Successful Integration Leads to New Look, Name For Merged Human Service Organizations

CLEVELAND, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Center for Families and Children, West Side Ecumenical Ministry and El Barrio, which came together last year to form one new organization, unveiled a unified brand today. The new name is The Centers for Families and Children, or The Centers for short. The new name, together with the new logo and tag line, represent the final milestone of a successful integration and strengthened community impact for one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120928/CL82639LOGO)

Now combined, The Centers provides effective health, education and essential human services to 20,000 people each year with a $40m annual budget, a staff team of 500, and 1,400 volunteers.  The services offered by The Centers are easily accessible from its 18 locations and community outreach across Greater Cleveland.

The three human service agencies came together in April of 2011 through an affiliation agreement. Informal discussions around collaboration began as far back as 2008 and in 2010 the organizations were selected to participate in the Human Services Restructuring Pilot Project, which was spearheaded by foundations and other local funders to foster strategic restructuring efforts such as sharing of administrative functions, integrated programming, joint ventures and mergers for nonprofits in the community.

The launch of this new brand is the end product of a year-long inclusive development effort that gathered input from clients, staff, Board members, funders and other community leaders and partners.

"Our new brand represents the unity, scale and reach of our new combined organization," said Sharon Sobol Jordan, president and CEO of The Centers. "It both honors our rich history of service to this community and embraces our future as a strong, focused organization ready to go further." 

The Centers operates on the belief that lasting, positive change begins with access to opportunities, and is committed to bridging the opportunity gap by connecting as many people as possible to effective health care, education and essential human services.  Its new website, TheCentersOhio.org, offers the community a tool to engage with the organization in many ways, including volunteering, joining our staff, and becoming a financial supporter. 

"Bringing together these three well-respected organizations has been a remarkable journey. We have learned so much over the last 18 months, and have successfully laid the foundation to expand services, reach more people, and take on new challenges," said David Doll, Board Chair for The Centers. "The partnership between the Board and staff has never been stronger, and we are so proud of the good work we are doing together. Our shared purpose and direction are clear, and we are excited about the future."

About The Centers
We believe lasting, positive change begins with access to opportunities. We bridge the opportunity gap by connecting as many people as possible to effective health care, education and essential human services. The Centers is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio, serving more than 20,000 people annually in our community. Visit TheCentersOhio.org to learn more.

SOURCE The Centers for Families and Children