CSB Reaches Fundraising Goal

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Dr. Carl F. Kohrt, President and CEO of Battelle and the 2003 Lead Corporate Sponsor of the 2003 Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration, made two major funding announcements at 9^th Annual Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration on Wednesday, June 4, 2003. 

Dr. Kohrt noted that just a week before the event, the community was $100,000 short of the fundraising goal for the 9^th Annual Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration.  “The need for homeless families are so great,” Dr. Kohrt said, “that it prompted him to issue a challenge to make up the shortfall.  If the community was able to raise an additional $50,000 Battelle would match the challenge and provide an additional grant of $50,000.”

He said he was happy to announce, “In the past few days, we have met our goal and raised just under a million dollars!”

Battelle’s challenge was met by Bank One, NA, The Huntington National Bank, Lifestyle Communities, Limited Brands, National City, Nationwide Foundation, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, UBSPaineWebber, Inc. as well as, the generosity of personal gifts from CSB’s trustees. (See attached, for a complete list of all event sponsors.)

Barbara Poppe, CSB Executive Director said, “With the needs so great, we had no choice but to work to meet this year’s fundraising goal.  Not meeting the goal would have meant that CSB did not have funding available for shelter alternatives when all the system beds are full.”

Poppe continued, “By meeting this fundraising goal, CSB will have a flexible emergency fund that will supplement our core contracts with our partner agencies and will ensure our community’s ability to provide a safety-net of emergency shelter to families and individuals in need.”

Poppe added, “Clearly, Columbus’s business and corporate community has demonstrated their tremendous support of CSB’s work.  Just as important, if not more so, is the incredible leadership provided by our elected officials at the City of Columbus and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. Without public leadership and willingness of elected officials to partner with the private sector, we would not be able to meet the needs of families and individuals who are experiencing a housing crisis in our community.  The ability of CSB to continue as a ‘model for our nation’ is dependent upon this continued public-private partnership.”  

Dr. Kohrt also announced that Battelle will donate $250,000 to the new YWCA Family Center and he urged all of Columbus to join Battelle in meeting the challenge to build a new Family Center in order to better meet the needs of homeless families in our community.

Poppe said, “CSB has been working closely with the YWCA to build a new Family Center.  This leadership gift is an important start to their capital campaign and our community’s work to provide emergency shelter to families in a more dignified manner.”

The 9^th Annual Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration was presented as if it were a live taping of a news magazine show.  The show was called, “CSB News” and revealed why the Community Shelter Board is a “Model for our Nation” that provides “Hope for our Community.”

During the event, Lenore S. Sagner, the event founder, welcomed over 700 community leaders to the celebration in memory of her late husband; Barbara Poppe, CSB’s Executive Director was interviewed by CSB News co-anchor Alan Tyson; and the story of the Goins' family’s journey from homelessness to hope was told.

A three-segment video on the Goins' family explained their experience from finding the red eviction tag on their front door, to trying to do homework while staying in a shelter, to finding employment and a new home. 

When asked for advice to give other homeless families, Mr. Goins said, “… if you just keep trying you'll get your own place.  They [CSB partner agencies] will help you.  That's what they're there for.  They're not there just to say, ‘OK, well here's a place to stay for the night.  You're good to go.’  No, they will help you get your own place.  They help you get your own jobs.  They help you get back on your feet."

Mayor Michael Coleman, City Council President Matt Habash, County Commissioner President Dewey Stokes, United Way President and CEO Janet Jackson, and National Alliance to End Homelessness President Nan Roman also provided comments on the work of the Community Shelter Board.

Dr. Kohrt also announced that the Huntington National Bank will be the Lead Corporate Sponsor for the 10^th anniversary celebration in 2004 and Grange Insurance and Cardinal Health will lead the event in 2005 and 2006, respectively.   

He ended the event by stating, “During this program you have seen all the good that has been done through your support of the Community Shelter Board and you also have seen all that there is still much to do.  And as it say’s in Mel’s song, ‘the future is up to you.”

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis.  The Community Shelter Board allocates $7.5 million annually to support programs at 17 agencies.  Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals.  The Community Shelter Board is funded by 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 public and private donors.

Please see attach donor list.

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