Jacob Espinosa
LIMA — The Lima Community Foundation announced Robyn Frazier as its new executive director at Wednesday’s mayoral press briefing.
Karen Boitnott, member of the foundation’s board of directors, introduced Frazier and cited her work with the Bradfield Community Center as proof of her qualifications.
“Robyn is a committed volunteer and staff leader with established connections within the Lima/Allen County philanthropy and non-profit communities and is ideally positioned to champion the foundation’s mission of connecting donors with causes that matter,” Boitnott said. “She is an innovative and visionary leader with an abundance of experience, strong community connections and a deep commitment to the foundation’s mission. Robyn’s experience will help propel growth and expand our ability to serve donors for the greater Lima and Allen County community.”
Frazier said that she is excited to get to work and thanked the foundation.
“I believe that the signs of a thriving community are those with a commitment to supporting all residents,” she said. “The future of the greater Lima/Allen County community will be defined by how we choose to give back. I’m honored for the privilege to serve Lima this way.”
Mayor Sharetta Smith said that she was likewise excited for Frazier, with whom she has worked for 10 years.
“This is a great time,” she said. “Lima Community Foundation is establishing itself as a pre-eminent philanthropy organization in our area and I can’t think of a better person to fill that role.”
Following the press conference, Frazier said that she was looking forward to making more people and potential donors aware of what they do.
“One of the big things we do is scholarships and scholarship season is now so we administrate the funds for a lot of the scholarships that are given out,” she said. “We have donors that have different causes that are meaningful to them and we want to pair them up with causes that mean something. We want to give back to our community in different ways.”
Frazier added that she thinks the foundation is a hidden gem and pointed to the coming Lima Community Aquatic Center as an example of one thing the foundation is involved in that others could contribute to.
“We want to make it visible and accessible,” she said. “One of the projects we are working on is the aquatic center for the city so we’re letting people know that there’s a way for them to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to meeting our donors and matching them up to collaborate across the city and make sure that we make an impact.”
For more information on the Lima Community Foundation, visit its website.
Frazier will succeed the retiring Susie Gray, who served from 1990 to 2023, on March 4.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
