Litten, Executive Director of West Side Catholic Center, was called to the stage to accept the award and gave moving remarks in his acceptance speech. John is one of several very effective leaders at West Side Catholic Center during the shared history with Community West; others included Aggie Hoskins and Jerry Skoch.

Marty Uhle expressed the Foundation’s deep appreciation for its board members, donors and staff that give of their time and talents to further the mission of Community West Foundation which is to advance the health and well-being of our community. When the program concluded, guests mingled for a cocktail reception and conversation.