LifeSpan LinkLinking Families with Solutions

Summer 2012

New Wall Recognizes Importance of Legacy Society

LifeSpan in Unique Position to Help Stressed Homeowners

The new Legacy Society Wall at LifeSpan is a powerful reminder to all staff and visitors of the importance of planned gifts to the future of the organization. The wall was unveiled at a May dinner held to honor the members of the Legacy Society, those individuals who have included a charitable gift to LifeSpan in their estate plan. The new Legacy Society Wall is located in LifeSpan’s main hallway just beyond the entryway and lobby. It includes the names of all current Legacy Society members, and there’s room for additional names as others make a lasting commitment to LifeSpan in their estate plans. We gratefully acknowledge the foresight, commitment and generosity of our Legacy Society members.

Ray Bowman, Legacy Society member and Planned Giving Committee chair, in front of the new Legacy Society Wall.

Jerry and Jacky BanksCatherine and Joseph BidlemanRick and Barb BlanchardDonna and Ray BowmanSue CribbsPaul R. and Patricia Parrish EverhartMark D. FinfrockJames K. and Susan A. Fitton Dan and Cheryl GriesingerLinda A. HolmesJoyce KachelriesKathleen KlinkRichard and Mary C. Law

David MancusoJudge John and Shirley MoserRoderick E. Nimtz Kristy Preston-StaggJudge Robert RinglandIrma Sandage (deceased)Joe and Michaela SchollerJanice and Bill StalerJames and Cynthia SteverDon Stewart David and Susan StilesMrs. Joyce Thall

LIFESPAN’S LEGACY SOCIETY

As Southwest Ohio continues to deal with the impact of the economic downturn and housing crisis, LifeSpan is in a unique position to help stem the continuing increase in home foreclosures. LifeSpan is the only agency in Butler County and one of the few in Southwest Ohio approved to administer the foreclosure prevention program, Restoring Stability: A Save the Dream Ohio Initiative. Managed and administered by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the Restoring Stability program provides actual rescue dollars to help homeowners keep their mortgages current.

There are significant funds available through this program to help homeowners, and LifeSpan staff is working to get the word out to those who are eligible. “Many people aren’t aware of this important program or think they don’t qualify,” explains Ruth Atha, LifeSpan Financial Counseling and Education supervisor. “Homeowners don’t have to be

behind on payments to qualify for this program; they do have to be unemployed or underemployed. We’re offering information sessions around Butler and Warren counties because it’s such a worthwhile program,” she says.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mortgage delinquency or possible foreclosure, call LifeSpan at 513-868-3210 or send us an email at info@lifespanohio.org for more information on the Restoring Stability program.

Humanitarian Award is Highlight of Annual MeetingGratitude and generosity were evident at the 2012 LifeSpan Annual Meeting held in June at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts. LifeSpan CEO Bill Staler expressed gratitude to those who support LifeSpan financially and with volunteer service as he acknowledged the generosity of those supporters as well as LifeSpan’s dedicated employees.

At the meeting, Board of Trustees member and longtime community volunteer James K. Fitton received LifeSpan’s most prestigious honor, the Humanitarian of the Year Award. In addition to his board service, committee participation and longtime support of LifeSpan, Mr. Fitton recently made arrangements to provide cemetery space for those wards of the Guardianship Program who have no means to cover their burial costs. His arrangement will provide a proper final resting place for these community members, and is yet one more example of his longstanding dedication to the Butler County community.

Three outgoing members of the LifeSpan board were also recognized at the meeting. Between them, Ray Bowman, Dan Griesinger and Mark Wilson gave a combined 39 years of board service to LifeSpan. Their dedication is deeply appreciated.

LifeSpan employees were also acknowledged as Sherry Jenkins, ESP care services manager, and Lisa Frye, Guardianship supervisor, came forward to present a check for $6,580 from the Employee Campaign. The staff had been challenged to raise $5,000 to support the launch of the new LifeSpan website, surpassing that goal with 75 percent of employees participating. Their important contribution is recognized with an acknowledgement on the home page of the new site.

•LifeSpanwillhosttheHamiltonChamberofCommerceBusinessAfterHourseventinSeptemberofferingchambermemberstheopportunitytovisitandlearnmoreaboutourorganization.

•LifeSpan’sworkwithhomeownerswashighlightedina front-pagearticle,“Housingstrugglestobuildrecovery” inTheCincinnatiEnquirerinJune.

DidYouKnow...

DearFriends of LifeSpan:Our newsletter is named LifeSpan Link because it highlights the many ways our programs link families and

communities with solutions to the challenging issues of our times. While we at LifeSpan provide links, so do you, and in this issue, I am drawn to a word that exemplifies a reoccurring theme in the articles: that word is support.

As you read, you’ll find many examples of the ways LifeSpan supports the community and how the community supports LifeSpan. This cooperative backing strengthens all of us and helps us bring needed programs and assistance to the 13,000 people we will serve this year.

I hope you will continue to support LifeSpan, whether by a monetary gift or the gift of volunteering your time. Your support of our mission is very much appreciated. Thank you for being a friend of LifeSpan.

