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The Chamberlain Scholarship
The Chamberlain
Scholarship Program is designed to help individuals serving nonprofit
organizations develop their knowledge and skill in fundraising. The AFP
North Central Ohio Chapter offers a scholarship grant of $1,000 for
the International Conference on Fundraising. This scholarship is awarded to a
current member of AFP who has never before attended a National
Conference.
For more information,
please contact Tammy Seikel, The Wilderness Center, at 330-359-5235 or
tammy@wildernesscenter.org.
2008 Chamberlain Scholarship Winner
Gloria A. Williams is the 2008 recipient of the AFP North
Central Ohio Chapter Chamberlain scholarship award. Gloria is the
Marketing and Development Director at Evant, Inc., a non-profit
headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls. Evant provides residential services
designed to meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Managing 26 homes that support people with disabilities
throughout Summit County, Evant affirms the philosophy that living in a
family-like environment is essential to their growth and well-being. An
Evant-supported home creates an environment that encourages the highest
level of independence to which they are capable.
One of Gloria’s first endeavors when she became Development
Director at Evant was to
become a member of AFP and to work on AFP North Central Ohio Chapter’s
Membership Committee. Gloria has found AFP membership to be an
invaluable tool for learning and to enhance fundraising skills and her
understanding of development. Gloria was recently elected to serve
on AFP North Central Ohio Chapter’s 2008 Board of Directors, and this
will further develop her leadership skills.
Thrilled to be selected as
the 2008 Chamberlain scholarship recipient, Gloria looks forward to
experiencing an international conference and being at the heart of
philanthropy. “I know this conference will offer great benefits to me
personally,” Gloria said, “but even more importantly, it will be a
catalyst to strengthen my ability to effectively meet the needs of those
with disabilities Evant serves everyday.”
2007 Chamberlain Scholarship Winner
 This
year's North Central Ohio Chapter Chamberlain Scholarship recipient is
Tamara (Tammy) Seikel of the Wilderness Center. Tamara will attend the 2007 AFP
International Conference on Fundraising in Dallas TX, March 25 - 28.
The Wilderness Center's mission is connecting our community with
nature, educating people of all ages, conserving natural resources, and
practicing environmental stewardship. Its main headquarters tract is in
southwestern Stark County, where we have over 600 acres and 10 miles of
trails, an Interpretive Building, an Astronomy Education Building, and
picnic areas.
Tammy has been at The Wilderness Center for over 12 years, first as a
volunteer. Like most people, she did not plan to go into development,
but gradually moved into it over the years. She is a one-person shop,
with a part-time assistant for special events. She is also responsible
for an annual campaign, grant writing, and planned giving.
In addition to being an active member of AFPNCOH, she is on the
steering committee of LEAVE A LEGACY® Stark County.
2006 Chamberlain Scholarship Winner
 Randy
Wittmer, Director of Marketing and Assistant Director of Development
of the North Canton Medical Foundation, was selected the 2006 AFP
Chamberlain Scholarship recipient. The scholarship provided a combined $1,000
from our chapter and the international AFP organization to defray costs for a
first-time attendee of the AFP International Conference. This year’s
conference was held in Atlanta, GA.
"Attending the AFP
International Conference is the educational highlight of my
experience in the development profession," said Randy. "The
conference is exactly what I hoped that it would be - an intensive
week of discussion on relevant topics, exploration of new
opportunities with a variety of vendors, and networking with peers
in our profession.
"Ultimately, the Chamberlain Scholarship enabled me to participate in
the 2006 AFP International Conference, and I am grateful. I highly
recommend the conference to AFP members, and look forward to attending
again myself.”
Randy has been with the North Canton Medical Foundation
(NCMF) for
nearly two years. NCMF began in 1972 as a not-for-profit medical center with a
vision to serve the health needs of the community as a miniature
Mayo Clinic. Since that time, the Foundation has grown into one of
Ohio’s largest independent medical facilities in terms of its
physical presence (main campus and eight satellite offices), staff
(300 employees and 43 physicians), and charitable services (10 full
time programs).
When he joined NCMF, Randy was asked to develop
both the Marketing and
Development departments. With professional experience in the areas
of business, marketing, and sales, he has enjoyed the challenge of learning
the tools and strategies of professional fundraising and
development. He
is excited to attend the AFP International Conference in April and
to have the opportunity for professional growth and networking.
Randy erves on the boards of the Hartville
Migrant Council, North Canton Chamber of Commerce, AFP North Central
Ohio, and committees for both AFP and
LEAVE A LEGACY® Stark County.
2005
Chamberlain Scholarship Winner
 Leah
Babb, Corporate and Foundation Relations Coordinator of the Akron-Canton
Regional Foodbank, was selected as the 2005 Chamberlain Scholarship
recipient. She writes of her experience:
I would like to thank the AFP North Central Ohio
Chapter for helping to make possible a very memorable and rewarding
experience at the 2005 International Conference on Fundraising. My
conference experiences will enable me to bring a more educated and
enlightened view of fundraising and development to the Akron-Canton
Regional Foodbank.
I was very impressed with the knowledge and insight of
the workshop presenters who were highly credentialed and experienced in
their respective areas of fundraising and development. Each presenter in
the workshops that I attended on capital campaigns, prospect research,
marketing, and corporate and foundation relations gave valuable
information on how to effectively communicate the mission and vision of
your organization while nurturing the core values of your donors. They
also shared their own unique perspectives on how to successfully
cultivate potential and current donors and how to effectively
communicate the goals of your organization to these individuals.
In addition, the networking opportunities that were
available at the Conference gave me the chance to establish
relationships with other fundraising professionals to begin building a
core group of contacts who will be valuable resources in the future.
More importantly, I was able to meet with other foodbank employees from
across the country to discuss the common goals and experiences that
affect our mission to end hunger in the United States.
"I would strongly encourage anyone who has never
attended an AFP International Conference on Fundraising to apply for a
Chamberlain Scholarship. The Conference is a wonderful opportunity to
meet and talk with other fundraising professionals while learning more
about the important fundraising trends that will affect the future of
your organization."
2004
Chamberlain Scholarship Winner
 2004's recipient of the North Central Ohio’s Chamberlain Scholarship is
Emily S. Gorka, formerly the Resource Development Manager of the
Battered Women’s Shelter. Emily has recently accepted the position of
Director of Development for Stewart’s CARING PLACE.
"Thank you for
selecting me as the 2004 recipient of the Chamberlain Scholarship,"
wrote Emily after the conference. "I was honored to represent the North
Central AFP chapter at the 41st International AFP Conference in
Seattle. The conference, held in mid-March, was a wonderful
experience. From the numerous classes offered to the many great people
to exchange information with, there was something to gain for
fundraisers at all stages of their career."
"Highlights for me
included the Exhibition, inspirational speakers, including Sarah
Ferguson, Duchess of York, and the Space Needle Gala, among other
events. I also enjoyed sightseeing in Seattle and learning more about
the city. Overall, I found this to be an eye opening experience and it
helped to solidify my decision to continue in the field of fundraising
and development. The next conference will be held in Baltimore, April
3-6, 2005. I hope to see you there!"
Emily recently
graduated from The University of Akron with a Masters Degree in
Community Counseling.
Click here to
complete an application.
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