The Foundation is A Reality
By: Ellen Bland, President of Peak Community Services Board

I am proud to announce the official formation of the Peak Community Services Foundation. As of March, it is a free-standing incorporated entity. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of six highly qualified individuals: Larry Beach, Chad Geer, Linda Leasure, Millie Redweik, Janet Thomson, and Don Weikle. A seventh is yet to be appointed.

Peak Community Services has made a significant contribution to the Foundation. As a provider of services, we cannot assume the burden of support for the 150 individuals from Cass and Pulaski Counties, any of whom could be on waiting lists for 10 years. Depending on the type and level of service needed, the cost could run to millions of dollars each year. We can afford to do something.

The Board of Directors has made an outright donation of $130,000 to the Foundation; an additional $70,000 has been pledged to match other donations to the Foundation. The Board has also started a new tradition. A contribution of $5,000 will be made for every Board member who leaves the Board due to the six-year limit of service. The first contributions have been made in honor of Jim Callaghan, who served very capably as Treasurer, and Phyllis Maw, who served for six years, went off the Board for a year, and came back to serve nearly five more years.

You will receive regular information about the Foundation from the insert that begins to appear in this edition of the Newsletter. The first insert focuses on efforts of the Foundation to reach out to those individuals who are on waiting lists.

We hope you will continue to support Peak Community Services and the Foundation as we bridge the gap between waiting list placement and state funding for services.