Regional coordinator named for Putnam County Big Brothers/Sisters

OTTAWA - A regional coordinator has been named to coordinate the Putnam County Big Brothers/Big Sisters fundraising events.

Fred Steiner, Bluffton will serve as the fundraising coordinator for Putnam, Allen and Hardin Counties. Putnam County Big Brothers/ Big Sisters has been part of the multi-county agency since 2004 when they merged with Allen County Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Putnam County had its own local coordinator until the end of March, 2009.

Steiner said he is looking forward to attending various organizations in Putnam County to discuss the local programs and introduce himself.

The Putnam County coordinator position was eliminated with the establishment of a regional coordinator.

“The Putnam County office will continue to operate,” explained John Neville, executive director of the multi-county agency. He said Amanda Mellott will continue as the Putnam County Community Based Specialist and Jill Ogle as the coordinator for the school based programs.

Putnam County Big Brothers/Big Sisters merged with Allen County in 2004 after the national organization indicated the local part-time agency either needed to have a full-time director with a bachelor degree or merge with another agency. Nancy Frankart was serving as the part-time director at that time.

Following the merger, Frankart became the Putnam County coordinator for the multi-county agency. Her duties included fundraising and public relations. Neville serves as the executive director for Allen, Putnam and Hardin counties.

“This change is a positive move,” Neville said. He indicated Steiner will coordinate the Bowl for Kids Sake events in all three counties. “The counties will continue to have their own separate events,” Steiner will also be in charge of other fundraising events, publicity e-mail newsletter and website for the multi-county agency.

Neville said the multi-county agency is governed by a board with representatives from all three counties. “We meet eight times a year,” he said. Kathy Schnipke, Ottawa, had served as a board member from Putnam County but is no longer on the board.

Schnipke indicated that because of her difficulty in attending some meetings, she was asked to find a replacement. Neville said they are still seeking a Putnam County representative who would be able to attend their 5 p.m., Thursday, meetings in Lima.

Neville indicated funds received from the United Way of Putnam County and fundraisers held in Putnam County are put into a separate account for Putnam County activities and expenses.

Currently Putnam County has 17 community-based matches of Big Brothers and Sisters with Littles. They have 19 children that are ready to be matched and waiting for mentors.

The Agency also has a school-based program in Putnam County. In Columbus Grove they are in their second year of matching high school students with elementary students. During the 2008-09 year they had 18 matches. This year they already have 18 matches with 17 more high school students who have agreed to be Bigs for elementary students.

Ottoville School is in their first year of the school-age based program. Thirty high school students have volunteered to serve as matches with elementary students.