Gloria Miltenberger Receives Cornerstone Award

The Monroe Area Community Foundation held its tenth annual meeting on April 26, 2007, in the James Monroe Room at the Monroe city building. Paul Steigerwald, Trustee, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Elbert Tannreuther, Trustee/Assistant Treasurer, acted as master of ceremonies and introduced and recognized honored guests, officers and trustees of the MACF.

Mr. Tannreuther also briefly explained MACF’s affiliation with the Middletown Community Foundation (MCF). Although the MACF is an independent foundation, their investments are handled under the umbrella of the MCF. In this way, MCF assumes all financial reporting and timely filing with the Internal Revenue Service. Also, MACF fund investments are pooled with MCF’s large capital base to provide a more advantageous return. MCF then computes annually the income available to MACF for its grant making, which also includes scholarships given to qualifying graduating seniors at Monroe Local Schools.

Boyd A. Smith, Trustee/Vice-President, called the trustees’ meeting to order. The MACF annual report prepared by David Miltenberger, Trustee/Secretary, and Gloria Miltenberger was distributed to members. Gloria also gave the treasurer’s report and noted that the tenth year was marked by an increase in both memberships and scholarships, and the overall balance of funds surpassed the $125,000 mark. Peggy McClusky, Trustee/Distribution Committee Chair, reported on requests and recommendations for grant distributions, which are submitted quarterly. Gloria also announced that Robert A. Hendrickson, Peggy McClusky, and Elbert R. Tannreuther were re-elected for three-year terms to the Board of Trustees. In addition, Gloria introduced Ron Tubbs, Cornerstone Award Chair, as the new MACF executive director.

The guest speaker for the evening was David Irwin, a Monroe Elementary student, who gave his speech, “My Biggest Challenge Is . . .” This speech won the Optimist International Oratorical Zone Contest. David is the son of Mike and Arni Irwin.

Each year the Monroe Area Community Foundation gives the Cornerstone Award to a person who displays an unselfish use of time or money—for no personal gain—for the betterment of the Monroe community. The winner is selected by the Cornerstone Award committee, who reviews all the nominations submitted from the citizens of Monroe. This year’s award recognizing service to the community was presented to Gloria Miltenberger by Ron Tubbs at its tenth annual meeting. Gloria was instrumental in starting the foundation upon her husband’s death in 1996, when she and her family requested that memorial gifts in Richard’s name be used to establish a foundation in Monroe. Prior to his death, Richard was a Monroe councilman for 22 years and supported various community projects, including the concept of a foundation. Since then, Gloria has served as the Executive Director of the MACF and has been largely responsible for its continued progress. She has worked tirelessly to serve the MACF in memory of her late husband, Richard, and daughter, Lee Ann. A 1979 graduate of Monroe High School, Lee Ann unexpectedly passed away in 2005. Under the MACF direction, The Richard L. Miltenberger Memorial Scholarship and The Lee Ann Miltenberger Memorial Scholarship Funds were established in order to give yearly financial aid to qualifying Monroe High School seniors. Gloria received an award plaque and a commemorative name plate to be added to the Cornerstone Award plaque displayed in the James Monroe Community Room.

Previous winners of this award are:

2000 George and Alice Frazee
2001 Ida Mae Woodward
2002 Monroe Lions Club
2003 Dr. James M. and Bertha Anderson
2004 Joyce Tannreuther
2005 A. Seth Johnston
2006 Elbert R. Tannreuther
2007 Gloria A. Miltenberger

To learn more about starting an MACF Fund to honor or recognize the achievement of an individual or group, call any of the following people:

Gloria Miltenberger, 513-539-7672
Larry McCartt, 513-539-7406
Ron Tubbs, 513-320-3674

David Miltenberger, Trustee/Secretary, made the closing comments, with appreciations to all, and raffled the flower arrangements and table centerpieces. David and Gloria both did an excellent job of preparing the annual report.

Virginia Smith, a member of the Foundation, prepared and served a variety of tantalizing refreshments.

If you are interested in participating as a member of the Monroe Area Community Foundation, send your $25 membership fee to


This fee helps meet day to day operating expenses such as office supplies, printing, and mailing. In addition, members are asked to vote on Foundation issues and serve on Foundation committees.