About Us

Northwest Ohio Community Shares is a grass roots organization
working to bring real choice to donors through employees’ charitable
giving campaigns. Donors wishing to support their local charities can
be certain that their gift reaches their designated charity, offering
assistance to the specific organization or issue that the donor cares
about most.
     
Northwest Ohio Community Shares is self-governed, with its Board of Directors 
comprised of representatives from its member organizations.Representatives 
from each member organization participate in the annual membership meeting 
for the purpose of electing board members and formulating strategic plans. 
The well-established member organizations address issues in the arts, civic 
rights/responsibility education, community development and housing, companion 
animal welfare, the environment, recovery and rehabilitation, reproductive health 
and education, services for the homeless, social and economic justice/civil
liberties, special needs of adults and children, and youth services.

The fourth largest in the state (following Cleveland, Columbus, and
Cincinnati), Northwest Ohio Community Shares is one of about 100 Community
Shares across the nation. The local Community Shares held its first workplace
giving campaign in 2000 and has been growing successfully each year since
its inception. In both its 2002 and 2003 campaigns, it was recognized
nationally for reaching the largest percentage increase in dollars-raised
for its member organizations of all the Community Shares of similar size
in the country. From the 2000 campaign to the present we have raised
well over $1 Million.

Northwest Ohio Community Shares provides a means for dynamic response
to the chronic shortage of critical resources. It allows you to make
a choice—for your charity—and for your community. Ask your employers
to include Community Shares in your annual charitable giving campaign.


Executive Director

 Amjad Doumani

A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Doumani's family moved to the United States
when he was a young boy.  They settled in the Toledo area, where  Doumani 
attended Lagrange Elementary School, Calvin M. Woodward High School and 
the University of Toledo. He has been a proud Toledo resident and a U.S. 
citizen for 37 years.

Doumani brings with him to the leadership position a great deal of
community organizing experience. He is a founder and director of the
Media Decompression Collective, which organizes film festivals and
screenings throughout Toledo and the surrounding area. He is also a
co-founder of the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, a member of the
Phoenix Earth Food Cooperative, serving on their board for 3 years, and
served as steering committee member of Westgate Neighbors for 3 years.
In 1987 he founded B-Bop Records & Performance Art Space, converting
it to an internet-based business in 1995.

“Community Shares is an essential organization within the framework of
the Northwest Ohio community. Its value lies in that we recognize the 
importance of the relationship and interplay between the compassion of 
charitable giving and the necessity of uniting and involving a diverse 
web of non-profits in the strengthening of our community's social fabric”.

Office/Campaign Manager
Angela Abbatiello

Board Members and Affiliations
Joy McCauley-Benner, President
    Interfaith Justice and Peace Center
, 1st Vice President
     
Jay Salvage, 2nd Vice President
    Make A Wish Foundation
Bonnie Berry, Past President
    Beach House Family Shelter
Chris Diefenthaler, Treasurer
    Assistance Dogs of America, Inc.
Constance Roth-Sautter, Secretary
    Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio
Nancy Myers
    Old West End Association
Marilyn Brenner Levine
    Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer
James R. Wilkinson Jr.
    Martin Luther King Kitchen for the Poor