Taylor new VW County Foundation trustee

Van Wert independent/VW County Foundation news

The Van Wert County Foundation Board of Trustees chose a new board member, confirmed the hiring of a new executive secretary for the first time in 17 years and accepted five new donor funds during its December meeting. The foundation’s retiring executive secretary, Larry L. Wendel, reported the various actions.

Action was highlighted by the election of Gary L. Taylor as a new Foundation trustee. Taylor is the owner of Taylor Auto Sales, which was started by his father, Don, in 1947.

Taylor is dedicated to the community he serves and makes an impact, both in a leadership capacity and as a financial supporter of various organizations. In addition to the county foundation, organizations Taylor supports financially include the Van Wert Civic Theatre, Community Health Professionals, Brumback Library, Starr Commonwealth, Wassenberg Art Center, and The Salvation Army.

Taylor is also a lifelong member of the YMCA, a multiple time Paul Harris member of Van Wert Rotary Club, and served on the Board of Directors of Van Wert County Hospital.

Also in December, the Foundation board officially confirmed the hiring of Seth Baker as executive secretary, which is effective January 1, 2014. Baker will replace Wendel, who has been chief administrator of the Foundation since 1996 and has served on its Board of Trustees since 1979.

Baker, a Van Wert County native, is currently assistant director of the Wapakoneta Economic Development Council, and was formerly program manager for Main Street Van Wert and interim director of Wassenberg Art Center.

He has a degree in landscape architecture from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Wright State University and has been a member of the local Rotary Club, Junior Achievement, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, Wassenberg, the Van Wert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Van Wert County Economic Development Advisory Group.

The Foundation board also took the following action at its December meeting:

• Confirmed the purchase and demolition of the group of buildings located south of what is now Wassenberg Art Center
• Accepted the Van Wert County Smoke Detector Donor Advised Fund.
• Accepted the Profit Memorial Fund.
• Accepted the NPAC Permanent Endowment Fund.
• Accepted the Van Wert County Cultural Exchange Fund.
• Accepted the Van Wert Signage Project Fund.
• Approved charitable allocations, scholarships, and program services totaling approximately $1.8 million for 2013.