×

Wean’s impact to be felt for generations

When Shari Harrell read the three major nominating criteria for this year’s Ohio Philanthropy Award, she knew immediately she was in the presence of one person who was a perfect fit for this high achievement.

Gordon Wean, chairman of The Raymond John Wean Foundation based in downtown Warren, board member of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and who is involved in many other local organizations, absolutely was a long-standing leader who has worked tirelessly to advance philanthropy. It was his vision and creativity that were used to respond to societal problems in Warren and Youngstown area. And most certainly he had significant positive impact on philanthropy.

The selection committee for this statewide lifetime achievement award agreed with the nomination from Harrell, president of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, and apparently so did the many attendees at this year’s conference in Cincinnati when they gave Gordon Wean a standing ovation at the presentation ceremony Sept. 18.

We are blessed to have this foundation founded by Wean’s family here in our community, and equally blessed that Gordon Wean continues to dedicate so much of his personal time and energy to our community. It is his vision and humility that have brought amazing transformations to the foundations with which he is involved.

Gordon Wean believed The Raymond John Wean Foundation should focus more on community and less on his family, and he thought it made sense to focus more on the Mahoning Valley, where his family’s company had operated during the industrial era in past decades.

Enterprising industrialist Raymond John “Jack” Wean in 1949 established the foundation in Warren to serve the communities that had contributed to his success in the flat-rolled steel industry. Since then, three generations of the Wean family have worked toward that cause, with Gordon leading it today. Today, the Foundation has assets that exceed $70 million. It distributes about $2.2 million in grants every year to organizations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. But the foundation does not enhance the community’s well-being and vitality only through grant-making. Under Gordon’s vision, it also strives to provide community leadership, focusing on economically disadvantaged people and neighborhoods.

It was under Gordon’s direction that the foundation was transformed from one that in the past routinely had donated funds to favorite charities – many which were not local – to one that now has a local focus that includes helping to transform struggling neighborhoods and vulnerable communities in Warren and Youngstown into ones of hope and opportunity.

Gordon Wean’s involvement with both The Raymond John Wean Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley are not just as a visionary. He leads in practical applications, promoting smart ways to build the foundations’ giving capacities and connecting the donations with the appropriate needs.

Harrell said, as a board member at the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Gordon was instrumental in transitioning that foundation from one focused on attracting funds to one focused on strategic philanthropy and community impact.

The Ohio Philanthropy Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding contributions to the field and to their communities. It is given by Philanthropy Ohio, a statewide membership group geared at making Ohio philanthropy organizations more effective in their communities.

Certainly, that’s an objective Gordon Wean could teach.

He deserves congratulations for this well-deserved honor and thanks for his service to the community. His impact will be felt for generations to come.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today