Oberlin Community Giving Campaign 2011

In keeping with Oberlin’s history of community philanthropy, it is time for our annual Oberlin Community Giving Campaign. Given the current state of the economy, it is especially important to remember the less fortunate among us. We are writing today to encourage you to participate.

Every year Oberlin College, Oberlin City Schools and the City of Oberlin engage in a friendly competition to determine which organization can achieve the highest participation rate. In 2010, the College and City both recorded a 10% participation rate while the Oberlin City Schools recorded 8%. Last year was a very successful campaign, raising $47,132 for the selected community organizations. With your help, we hope to achieve this year’s goal of raising $50,000 for the local community.

We have selected four recipients that provide a variety of services to the communities in and surrounding Oberlin. You are welcome to designate which of the four will receive your gift. Please read each organization’s brochure and indicate if you would like your gift donated specifically to one of these organization’s constituents.

• Oberlin Community Services is a responsive community organization that provides support and emergency assistance to people in need from Oberlin and nearby communities. Last year Oberlin Community Services helped 5,443 families – more than double the previous year. The staff sees an average of five new clients each week.
• The Oberlin Early Childhood Center is a nationally accredited, two star-rated early care and education program that provides comprehensive childcare services to community members of all income levels and nurtures the healthy growth of young children and their families.
• The United Way of Greater Lorain County contributes to a strong, supportive community by raising and distributing funds to provide basic needs, nurture children and youth, and strengthen families. It strives to establish partnerships that focus on collaborative problem solving, high accountability standards and resource development.
• Greater Cleveland Community Shares is Cleveland’s only workplace giving federation with a focus on social justice and the second largest of its kind in the country. Community Shares generates essential operating funds for nonprofit organizations that are working for positive community change.

Please visit the websites provided to learn more about these organizations, their constituents, and ways to get involved.

Our collective gifts can sustain families in difficult circumstances. Throughout its 178-year history, the Oberlin community has consistently demonstrated its caring and concern for others through concrete actions. In that spirit, let this be a banner year for the Oberlin Community Giving Campaign.

We encourage you to contribute generously to the agencies you choose to support. The pledge form provides options for payroll deduction and one-time gifts. Please return the form no later than December 16, 2011.

With best wishes and many thanks,

John Schroth
Superintendent
Oberlin City Schools

Marvin Krislov
President
Oberlin College

Eric Norenberg
City Manager
City of Oberlin