Sincerely,

Bill Staler, Chief Executive Officer

Humanitarian of the Year James K. Fitton, pictured with LifeSpan CEO Bill Staler (left) and Board Chair Dan Griesinger (right).

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Thanks to the generosity of LifeSpan employees and the James K. Fitton Family Foundation, LifeSpan has a new,

improved website. The new site will launch in August and it not only has a new look, it will be easier for users to find information on LifeSpan programs, staff and locations as well as up-to-date news about the organization. The site redesign was funded through contributions to the annual Employee Campaign and a grant from the James K. Fitton Family Foundation. Visit www.lifespanohio.org in August to see the new site for yourself.

Log On to Our New Website

The impact of LifeSpan’s School Based Support Services (SBSS) program reaches well beyond the daily interactions between students, school staff and the support workers. During times of crisis, the schools know these trained, committed professionals are valuable resources, as proven this spring with the tragic death of a student from Fairfield Options Academy.

LifeSpan staff member Lindsay Satterfield serves as the school based support worker year-round at Options. The school turned to Lindsay and LifeSpan for assistance in April when a 15-year-old student became a homicide victim. School Based Supervisor and Therapist Christy Hughes Thurman joined Lindsay to offer help. “Schools look to us first to guide them in what to do and how to handle tragic situations,” explains Christy. “We use a comprehensive approach to help the students, staff and families with support. We also educate the school staff members who are not sure how to handle these situations.”

To help the Options students, Lindsay and Christy offered individual and group counseling and they sought the help of the grief support organization, Companions on a Journey. They also provided supplies so students could express their feelings through art or writing.

“In this case and with two student suicides in the past year, the schools have truly partnered with us to help the students cope,” says Christy. One Options staff member reported, “During the most stressful and chaotic times (suicide and homicide), Lindsay Satterfield helps our students cope. She has been a true asset to our school.”

Those outside of the schools LifeSpan serves also recognize the SBSS staff’s expertise - Christy was interviewed by several local news reporters regarding how Options helped its students cope with the homicide.

School Looks to LifeSpan for Help During Crisis

NewSupervisor,StaffServe inGuardianshipProgramWith almost 250 wards in their care and an increasing number of referrals coming from community organizations, LifeSpan’s Guardianship Program continues to provide critical support to some of Butler and Warren counties most vulnerable residents. The program is now under new leadership with the promotion of Lisa Frye to supervisor to lead a team that includes several new staff members.

Lisa has served as a LifeSpan guardian since last July; she became the Guardianship supervisor this past spring. Valarie Brown-Green and Christina Dalton have also joined the staff as guardians in recent months. Miami University student Mallory McKinley served as an intern and then joined the staff as a full-time guardian following her May graduation with a social work degree.

Program staff and 20 volunteer guardians have been court-appointed to oversee 247 wards in Butler and Warren counties. LifeSpan continues to offer the only guardianship program in both counties that serves adult wards of all ages 18 and over.

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“Volunteers make a tremendous difference at LifeSpan and in the current economy they are more important than ever,” says Becky Booth, LifeSpan’s new volunteer coordinator. Becky joined the staff this spring bringing experience working with volunteers at prior positions with United Way of Greater Cincinnati-Middletown and the American Cancer Society. At LifeSpan she’s responsible for recruiting, training and supervising volunteers in three areas the agency most needs their support: professional and general volunteers as well as volunteer guardians.

“Professional volunteers are working or retired and have specific skills to share, typically for a short-term project. General volunteers help in many capacities, often at special events, either as a one-time or ongoing volunteer. Volunteer guardians have a very specific role that requires training, a background check and a long-term commitment. The Probate Court

appoints this volunteer to be the guardian of a person in need of an advocate,” explains Becky.

LifeSpan has approximately 65 volunteers currently serving as guardians, Board of Trustee and committee members, or in other roles. Except for the guardians, most volunteers do not directly work with LifeSpan clients. However Becky points out that all have a direct impact on improving lives. “When you have a competent, reliable volunteer taking on a task that would otherwise have to be done by a staff member, the staff can spend more time directly serving clients. Our community as a whole benefits from that,” she adds.

Volunteer Coordinator Becky Booth

Becky also says that there are plenty of benefits for volunteers too. “Volunteering offers a way for people to build their resumes, develop new skills, meet new people, and help others which brings personal satisfaction.”

If you’d like to learn more about the volunteer opportunities at LifeSpan, call Becky at 513-868-3210 or email her at BoothR@lifespanohio.org.

Guardianship Supervisor Lisa Frye

New Coordinator Promotes Need for LifeSpan Volunteers

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LifeSpan: Strengthening families and individuals who seek to improve the quality of their lives.

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LifeSpan celebrates the Cincinnati tradition of Opening Day in April.

A Butler County United Way team from the YMCA helps spruce up the LifeSpan grounds on the Day of Caring in April.

LifeSpan volunteers help revitalize neighborhoods as part of the 2012 SELF-Hamilton Home Repair Initiative Work Camp.

Beautiful lap quilts for our clients made by Joyce, one of our dedicated volunteers.

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SpringandSummerSnapshotsfromLifeSpan