Nonprofit survives, then thrives

The Wellington Community Foundation was almost dissolved.

The previous Village Council board kicked around that idea of shutting it down in 2015 after it accomplished its original goals of raising money for Scott’s Place Barrier Free Playground and the Patriot Memorial.

Ultimately, they decided to turn it over to some community leaders in Wellington on the chance that they could pump new life into it.

Turns out, that was a good move.

The Community Foundation recently celebrated its first anniversary as a public nonprofit run by the residents. In one year, the group has: ■ Adopted Forest Hill from Stribling to South Shore Boulevard as part of the village’s adopt-a-road program.

■ Bought 200 backpacks and uniforms for local schoolchildren.

■ Held at least three other fundraisers that allowed them to donate more than $8,000 to three Wellington Matt Morgan Elementary Schools.

■ Partnered with Wellington Cares to offer birthday greetings, flowers and gift cards for village seniors.

■ Already pledged $6,000 to buy uniforms for elementary schoolchildren in Wellington for the 2017-2018 school year.

Not bad for an organization that some didn’t think would make it.

“I think we’ve done a great job for this community. I see it continuing,” said former mayor and Community Foundation Chairman Tom Wenham at a recent Village Council meeting.

Wellington decided it wanted to sever ties with the community foundation because it’s tough for elected officials to raise money for causes.

A tight 3-2 vote on September 2015 allowed Wenham and his board to try to make something out of the organization instead of dissolving it entirely.

Both Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig and Vice Mayor John McGovern cast votes to keep the foundation alive, but acknowledged it had some challenges.

“At first we weren’t sure if it was going to make it,” Gerwig said. “You’ve just done Wellington mayor

an outstanding job.”

The only original board member still working with the foundation is Wenham. But he surrounded himself with great people like former county commissioner Ken Adams, Town-Crier Publisher Barry Manning and Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee.

Councilman Michael Drahos called the nine-member board Wellington “superstars,” and Wenham is always quick to give them credit anytime he’s getting praise about the organization.

In the next year the board plans to continue to help local schoolchildren and seniors and help to keep Wellington a great place to live.