CBS Broadcast nets $25,000 donation By GARY HUFFENBERGER
Brown News Service
WILMINGTON-New York philanthropist Ross Dworman had not watched a "60 Minutes" broadcast for quite a while and had not seen the news magazine's initial segment on Wilmington that aired in January. But he caught most of the update report last Sunday night and by Wednesday afternoon he was hand-delivering a $25,000 check to the executive director of the United Way of Clinton County.
Dworman hoped to make a bigger impact through local matching funds and was not disappointed. The Kroger Company, TimberTech, Generations Pizzeria, Babb Heating & Air Conditioning, Dr. Tom Matrka, Dr. Janet Gick and the local United Way came up with a matching amount and as a result, $50,000 not on hand Monday morning is now available to provide food to Clinton Countians.
The money will be used in a pilot program through Clinton County Community Action food bank to provide supplemental grocery-only Kroger gift cards to clients.
This service affects nearly 1,000 people on a monthly basis and will make an impact for about six months if service levels stay the same, according to a media release from the United Way. The gift card program started Wednesday and Dworman's family handed out the first cards at the food bank at 489 N. Nelson Ave. In Wilmington.
Dworman said his family has a small foundation, named The RD Foundation, that primarily tries to help children and the impoverished in the United States and elsewhere.
Dworman was very happy with the way local businesses and physicians came forward and provided a match to his donation.
"It's phenomenal," Dworman said of the local response.
The gift card program is expected to provide recipient families "a couple bags of groceries a month for four to six months," he said in an interview at Sugartree Ministries where he took a tour and where he and his family dried lunch dishes.
"I think times like this cause people to band together," Dworman said.
Dworman said he had noted Wilmington is not close to a large metropolitan city that would have the capacity to absorb some of the 8,000-plus people who lost their jobs at the DHL Air Park.
In addition to the visits to Sugartree Ministries and Clinton County Community Action, Dworman, his wife Jennifer, and their children, 12-year-old daughter Isabelle and 5-year-old son Aidan also stopped at the Clinton County homeless shelters.
Isabelle had wrapped two of her own "American Girl" dolls and left them at the homeless shelters as Christmas presents, said United Way officials. And Aidan gave some toy dinosaurs that will end up in Christmas stockings.
United Way of Clinton County board member Scott Kirchner served as an escort for the Dwormans and helped transport them to the local facilities they visited.
"The challenge donation was just a great opportunity for the community. The Dwormans are really nice folks," Kirchner said afterward.
United Way of Clinton County executive director Kym Cooper Parks said, "Christmas is the time of miracles and Mr. Dworman has provided a miracle to our community and has also made all of us realize that generosity starts at home and the local businesses that provided this match are to be commended. Many of these companies are feeling the effects of our high levels of unemployment but still found the ability to ensure the citizens of Clinton County will have food on their tables through the cold months of the year when it becomes increasingly difficult to afford to feed their families due to higher living costs."
The United Way of Clinton County is accepting additional donations to help support the Clinton County Community Action Food Bank as well as 32 other local charities that provide food, clothing, shelter, mental health assistance and education.
Donations can be made at the local United Way office at 31 W. Main St. in downtown Wilmington. The phone number is 383-4846.
