Wooster couple recognized at TVN cottage rededication
WOOSTER - Stephen and Cheryl Shapiro of Wooster were honored along with two foundations and the Fraternal Order of Eagles during the recent rededication of three cottages on The Village Network-Boys' Village Campus. The Shapiros have continuously supported TVN since 1987 through financial donations and Stephen served as Board Chair for the non-profit agency. Their most recent gift supported the renovations of Summit Cottage.
"My father was involved with The Village Network and I remember coming here when I was in college," said Shapiro. "The staff at TVN has the skills and the expertise to help correct problems, remove barriers and turn lives around. I don't have those skills so I do what I can to help with donated dollars."
In 1947, the Akron Beacon Journal Fund pledged to raise $10,000 to build Summit Cottage and the structure was completed a year later. Eleven boys who were living in the farmhouse moved into the new living space before Christmas.
Two other cottages on the Wooster campus, Stark and Eagles, were also rededicated. The Fred F. Silk Charitable Foundation, Stark County, and Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, were recognized for their commitment to renovating Stark Cottage. The Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE), Ohio State Aerie #190 of Massillon and Aerie #2223 of North Canton funded the updating of Eagles Cottage.
Two foundations were poured on Boys' Village campus in 1948. One of those buildings became Stark Cottage which was completed in 1951. A bequest from the Stauffer family provided the needed funds to finish construction and for some time the cottage was called the Stark-Stauffer Cottage.
The Silk Foundation has supported TVN since 2004 and has made substantial grants to various capital projects. The Foundation was established in 1990 by Fred F. Silk, a lifelong resident of Stark County. He was a conscientious gentleman who saved and invested his wealth and created a philanthropic entity to carry on his charitable giving indefinitely.
For over 150 years the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have made it their mission to address the unmet needs in the areas of health, education and social services. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton was formed in 1995 as a partnership between the St. Augustine Health System and Mercy Medical Center. A new nonprofit venture with University Hospitals Health System of Cleveland was created four years later. TVN has been the benefactor of several grants over the past four years, including the dollars dedicated to Stark Cottage upgrades.
The FOE Ohio State Aerie and the Auxiliary built Eagles Cottage in 1958 and donated the funds to recently rejuvenate the home. Since 1954 when the organization sent money to purchase beds for Boys' Village its ongoing support has been unwavering.
FOE donations built a vocational school wing onto the administration building, Eagles Chapel and the Eagle Pavilion in addition to the cottage. The organization has hosted special recreation days and parties for the residents, provided dollars for clinical services renovations and funded college scholarships.
Faye and Ron Baum of Ashland, Ohio, represented FOE. The Baums have been fixtures on Boys' Village Campus for years. Faye serves on the TVN Corporation Board and Ron is a member of the Board of Directors.
"The kid's touch our heart," said Faye. "That's what keeps us coming back. The Ashland FOE Auxiliary has been bringing sweat pants and teddy bears for 15 years at Christmas time. By the time we leave, all those bears have a name and when we visit the next time they bring them out to show us."
TVN has grown from the one campus in Wooster to multiple locations across the state serving over 600 troubled boys and girls daily in residential, day treatment, treatment foster care and alternative school programs.
In 2007, TVN was named Agency of the Year by the international Alliance for Children and Families. TVN operates facilities in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Delaware, Lorain, Mount Vernon, Newark, Uhrichsville, Sandusky and Wooster.