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Who We Are

The Tiffin Charitable Foundation is a community foundation.   A community foundation is a tax exempt, publicly supported charitable organization that operates primarily as a permanent collection of endowed funds.   Grants are made from the funds to qualified organizations providing charitable or educational benefits to the community.

In 1914, a Cleveland banker developed the concept of a community foundation.  This allowed many separate charitable funds to centralize their administration and thereby reduce their costs and allow more of their assets to be distributed to worthy causes in the community.  Today there are more than 700 community foundations in the United States.  The community foundation is the fastest growing form of philanthropy and is often among the first to support the emerging needs of its community.

A community foundation serves three principal groups:  donors, charitable organizations, and the community as a whole.

  • It serves donors by providing a vehicle to establish a permanent charitable fund.  It also allows donors to make charitable contributions to already existing charitable funds.

  • It serves charitable organizations by providing technical and administrative services.  It also strives to identify and address emerging community needs and to make or encourage grants to address those needs.

  • It serves the community as a whole by promoting local philanthropy in many forms.

The Tiffin Charitable Foundation was founded in 1983.  Attorney Charles D. “Bud” Hering, Jr. created the foundation with assistance from Warren Kahn of Fifth Third Bank.  Attending the first meeting were the following charter foundation trustees:  Mrs. Jane Frost Kalnow, Mr. Gordon C. Wagner, Mr. Fred Corbin, Mr. Fred Spurck, and Mr. Hering.  Mr. Kahn served as secretary.

The foundation has grown to include more than forty funds, most created to support a particular charitable or educational purpose.  The current market value of the foundation’s assets exceeds $13 million.  In 2007 grants exceeding $500,000 were distributed to qualified charitable organizations.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Attorney Paul Burtis, Vice Chair is Larry Adelsperger, Treasurer is Andrew Felter, and Secretary is Brent Howard. 

The other trustees are:  Anthony Petrosino, Rebecca Myers, Jeannine Curns, Jerry Weininger, and Allen Schultz.

If you scroll down this page you will find bios of the Foundation's Trustees and Staff.


What We Do

We serve as a community foundation. 

Chartered in 1983, The Tiffin Charitable Foundation has served as the community foundation for Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio. 

  We help create endowment and other charitable funds.

The wishes of Donors wishing to create a fund are put into an agreement with The Tiffin Charitable Foundation or defined in the Fund Donor’s Last Will and Testament or Trust.  Individuals, families, organizations and corporations entrust their funds and charitable goals with the Foundation and in return receive many benefits.

  We provide administration. 

The Tiffin Charitable Foundation’s Board of Trustees and its committees meet quarterly to provide professional oversight of the Foundation and its charitable funds.  Each fund is managed in accordance with the foundation’s mission statement, governing documents, state and federal laws.

  We supervise asset management. 

Professional investment managers are hired to invest assets for either growth, income, or both.  Performance is reviewed often.

  We make distributions, also known as grants. 

Every distribution is made according to the written instructions of the Donor.   The Foundation’s Board of Trustees reviews and approves every distribution to make sure that it does not endanger the Foundation’s IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt status. Only qualified, nonprofit organizations that benefit the citizens of Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio, may receive grants from Foundation funds.

  We help ease tax burden. 

Our IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) status is our community foundation umbrella that confers the same status upon every fund accepted into the Foundation. This is important because it allows Contributors who make donations to any of the foundation funds to receive maximum tax benefits. 

  We help. 

Every year thousands of dollars are granted to help make our community a better place for all of us to live in and enjoy.

Paul Burtis is a partner in the law firm of Dell, Burtis & Anspach, L.L.P. He graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Communications Studies and from Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana. Paul has been involved with the Rotary Club of Tiffin (past President), the Ritz Theatre (Board member) and various other charitable organizations and church activities. Paul is married to Jane Dell and they have three children: Cecilia, Jack and Sophie.

Allen Schultz is the Career Pathways Specialist at Sentinel Career Center.  A lifelong Tiffin resident, he graduated from Calvert High School, Tiffin University with a Bachelor in Business Administration, University of Toledo with a M.Ed., and has earned a Principal Licensure from the University of Findlay.  Allen is involved with church activities and numerous other charitable organizations, including Tiffin-Seneca United Way.  Schultz noted that “I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute towards the vision and purpose of the foundation, founded in 1983 by several of our community’s most distinguished citizens.” Mr. Schultz resides in Tiffin with children Tracey, Jay and Austin. 

Andrew J. Felter is VP of Manufacturing Operations for Webster Industries, Inc. of Tiffin, Ohio. He graduated from Tiffin Calvert High School, has a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from The Ohio State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tiffin University. Andy’s other volunteer activities include: Member of the Board of The Betty Jane Memorial Rehabilitation Center (Treasurer, Past Chairman); Member of the Seneca County Industrial Management Council (Vice Chair); and Past Board member of the Tiffin YMCA (Treasurer). He is a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Tiffin; Tiffin YMCA; Tiffin K of C, and Tiffin Elks. He has a committed devotion to volunteerism in the community and has participated in a number of fund raising activities. Andy and his wife Julie live in Tiffin with their children Cameron and Sidney.

