How many of us describe our communities as being filled with really special caring people. I hope we all do, because that gives me greater hope for our world and future. Over the past couple weeks I’ve been reminded over and over just how true that is here in Lorain County.
Last Friday, we celebrated the life of Fannie Moore-Hopkins. Fannie was a former Board Member and helped found the African American Community Fund here at the Community Foundation. I listened to story after story of how this strong confident woman left a mark on so many in our community and I was proud to have her as a friend. This Monday we received the news that another donor, Mary Elizabeth Keller passed away. She was quiet and reserved and had a heart as big as gold.
Yesterday, our staff toured the Lorain County Tropical Greenhouse and Museum and learned of the lifelong passion of Dr. Eren and his single-handed efforts to preserve and share the beauty and wonder of plant life. The gleam in Dr. Eren’s eyes was descriptive enough of the love and care he offered each plant in his greenhouse.
And I’ve also had the pleasure to induct the first seven member of the League of Mentors. Each of these individuals have had an endowment fund created in their name by local donors to honor their contributions to the community and impact on the donor. The recipients include developers, attorneys, businessmen, a bank president, a manufactoring executive and a former CEO of this foundation. Some have held positions of great influence and others have contributed in a more quiet and subtle way. The recipients could all easily be descibed as legends but in each case they accepted the honor in a humble way as if it was undeserved.
There is no one mold for these extrodinary people and they are as unique and different as the wonderful diversity we treasure in our community. But what they share is a sense of hope and responsibility for the future. In each case, these individuals dream of a tomorrow that is better than today and they are compelled to take action to help create that tomorrow. Knowing people like this is certainly one of the fringe benefits of being involved with an organization like the community foundation.
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