The Power of a Philanthropic Advisor: Connecting Legacies to Community Needs

L-R: Mary Antons, Britani Merritt, Valerie Dietrich, Debbie Lazorik, & Suzanne Schultz

Washington County - Every gift begins with a passion. At Marietta Community Foundation, our role as a philanthropic advisor is to listen, connect, and guide, ensuring those passions meet community needs in powerful, lasting ways.

A recent partnership between the Woman’s Home Board and The Betsey Mills Club is a beautiful example.

The Woman’s Home Board, established in 1885, spent generations caring for women in need. While the original Home eventually closed, the Board ensured their mission would continue by creating a fund at the Foundation. Their commitment has lived on for decades—and this year, it came to life in a meaningful way.

The Woman’s Home Board recently approved a $100,000 grant to The Betsey Mills Club to remodel and repair the women’s dormitory bathrooms. These much-needed updates will create a safer, more welcoming environment for women who call The Betsey home. The Foundation helped make this connection possible, serving as a bridge between the Woman’s Home Board and The Betsey Mills Club.

Britani Merritt, Vice President, Donor & Program Services, spent time bringing both groups together, giving The Betsey’s leadership the opportunity to share their vision and gain the support they needed.

“What I love most about our work is seeing visions align,” shared Merritt. “The Woman’s Home Board wanted to carry on their legacy, while The Betsey Mills Club envisioned new ways to serve residents. Our role as a philanthropic advisor is simply to bring those paths together…and when they do, incredible things happen.”

Suzanne Schultz, Executive Director of The Betsey Mills Club, echoed this sentiment:

“We are so grateful to the Woman's Home for this generous gift. Their support not only helps us update our historic dorms, but it also honors the mission of The Betsey Mills Club—to provide a safe, clean, and welcoming place for women in our community. The Woman’s Home has long been dedicated to a similar mission, and this gift is a beautiful example of women helping women. Together, we are carrying forward a legacy of care that will have a lasting impact.”

For the Woman’s Home Board, it’s a continuation of a mission that began more than a century ago.

“When the Woman’s Home closed, it was difficult for the community…we all felt the loss,” shared Mary Antons, member of the Woman’s Home Board. “But we want people to know that the Woman’s Home is still here. Our mission never left. Through the Foundation, we can continue what began in 1885, and this grant is one more way we’re keeping that promise to care for women in our community.”

By connecting the legacies of donors with the visions of local organizations, Marietta Community Foundation helps strengthen Washington County, ensuring that care, compassion, and community continue to grow for generations to come.

Marietta Community Foundation is committed to strengthening Washington County, believing that a united community holds unlimited potential. With over $34M in grants and scholarships and more than $60M in assets across nearly 400 funds, the Foundation empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations across Washington County to drive transformative, lasting impact. Learn more at www.mcfohio.org.