Warren Chamber

Created in 1991, the Education, Civic and Cultural Foundation is a private, non-profit organization. The Foundation has more than $800,000; however, only the interest is used to provide money for the grants. By using only the interest, the longevity is assured for the Foundation, which means future generations in Trumbull County will continue to benefit from these dollars.

The Foundation funds programs and projects yet to occur that promote the cultural advancement, development of civic pride and spirit and the maintenance and enhancement of educational opportunities throughout the city of Warren and Trumbull County. Any Trumbull County group or organization may submit a grant request for a particular project. All grant requests must benefit Trumbull County residents. Grant applications are available for download below. Grant requests may be submitted at any time. The Board of Trustees meets quarterly to review applications. If you have any questions, contact Regional Chamber Executive Coordinator Cameron Cooke-Murphy at 330-744-2131 ext.1217 or Cameron@RegionalChamber.com.

The History

The Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Education, Civic & Cultural Foundation was established in 1991 by the former Warren Area Chamber of Commerce to fund various projects in Trumbull County. Over the past 28 years, the foundation has distributed nearly $1.8 million exclusively in Trumbull County and continues to flourish.

However, if not for the innovation and vision of two individuals, this may have never gotten off the ground or existed today. Warren Attorneys Paul Nader and Bob Cochran (Bob was a descendant of famous attorney Clarence Darrow) worked to develop 10 parcels of land on Route 82, across the street from the Avalon Golf Course owned by the City of Warren.

The Warren Area Chamber, which operated the Avalon Golf Course at that time, decided to buy those parcels of land to build a new golf course. All of the parcel owners agreed to option their land to the chamber for future purchase, except for one who said the chamber would have to buy his parcel—located in the middle of all of the parcels—immediately and would not have the option to buy later.

So, Raymond John Wean stepped up to purchase that very first parcel of land on behalf of the chamber, which purchased all of the remaining parcels thereafter. Paul and Bob, who were on the chamber’s committee to build the golf course, tapped Pete Dye, an Ohio native and famous golf course architect, to design the new course, called Avalon Lakes Golf & Country Club.

The course opened in 1967 and became a great success, even named a top 25 course in the U.S. In 1991, the Warren Area Chamber sold the course for $2.1 million to American Golf of California and established two foundations with the revenue. American Golf sold the course a few years later to the Avalon Holdings Corporation, where it has continued to thrive under Chairman Ron Klingle.

One of those foundations is the Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Education, Civic & Cultural Foundation. Since its inception in 1991, this foundation has funded programs and projects that promote cultural enhancement, development of civic pride and spirit, and maintenance and enhancement of educational opportunities throughout Trumbull County.

Some of the specific organizations that have received support include Warren G. Harding High School, the Warren Philharmonic, Trumbull Art Gallery, The Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County and Inspiring Minds. Some of the specific programs funded include Every Given Child, in which the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. worked with Warren City Schools students and faculty; and the philanthropic group Trumbull-100’s annual hanging baskets that beautify downtown Warren.

The Education Civic and Cultural Foundation also has an endowed scholarship for Trumbull County students attending the Kent State University at Trumbull Campus.

The Foundation has more than $800,000; however, only the interest is used to provide money for the grants. By using only the interest, the longevity is assured meaning future generations in Trumbull County will continue to benefit from the vision of attorneys Paul Nader and Bob Cochran, as well as the generosity of Raymond John Wean.

Board of Trustees

Jason Altobelli
President – Altobelli Real Estate

Alan Friedkin
Vice President – Burgan Friedkin Commercial Group

Debbi Grinstein
Farmers Trust Co.

Kenny Haidaris
Sunrise Entertainment

Eric Lanham
Seven Seventeen Credit Union

Marvin Logan
OH WOW!

Wendy Miller
Howland Board of Education

Phil O’Hara
HBK

Staff

Michael McGiffin
Secretary

Board of Directors

Anthony Cafaro, Jr.
President - The Cafaro Co.

Sam Covelli
Vice President - Covelli Enterprises

Matthew Blair
Treasurer - Blair & Latell

Ellie Platt
Platt Insurance

Jesse Potter
Gasser Chair

Steve Sava
Perigee Business Technologies

Drew Schneider
Lordstown Energy Center

Simon Werle
Huntington

Sterling Williams
Sterling-McCullough Williams Funeral Home