Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20Whereapath torecoveryis aworkofart. Art is essential to our health and well being. For those in the process of recovery, creating art is powerful stuff. Here is a big idea, double the usable space at the Sandusky Artisans Recovery Community Center with a modest Foundation grant. This smart facility renovation allows expanded programming to help more clients, those battling mental health and substance abuse disorders, stay on their road to recovery. It turned a lobby into a second art studio, one especially welcoming to those with disabilities that effectively put a second floor studio out of reach. It is not the Center’s first big idea, just the latest instance where we have partnered with them to help bring their vision into reality. It does take a village toraiseourchildren. The big idea of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie County was to take ownership of its Teen Facility and aggressively seek funding to renovate the building inside and out. While individuals, foundations and businesses stepped up to help, the Foundation provided multi-year grants for Club operations. The Club offers a safe environment with multiple programs to help our children know that they can realize their own very big ideas. Like producing a Youth-of-the-Year who was awarded $12,000 in schol- arships from the National organization. Many of these kids come from tough situations, but at The Club nothing holds them back. 8 33 54 67 19 A library where information sharing knows no boundary. The Ritter Library now has a portable computer lab that can be used anywhere in the building, or even at the coffee shop just down the street. Their big idea was to put everything needed on a cart—laptops, printer, even a wi-fi hot spot—and let the power of technology go to where it is needed most. Staff training, board meetings, Saturday morning genealogy sessions, even a private one-on-one video conference, all can be can be supported digitally and held virtually anywhere. Thanks to the Community Foundation, the sky is the limit, or at least downtown Vermillion. A welcome is best when it is actually warm. The staff of the Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter will do every- thing in their power to help women and children who arrive scared, confused, and with little more than the clothes they are wearing. When a family flees its home for a safe haven, a warm welcome is essential. That became all the more difficult when the shelter’s furnace gave out. The Community Foundation was there for them and provided a grant for purchase and installation of a brand new replacement furnace. The big idea is that when a place that helps people in crisis has a crisis of its own, the Foundation will be there to help.