For Immediate Release
Contacts: Toni Smith or Terri Green, 614/221-9195

Solutions for Local Homeless Families and Individuals

Event Showcases Fort Hayes Students’ Original Work

COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 5, 2001 — Honorary Event Chair Gary Glaser, Chairman of National City hosted Community Shelter Board’s (CSB) seventh annual Mel Schottenstein Birthday Luncheon at The Columbus Convention Center today.

"We’re very pleased that more than 800 community members attended today’s luncheon, which raised a record breaking $1 million to support the work of CSB," said Glaser. To date, more than $4.5 million has been raised through the annual birthday celebrations. Glaser also announced that the Pizzuti Companies would serve as the lead corporate sponsor for CSB’s 2002 celebration, followed by Battelle in 2003.

This year’s event titled "Homes Solve Homelessness" featured students from the Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School who shared original work prepared as part of a fall semester project on homelessness. Their insights and creative presentations not only entertained, but also informed and inspired attendees. The continuing struggles faced by too many families and individuals were raised through their voices. The Fort Hayes Metropolitan Singers performed several numbers, including the annual event favorite, "Mel’s Song".

CSB Board Chair Dorothy Horvath, recognized this year’s Mel Schottenstein Leadership Award recipient, Matt Habash and the Mid Ohio FoodBank for their work to ensure that all Central Ohio residents have adequate food. Ms. Horvath noted that "With Matt’s effective leadership, the Mid Ohio FoodBank has been recognized nationally for its excellence."

CSB Executive Director Barbara Poppe highlighted the latest developments and successes of the Community Shelter Board and the Rebuilding Lives program. The Community Engagement Center operated by Maryhaven was acknowledged for its work with homeless individuals who experience public intoxication. The YWCA Interfaith Hospitality Network was commended for its success in reducing family homelessness through a pioneering prevention program. The Family Housing Collaborated was applauded for attaining a better than 90% success rate in quickly stabilizing homeless families in permanent housing.

"Too often, we operate in stereotypes or define the entire homeless population on by those we chance to see along the street," Poppe noted. "Only about 15 percent of the people are chronically homeless; 85 percent are transitional, with much in common with us and our neighbors".

Event Co-Chairs, Melanie and Eric Schottenstein thanked National City and Gary Glaser for their exceptional leadership. Mrs. Schottenstein noted that the event celebrates "the women and men, the parents and children whose lives are changed by the contributions of the donors."

Mel Schottenstein founded the Community Shelter Board in 1986 to respond to the growing problem of homelessness in Columbus. The mission of CSB is to end homelessness in Franklin County. In addition to the funds raised by this event, CSB receives support from the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other donors.

Major funders of the 2001 Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration are:

$25,000 and above

Bank One, NA

The Columbus Foundation

Harry C. Moores Foundation

Ingram-White Castle Foundation

The Limited, Inc. and Intimate Brands, Inc.

National City

Nationwide Foundation

RWA, Inc.

Lenore S. Sagner

Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn, LPA

$10,000 and above

Americast by Ameritech

Battelle

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Dominion Homes

GBQ Partners

Hattie & Robert Lazarus Fund

The Huntington National Bank

The Leo Yassenoff Foundation

M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc.

Nacht/Hilbrands/Rackoff Families Fund

Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing

The Pizzuti Companies

The Sagner Family Foundation

Schottenstein Stores Corporation

Stonehenge Holdings, Inc.

Wolfe Enterprises, Inc.
Worthington Industries

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