SELF's 15th Annual Awards Dinner & Auction was a success thanks to a number of volunteers and donors.

• SELF's Janet Clemmons Community Service Award: Christine Birhanzl of the American Red Cross, Butler County Office
• Inspiring the Future Award: Janet Clemmons nominee Angie Akers of the Butler County School Supply Coalition
• Lighting the Way Award: Janet Clemmons nominee Kellie Warner
• Dancing Under the Stars Clients of the Year: Darcy Martin, Paula Metcalf, Larry Moore & Stephanie Reardon, and Bobbi Roberts.  
• Outstanding Partner of the Year: Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area
• Agency Angel Award: Missy Thompson of the Family Resource Center in Oxford
• Heart of SELF Award: Judy Scherrer, longtime SELF volunteer and donor

This year's event raised more than $19,000 thanks to pledges for the Community Cumbia dance competitors, high attendance to the event and the auctions.  

We'd especially like to thank all the volunteers who made the evening possible:   

SELF's Resource Development Committee

Susan Patterson, Kevin Kurpieski, Suzi and Marc Rubin, Nicole Flower, Jay & Kim Bley, Carla Rice and Darcy Martin  

Dancers

Colombia Viva!, Salsa Underground and the Community Cumbia Competitors- Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan, Monroe Mayor Bob Routson, Butler County Commissioner Cindy Carpenter, Fairfield City Councilman Marty Judd and West Chester Township Trustee  

George Lang   

Staff

Angel Young, Athena Maly, Betty Riley, Bev Wright, Debbie Depew, Erika Morales, Jeffrey Diver, Jerry Brown, John Post, Kim Weigel, Maria Sexton, Marilyn Dickerson, Norma Smith, Rebekah Lunsford, Robin Senser, Ruby Scott, Shannon Gardner, Sheree Hampton, and Vanessa Jackson

Board Members

Lori Elliott and Valerie Hamilton

Other individuals

Lou Hampton, Martha Pfeiffer and Carmen Hubbard 

Pictures from the event can be found on SELF's Facebook page! 

Cover of SELF's 2010 Annual Report

In recognition of SELF's 15 years of service to Butler County, the agency's 2010 Annual Report features a timeline of accomplishments. You can download your copy at www.selfhelps.org 

Many of us know someone who has always dreamed of owning his or her own home, going back to school or starting a business, but lacked the funds to support such endeavors.  There is a program for low-income Butler County residents that can help them achieve these goals! 

SELF offers an Individual Development Account (IDA) program to low-income Butler County residents to help participants learn better money management skills, set goals and build assets in order to become more financially independent by saving earned income.  

SELF is currently accepting applications for its Individual Development Account (IDA) program which hosts seven, two-hour sessions quarterly.   

By the end of the program, participants can save up to $3,000 to go toward one of three assets: purchasing a first-time home, starting a small business or obtaining post-secondary education.  Not only does the IDA program help people save for and acquire an asset, but it educates participants how to be prepared for crises situations that have the potential to break the bank by committing to a savings plan each month.

The IDA program has helped 42 Butler County residents better understand how to manage finances since 2007.  Also, 32 participants have completed the program (16 have purchased homes, 10 have started businesses, 6 have pursued further education and one person purchased a car with a special grant) and obtained an assets totaling $1.2 million. 

If you know someone who is currently employed and their household income is at or below the 200% poverty level based on federal standards, they can call SELF at (513) 868-9300 or (888) 432-7022 (Middletown) for more information.