ThisWeek UA 1/19/2011
Whether you’re a student in the Upper Arlington schools, a Safety Town graduate, a resident or visitor enjoying the UA Bright Spot program or a senior citizen taking advantage Kind Call or Project Lifesaver, you have benefited from the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.
As stated on their website, the UACF provides grants to local organizations as a way of meeting the diverse needs of the community. This volunteer board works with individual donors to make these grants possible.
In 2007, the board felt that the next step for UACF was to bring on an executive director to take the organization to the next level of community involvement.
Linda Readey served as the first UACF executive director for the past three years.
“I’m most proud of the Amelita Mirolo Barn, because it brought greater visibility to the foundation and what it’s capable of,” Readey said, reflecting on her tenure.
Readey’s recent retirement on December 31st left a need for someone capable to pick up where Readey left off.
The incoming executive director, Sue Ralph, is excited to continue the work.
As Ralph takes over the position, her goals are to increase community outreach, see the barn through to completion and create an annual signature fundraising event to supplement the work the foundation currently does one-on-one with individual donors.
“The barn is a perfect example of how community means everything to the board and to our residents,” Ralph said. “This project shows exactly what community members can do when we come together. I look forward to completing the barn and inviting people in to see it and educate them about it.”
Ralph has been an Upper Arlington resident since childhood and a community volunteer for much of her life. After meeting her husband, they chose to raise their children here too, in a house adjacent to the current Sunny 95 Park.
She served as past president and board member of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation and has been co-chair of the school district’s levy campaign as well as a past PTO board member. She has also served on the Upper Arlington Women’s Club board and as a Franklin Park Conservatory Women’s Board member.
“The foundation board is the hardest working set of board members I’ve had the opportunity to serve, every one of them is involved and everybody works.” Ralph said. “This opportunity offers me a career that I can expand on the volunteer work I’ve always done.”