MELISSA MACKEY
Staff Writer
At long last, People In Need Executive Director Kevin Crowley was finally able to cut his hair Thursday night in front of friends and donors to the social service agency at the second annual Spring Fling Mardi Gras event.
It certainly was an occasion to celebrate; Crowley’s hair-raising journey started three years ago when he told the Gazette that he refused to get a haircut until the agency’s new facility was paid in full. He didn’t expect that the economy would go south, and he would be stuck with a long ponytail for so long.
Crowley’s favorite stylist, Kathy Harrod of Kathy’s Westside Klippers in Delaware was on hand Thursday night to finish the job ceremoniously started by David Green, vice president of global mergers and acquisitions for Greif and Tim Wells, community affairs manager for Ohio’s American Electric Power.
Both companies had a large part in helping PIN to its financial goals.
The capital campaign raised $700,000 and more than paid off the $440,000 mortgage for the building on 138 Johnson Drive in Delaware. The funds received over the amount needed to pay off the mortgage helped retrofit the facility to work as a food pantry, said Dorothy Spain, PIN development director.
It took several minutes to shave off his hair, but Crowley felt lighter and lighter as the arduous process continued. He reverted to his standard buzz cut, a look he hadn’t seen in the mirror since November 2007 before his hunting trip.
“Oh my god, it’s freedom,” exclaimed Crowley, after his buzz was finished.
Another exciting feature for those attending the dinner was the “burning of the mortgage.”
Co-chairmen Sherry Barbosky and Jack Hilborn briefly spoke about the campaign before a large black table was wheeled out with a black container. Inside were the mortgage papers to PIN’s new facility.
PIN staff and capital campaign members, as well as several donors, crowded around to witness the ceremony. Crowley did the honors with a lighter, and a little help from Hilborn. Eventually the paper
caught fire and was in flames.
Capital campaign donations started rolling in during a silent fundraising phase in October 2008, which eventually went public in May 2009. The economy was just starting to bottom out as the campaign
started, which had a slowing effect on giving, Hilborn told the crowd.
“That is probably in the toughest economy,” Hilborn said. “But in those times, the need becomes
greater and greater and greater.”
The 7,200-square-foot warehouse and office facility has expanded its services exponentially since moving to the space. The Mid- Ohio Food Bank now makes weekly produce deliveries and monthly nonperishable deliveries.
“Not only are we now able to serve the needs, but we are poised to meet the needs of the next generation,” Crowley said.
During the Spring Fling, about 250 guests ate a gourmet creole buffet; wore bedazzled, feathered masks and beads; and enjoyed music by the John Minnich Dixieland Band. Key sponsors of the capital campaign include Greif Brothers and American Electric Power.
PIN assists Delaware County families and individuals in their time of need. Founded in 1981, services provided by the agency include a food pantry, emergency housing, medical and dental assistance, the annual Holiday Clearing House and advocacy and outreach, so clients can attain self-sufficiency.
mmackey@delgazette.com
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