There is a lot happening here at The Dayton Foundation. Read what’s new on this page, or check out our News & Publications page, where you will find recent press releases, a calendar of events or highlights about the Foundation in the news.

Two charitable organizations that benefit individuals with disabilities – The Disability Foundation, a supporting organization of The Dayton Foundation, and the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation (BTF) – have formed a new partnership that will better serve individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and the community. The Brighter Tomorrow Foundation recently announced its merger with The Disability Foundation in order to provide greater efficiencies and economies of scale.

“The ultimate result will be that more people with developmental disabilities will benefit, thanks to more funds being made available to support those organizations that provide direct services to these individuals and their families,” said Kevin Hayde, executive director of The Disability Foundation. “This is good for the community and for thousands of individuals in our region who directly or indirectly benefit from the work of these two organizations.”

The Disability Foundation was established in 1998 as a nationally groundbreaking opportunity for families to provide supplemental support to their loved ones with disabilities without jeopardizing governmental benefits. The foundation currently manages 209 trusts and has awarded more than $668,000 to individuals with disabilities, with $287,000 distributed last year alone.

Established in 1989 through the Montgomery County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD), The Brighter Tomorrow Foundation awards grants to organizations that serve people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Projects supported include housing, mobility equipment, and educational and recreational activities.

“The Dayton Foundation, through The Disability Foundation, will handle the day-to-day operations with the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation advisory committee focusing on donor relations and developing a plan for long-term financial stability,” said Mark Gerhardstein, superintendent for the Montgomery County Board of MRDD. “We will continue to operate with the same brand and identity, as well as trustees. This is a win-win-win opportunity for both organizations and for the community.”

The Dayton Foundation has named Gary L. LeRoy, M.D., as vice chair and appointed Craig J. Brown and Col. Colleen M. Ryan as new members to its Governing Board, which provides stewardship for the Foundation and its charitable activities.

Dr. LeRoy has served as a Governing Board member since 2004 and chaired the Foundation’s Grants and Progams Committee. He also is the associate dean of Student Affairs at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine and continues his 18 years of service to the Dayton community as a physician at East Dayton Health Center.

Craig Brown retired as senior vice president, treasurer and CFO of The Standard Register Company in March 2009. During his tenure with Standard Register, he held positions in international finance and treasury operations and worked as a divisional controller. Mr. Brown serves on the boards of the Dayton Ballet Association and the YMCA of Greater Dayton and is a member of The Dayton Foundation’s Finance Committee.

Col. Colleen M. Ryan retired in 2008 after 26 years of service in the United States Air Force. At retirement, she was the 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force, with more than 5,000 military, civilian and contractor employees. She currently is vice president of Defense Programs with The Dayton Development Coalition.

According to a yearly ranking of community foundations nationwide, recently released by The Columbus Foundation, The Dayton Foundation ranked 30th out of more than 700 community foundations nationwide in new gifts received in 2007. The Foundation also ranked 32nd nationally in grants paid and 37th in the nation in market value of assets.

Gifts received by the Foundation for the benefit of charities totaled $53.1 million during this time period. The Foundation’s grantmaking came in at $38.6 million, with most of these grants designated in some way by The Dayton Foundation’s donors. The reported market value for The Dayton Foundation’s assets totaled more than $339.6 million.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy also recently released the results of their annual Philanthropy 400, which ranks the nation’s top 400 nonprofits of more than one million not-for-profit organizations of all types in the country, based on new contributions. The Dayton Foundation ranked 370th in new contributions and very close to the rankings of the National Wildlife Federation and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.

“Despite a tough economic environment, we are so grateful to the Greater Dayton community for their generous gifts to aid our region’s not-for-profit organizations,” said Michael M. Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation. “Nationwide, community foundations awarded more than $3.8 billion in grants last year and represent assets of $46.8 billion. We should all feel proud of the difference individuals in our community are making for those organizations that they care about. The Dayton Foundation is honored to help them help others.”

Michael M. Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation and a board member of the Ohio Grantmakers Forum (OGF), has been named chair of OGF’s Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.

The committee, which currently is being recruited, will help public and private foundations statewide to explore ways to improve the quality and impact of their work through diversity and inclusion.

“Our goal is to help these groups understand and implement the principles of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their work, from leadership and operations to programs and community activities,” Mike Parks said. “By sharing information and developing programs and services that concentrate on diversity and inclusivness, we hope to enhance responsible and effective philanthropy and grantmaking, not only in the Greater Dayton Region, but throughout Ohio as well.”

The Dayton Foundation has named a new Governing Board chair, Charles A. Jones, retired chief operating officer/assistant city manager (deputy city manager) for the City of Dayton. He will serve a two-year term as chair, succeeding Fred C. Setzer, Jr., chairman of Setzer Corporation and Foundation Board chair for the past two years.

Jones has served on the Foundation's Governing Board since 2002 and is a member of the Executive Committee and the Marketing/Public Relations Committee. He also serves for the Foundation on the Commission on Minority Inclusion (formerly the Diversity Task Force,) chairs the Neighborhood School Centers’ Oversight Committee and previously chaired the Foundation Grants and Programs Committee.

Just four other community foundations in Ohio (of 78 statewide) and 110 community foundations (of more than 700 nationally) had been accredited at the time the Foundation received its certification. The Council and leaders of the community foundation field created the National Standards to aid community foundations in adherence to a high standard of legal, ethical and effective operational practices that demonstrate transparency and financial responsibility.