The staff of the Marietta Community Foundation is on the front lines of serving the community of Washington County. However, behind the scenes is the Foundation’s Board of Directors, a group of prominent community leaders who help guide, oversee, and ensure the Foundation operates at its highest capacity.

President / CEO of the Foundation, Heather Allender, said, “It is imperative to have a strong and consistent Board of Directors. We value their leadership, input, and insight on how to better this community.”

As the New Year is on the horizon, the Foundation and its board members are preparing strategies to grow their abilities to promote positive impact in Washington County. Part of these preparations include bidding the exiting board members a fond farewell, and welcoming new additions.

The exiting board members include Arlene Archer, who has served ten years, Doug Robinson, who has served nine years, and Dee Wetz, who has served four years.

“Losing these [board] members is a huge loss, and I am sad to see them go,” said Allender. “But, for several years, each of them served this community to their best ability… I am proud to have gotten to work with them.”

In their honor, the Foundation has sponsored six children, two per exiting member, for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. The ATP provides gifts of new clothing and toys to thousands of children who otherwise might not have anything for Christmas. The Foundation’s honorary gift will go to children in the local Washington County community.

As a last act of charitable giving, the exiting members joined their remaining peers on the board and voted to grant $2,000 to Caring Connection, a local non-profit that assists families with utility payments through the holiday and winter season.

Although the Foundation is losing three key board members, they are proud to welcome three new prominent community figures to their ranks: Carol Schneeberger, Peoples Bank; Michael Buell, Retired, Buell & Sipe; and Ryan Elliott, Northwestern Mutual.

Bret Frye, owner of Frye Dental and 2019 Chair of The Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, “I am looking forward to this coming year. We have a strong group of people remaining on the board, and we have several strong new members. Working beside such talented people is a privilege… we are going to do some great things for this community.”

Along with the new additions, the remaining Board Members include:

• Dr. Bret Frye, Frye Dental - 2019 Chair
• Eric Erb, Peoples Bank - Vice Chair
• Karen Osborne, Retired, Rea & Associates, Inc. - Treasurer
• Marcy Wesel, Retired, Marietta Memorial Hospital - Secretary
• Kin Brewer, Warren’s IGA, UPS Store
• Jennifer Christy, Community Volunteer
• Sally Evans, Community Volunteer
• Roland “Chip” Riggs, Retired, City of Marietta*

“We at the Foundation are incredibly excited about what this New Year is going to bring. We have expanded our staff and plan to increase our presence in the community significantly,” said Allender.

The Marietta Community Foundation meets National Standards for operational quality, donor service and accountability in the community foundation sector. Founded in 1974, the Marietta Community Foundation has grown over the years thanks to a number of generous individuals.

Donations to assist in funding grant applications, or other local needs, may be made to the Foundation by contacting Heather Allender at 740-373-3286 or heather@mcfohio.org.