Contact: Carol Wharff, (740) 376-4380 or wharffc@marietta.edu

New Web Site Makes Marietta Community Foundation
Services More Accessible, User-Friendly

Marietta, Ohio (Jan. 18, 2001) -- The Marietta Community Foundation has launched a new Web site at www.mariettacommunityfoundation.org. Designed to encourage donations and improve accessibility to grant applications and timelines, the site will educate the public about the nonprofit foundation's philanthropic mission.

"There are many people who have moved away from Marietta but still consider it their home. Our Web site provides them a place to learn how they can make a gift in honor or in memory of a loved one to benefit their hometown," said Foundation Executive Director Carol Wharff. "Nonprofit organizations seeking grants can learn about our grant guidelines and processes. Anyone interested can read more about our fund donors, our diverse funds and how to open a fund or make a simple gift. This is an exciting step for us."

Unique features of the site include donor vignettes and a news section highlighting upcoming events and latest grants awarded. Visitors will also find comprehensive grant guidelines and easily downloaded grant applications.

The site was developed as a public service initiative by Offenberger & White Inc. (OffWhite), a Marietta-based marketing communications and Internet development firm. According to Bill White, president of Offenberger & White, the Foundation site offered his firm an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the community while increasing awareness for the Foundation and its work.

"Every fund has a story, every grant has a purpose and every donation has meaning beyond the dollars, regardless of its size," he said. "The site will allow Carol and the Foundation board a cost-effective opportunity to reach out to our community and beyond in the years to come."

OffWhite created the site using an innovative, user-friendly format. "The site was built not only to get the organization's message out to the public but to make maintaining the site easy for the staff," said Andrew Jones, OffWhite director of digital media services. "The content is presented as simply as possible to the public, while a powerful engine behind the scenes manages information and gives Carol and her staff more power and flexibility to run the site from day to day."

Founded in 1974, the Marietta Community Foundation serves as the community's manager and distributor of donated funds. Today, the Foundation has grown to more than $6.5 million in assets and oversees more than 60 funds, from college scholarship and memorial funds to playground trusts and senior citizen funds.