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ABOVE: HFGM Board Chair Christopher V. Goff and SCF President Mark J. Samolczyk
Health Foundation of Greater Massillon (HFGM) recently joined Stark Community Foundation (SCF) as a supporting foundation, making its nearly $8 million investment the third largest gift in SCF’s 53-year history.
HFGM’s Board of Directors began investigating options after HFGM’s president announced his retirement in January 2016. After evaluating several options, including replacing its president, the Board concluded it was in the best interest of the greater Massillon community to create a supporting foundation under SCF’s umbrella. This positive change will benefit local residents in a multitude of ways, including approximately $100,000 in annual cost savings that can be reinvested into the community to support health and wellness programs.
“A partnership with SCF was a natural fit, and we felt confident because its high-quality investment management and philanthropic expertise are well respected both locally and nationally,” said Christopher V. Goff, chair of HFGM’s Board of Directors, who led the initiative to explore options. “Since our inception in 1999, we have invested more than $3 million in innovative health and wellness programs and initiatives that benefit economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Western Stark, Eastern Wayne and Northern Tuscarawas counties. This new partnership will enhance our philanthropic impact while alleviating administrative burdens and allowing our board to focus solely on strategically addressing health and wellness challenges in our community.”
HFGM will look to SCF to share community knowledge and philanthropic strategies, oversee an online grant application process, conduct due diligence on potential grantees and handle all administrative oversight on behalf of HFGM’s Board of Directors.
“We are honored that we can provide these services for HFGM, which will in turn improve the quality of life for residents in our community not only today, but for generations to come,” said SCF President Mark J. Samolczyk. “We both have deep roots in our community, and this partnership will provide synergies to create an even stronger, greater and healthier community.”
As a supporting foundation, HFGM’s 13-member board will remain actively engaged by overseeing its mission and vision and making grantmaking decisions that provide critical funding to local health and wellness programs. The Board will also oversee HFGM’s investments with an objective of long-term growth.
For over 50 years, SCF has partnered with over 650 individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits to create charitable funds to impact the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. With its management of $228 million in assets, SCF is currently ranked in the top 10 percent of community foundations in the United States today. SCF and its family of donors have granted more than $136 million to nonprofits in Stark County and beyond since inception.
For questions about this new partnership, please contact Bridgette L. Neisel, vice president of advancement at SCF, at 330-454-7992 or bneisel@starkcf.org.
About Health Foundation of Greater Massillon
Health Foundation of Greater Massillon was created when Massillon Community Hospital and Akron General Medical Center entered into a joint venture in 1999. Committed to continuing to support innovative health and wellness programs and initiatives, a foundation was created to ensure resources would be available to support those causes. HFGM works closely with organizations to strategically address health and wellness issues facing greater Massillon residents, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged. Since inception, HFGM has granted more than $3 million in support of health and wellness programs and projects.
About Stark Community Foundation
Established in 1963, Stark Community Foundation is the community’s trusted partner in giving to over 650 individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits that have created charitable funds to impact the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Currently ranked in the top 10 percent of community foundations in the United States today, SCF is committed to serving donor needs and strategically addressing local issues. The Foundation manages $228 million in assets, and through its discretionary and donor-directed grant programs, SCF and its family of donors have granted more than $136 million to nonprofits since inception.