The 20th Anniversary Meeting of North Coast Community Homes (NCCH) was held on December 7, 2004 at Windows on the River. A capacity audience listened to a riveting and very personal talk on “Before and After: Life with Autism” given by Ronald (Ronn) B. Richard, President of The Cleveland Foundation. Mr. Richard has a daughter with autism.

 

Gerda Freedheim, characterized as the “godmother” of NCCH, was presented with the Above & Beyond Award for her many years of service and dedication to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. She also served on the first NCCH Board of Trustees for 13 years, including serving as Chair of The Board of Trustees, and assisting in selecting Stephen McPeake, as the President and CEO of NCCH.

 

Ronald B. Richard accepted the Community Service Award for The Cleveland Foundation. It’s initial funding provided the seed money to create North Coast Community Homes and the organization has continued to support NCCH over the years. The Cleveland Foundation represents the very best of philanthropic leadership in America. There is no issue of importance to the econimic, educational and social well being of northeastern Ohio that is not addressed by the Foundation, and there is no initiative designed to improve the quality of life for the citizens of this area that is not supported by the Foundation.

 

History

1984	Incorporated NCCH as an Ohio nonprofit corporation on November 8, 1984
1985	Funded for start up by The Cleveland Foundation; Hired first Executive Director; Signed purchase agreements on four properties
1986	Filed and won first lawsuit to develop group home in the City of Cleveland
1987	Opened first group homes in Cuyahoga County
1988	Received Anisfield-Wolf Memorial Award as best nonprofit organization in Northeast Ohio
1989	Filed and won two Federal lawsuits to develop homes in Brooklyn Heights and Beachwood; Began developing homes in Lake County; Began serving 100th tenant
1992	Purchased 50th home in Cleveland Heights, Cuyhoga County; Filed and won Federal lawsuit to develop a home in Warrensville Heights, Cuyahoga County; Received first HUD grant for a rental property in South Euclid, Cuyahoga County
1993	Completed first Bond Issue of $4,900,000 to develop 15 group homes in Cuyahoga County; Purchased first property in Stark County to assist in closure of Molly Stark Hospital
1995	Convened a Fire Safety Advisory Committee which drafted a Fire Policy for the organization
1996	Held our first golf outing at Firestone Country Club
1997	Purchased 100th home in Mentor-On-The Lake, Lake County; Established maintenance department to provide property management services; Began a formal fund raising program; Designed our NCCH logo and produced first newsletter; Began serving 500th tenant
1998	Began serving individuals with severe mental illness in multifamily properties in Summit County
1999	Established landscape department to provide landscaping services to our rental properties; Began tradition of providing individual holiday gifts to all of our tenants in rental properties
2000	Purchased 16 new properties in Cuyahoga, Lake, Stark and Summit Counties; Received $643,000 in contributions from fundraising efforts from the private sector; Established first volunteer group, the North Coast Neighbors
2001	Purchased 150th home in Richmond Heights, Cuyahoga County
2002	Completed construction of an NCCH office building in Garfield Heights; Created NCCH Endowment Fund, housed at The Cleveland Foundation; Began serving 750th tenant
2004	Purchased 171st property in Olmsted Township, Cuyahoga County; Partnered with Welcome House to produce a manual for parents wanting to develop homes for their own children with disabilities

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