The Achievement Centers for Children was facing an unprecedented growth in demand for its services and was quickly outgrowing its east side facility.
The center, which provides services to children with disabilities and their families, needed to raise $8.5 million for a new facility.
Robert King Jr., president and CEO of Fifth-Third Bank of Northeast Ohio, served a vital role in raising funds and helping plan the expansion. King, who now serves as board president and has been a member of the board for six years, embraced the challenge of getting a new facility constructed.
The ACC credits King with being one of the most active and successful solicitors of funds for the project. He wrote numerous letters, made phone calls and met face-to-face with dozens of potential donors.
As the ACC was requesting state and federal capital support, King spent days visiting Columbus with the agency’s executive director, speaking of the agency’s needs to senators, representatives and staff from the governor’s office. The ACC was successful in obtaining both state and federal support totaling more than $1.1 million.
“The Achievement Centers for Children is a great organization with great leadership,” says King. “Their mission is compelling to me. You can see concrete and tangible benefits from the services they provide, and you can see how important their work is.”
Giving back to the community is important to King, and he hopes others will follow his lead.
“I think people can identify an organization or cause that resonates with them personally and share the resources of time and money,” says King. “It is important to give back to the community, and there are plenty of needs out there.”
How to reach: www.achievementcenters.org.
