For Immediate Release
(Chardon, Ohio) June 8, 2005

Contact: Kimm Leininger, 440.285.2261 ext. 222

William Conway leads Geauga County Community Impact Project (GCCIP)

“Geauga County is changing, and we must determine the health and human service needs of our community to ensure we can address them effectively,” said William Conway, chair of the Geauga County Community Impact Project (GCCIP) and Chairman of the Board of Fairmount Minerals, Ltd., Chardon.

“Our intent is to assess Geauga County’s health and human service needs and the ability of our agencies to meet those needs,” Conway said at an informational meeting of steering committee members on August 11th. “We will also identify gaps in services and create a blueprint to fix those needs that are not currently addressed,” he said.

Facilitated by United Way Services of Geauga County, the Community Impact Project is a collaborative initiative with the Geauga County Department on Aging, Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Geauga County Department of Job and Family Services and Geauga Family First Council.

Ranked as one of the wealthiest counties in Ohio in per capita income, Geauga County faces multiple issues that must be addressed, according to Conway. “For example, we have pockets of poverty unknown to most residents and a geographically large county of many small communities with an inadequate transportation system for people needing to visit doctors or get prescriptions,” he said. “There also are many diverse groups with different needs. We know we must continue to provide the safety net of health and human services, but we also are looking at the broader needs of the community.”

The project, modeled after United Way of America’s Compass II initiative, will take 18 - 24 months to complete and will include several community surveys. Those to be surveyed include: businesses, associations, community residents and local leaders. In addition to the surveys, the project will also include a review of census and other social indicator data that is available, as well as conducting focus groups with broad community representation.

Mr. Conway will be joined by the following individuals who have committed to serving on the Steering Committee: James Adams, Geauga County Board of Mental Health & Recovery Services; Shirley Baker, Care Corporation; Sally Bell, Geauga County Department on Aging; Rex Brobst, Geauga County Job and Family Services; Donna Casey, UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital; Tom Curtin, Geauga County Park District; Richard Doerr, Dynamic Design and Systems, Inc.; Jim Dvorak, Brick Layer’s Union; Chief Dave Easthon, Middlefield Police Department; Matthew Galemmo, Superintendent, Geauga County Board of Education; Judge Mark Hassett, Chardon Municipal Court; Gabriele Hays, community resident; John Karlovec, Geauga County Maple Leaf; Spence Kline, NEIGHBORING; Kimm Leininger, UWSGC (GCCIP director); Jeff Mendrala, ELTECH Systems; David Ondrey, Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan; Rev. Robert Penrod, Pilgrim Christian Church; Andrea Pollock, Claridon Township Trustee; John Ralph, Innovative Management, also representing the offices of State Representative Grendell and Congressman LaTourette; Nancy Seelbach, Geauga Family First Council; Anita Stocker, Geauga County Economic & Community Development; Tim Taylor, Geauga County Job & Family Services; William Young, Geauga County Board of Commissioners; and Ruth Zollinger, PhD, UWSGC Board of Trustees (Vice Chairman for GCCIP).