Smart Business Magazine, December 2018

46 Smart Business Cleveland December 2018 2018Pill r Award for Community Service L ifeAct is a nonprofit committed to fighting one of societys most difficult challenges suicide For the past six years Frank Fantozzi has served on the board of LifeAct formerly Ohios Suicide Prevention Education Alliance He has made a direct impact on the organizations mission to educate young people on suicide prevention through his fundraising efforts as an executive board member as well as through significant personal donations Fantozzi believes giving back is a responsibility shared by everyone His philosophy is that each of us has an obligation to seize opportunities to use our talents knowledge experience and compassion to make a difference in the lives of others Through his work at LifeAct Fantozzi has helped to develop and implement a formal growth strategy that is focused on identifying new donor channels and donor types as well as leveraging existing donors LifeAct is not a crisis counseling service Instead it provides students in schools throughout Northeast Ohio with the tools and resources to get the professional help they need and seek for themselves and others The focus is on saving lives through knowledge and empowerment Fantozzi believes the ability to reach students at their most vulnerable ages in middle school and high school is critical to the success of LifeActs mission and doing so requires significant funding In 2017 LifeAct commemorated 25 years of depression awareness and suicide prevention and will have educated more than 200000 teens across Northeast Ohio Last year alone the program reached more than 23000 students in 160 schools Frank Fantozzi Trustee and advancement committee chairman annual fund co chair LifeAct O U R L A DY O F T H E WAY S I D E N O N P R O F I T B O A R D E X E C U T I V E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D C hristopher Koehler has accomplished a lot in his time as board president at the West Side Catholic Center In addition to overseeing a 2 million capital campaign which met all goals and funded major renovations to the center he helped lead and implement the renovations The work transformed West Side Catholic Centers ability to provide meals and clothing to people in need and do it with dignity The project also included a new kitchen and dining space coupled with volunteer space a donation area clothing sorting rooms and a clothing showroom that have transformed an 1886 building into a modern social service powerhouse Additional second floor space was also added to accommodate a growing staff and consolidate staff locations Chris has also continued and grown a board culture of involvement and understanding increased board diversity and trust in the expertise of those around him says John Litten executive director at West Side Catholic Center He is a leader who does not need to have all of the answers himself nor always be the smartest person in the room He is humble and always willing to listen to others perspectives In addition Koehler helped lead a strategic planning process to chart out the next five years for West Side Catholic Center The best part about Chris is that once his term is up I know he wont be going anywhere Litten says Hell maintain a presence both as a confidant and as a volunteer He cares too much not to do so Christopher Koehler Board president West Side Catholic Center O U R L A DY O F T H E WAY S I D E N O N P R O F I T B O A R D E X E C U T I V E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D