Brent T. Howard is a partner in the law firm, Supance & Howard. He also has served as law director of the City of Tiffin since 1995. He is a graduate of Athens High School and University of Illinois, with an A.B. in Economics. He received his J.D. at The Ohio State University College of Law. Brent currently serves as Secretary for the Charles D. “Bud” Hering, Jr. Foundation and the Webster Foundation. He is on the Mercy Hospital of Tiffin’s Board of Trustees and is Vice Chair. He is Senior Warden of Old Trinity Episcopal Church, where he also teaches church school. He is a Junior Achievement volunteer. He coaches and follows his children’s sporting events; in particular, YMCA swim meets. He has served as Trustee of the Tiffin Charitable Foundation since 1992, serving as Chair from 1992-2002 and Secretary from 2002-present. Brent and his wife, Susan Hering Howard, are the parents of Andrew, Samuel, and Natalie.

Larry Adelsperger is Vice President of Operations of Select Medical Corporation and former partner of P.T. Services Rehabilitation, Inc.  He is a board member of Optima Rehabilitation Services and The St. Francis Health Care Centre Advisory Committee.   A lifetime resident of Seneca County, Larry has served many community organizations with fund raising such as the Tiffin Catholic Schools, American Cancer Society and the Robert "Bo" Reid Athletic Memorial Fund.  He is a member of St. Mary's Parish in Tiffin.  Larry and his wife Jeanne have three children:  Brad, Brian and Angie.  In addition, Larry and Jeanne enjoy the fun and pleasure of their four grandchildren.

Anthony M. Petrosino is Vice President of Huntington Retirement Services, a division of The Huntington Investment Company. His background includes 17 years of professional sales and management experience, including 10 years in the investment and retirement plan industry. Tony is a licensed Investment Advisor Representative, holds multiple other securities and insurance licenses, and is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits. He earned an MA in Audiology from Ohio University and an MBA from Tiffin University. Tony has served on the Board(s) of several area non-profit and charitable organizations. He resides in Tiffin with his children AnnMarie and Anthony.

Jeannine Curns retired June 30, 2006, from the position of Vice President for Administration at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where her career spanned more than forty-two years. She recently returned to Heidelberg to work part-time as Human Resource Director. Jeannine was raised in Tiffin, but born in Antwerp, Belgium. She has served as President of the Ohio Association of College & University Business Officers and Tiffin Kiwanis Club, Chair of the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce & SIEDC, and was honored in 2003 with the Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Currently she is a member of the League of Women Voters, National Association of College and University Business Officers, College & University Personnel Association-Human Resources, and serves on the Board of Directors of the First Ohio Credit Union. She also continues her Tiffin Kiwanis Club activities, enjoys playing golf, reading, knitting and spending time with two daughters, Lori Fate and Lynn Hull, and her four granddaughters.

Rebecca Myers was born in Tiffin, Ohio, graduated from Tiffin Columbian High School, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a B.S. in Business Management and Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a Teaching Certification. She has served as a volunteer at Krout School, co-director of the Sunday School Program and Vacation Bible School at First Lutheran Church, and board member of The Christian Counseling Center. She currently directs the Krout School soccer program, employed as a substitute teacher, and is very active raising children Cole, Parker and Lauren with her husband, Dave, in Tiffin.

Jerry P. Weininger, Senior Vice President of Office Administration at the Old Fort Banking Company, began his banking career in 1974, joining Old Fort Bank in 1988.  A lifetime resident of the area, Jerry grew up in Sycamore before moving to Tiffin in 1978.  An active member in the Tiffin community, he has served on numerous boards, including Tiffin Rotary Foundation, Tiffin-Seneca United Way, Tiffin Mercy Hospital, and the Mohawk Golf Club.  Currently he enjoys serving on the Black Swamp Volleyball Club and the Mercy Health Partners finance committee.  Jerry and his wife of 29 years, Lori, have two daughters, Nicole and Kelli.  “I am pleased to be a part of this prestigious foundation.  With a variety of formats to provide assistance, The Tiffin Charitable Foundation truly serves the needs of the community”, Weininger stated.

Staff





 

Foundation Administrator Suzanne Donaldson was born in Chicago, but raised in and around Tiffin since 1956.  She graduated from Hopewell-Loudon School, Bascom, Ohio, Patricia Stevens Career College & Finishing School, Toledo, with a Public Relations certification and earned an A.B.T. from Tiffin University.  Her career includes working as a legal secretary, Tiffin City Council Clerk, first E.D. of Seneca Habitat for Humanity, and various other administrative positions.   She has served as a board member and secretary at the Tiffin-Seneca Day Care Center and First Christian Church, as well as secretary for the ‘89 Charter Review Commission, SST Port Authority, and Seneca Kruisers. Other activities have included Girl Scout Leader, Tiffin Municipal Court Mediator, Master Gardener, and member of the Sandusky River Valley Doll Club.   She and husband, Jerry, have two sons, Pete and Rick, and a daughter, Katy.  Pete’s wife, DeAnna and grandsons Caulin, Dylan & Owen finish their family, so far.  She has served as the Foundation’s first and only employee since 2002.

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The Tiffin Charitable Foundation
68 South Washington Street, Tiffin. 
Phone (419) 448-1791
Email 
adm@tiffinfoundation.org

 

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