The East Toledo Family Center |-Alumni-|

Adapted from an article in the Metro Press.

Warren Densmore was like a second father to the young men and women growing up in the East Toledo Neighborhood House in the 1940's and 1950's.

Today, those youngsters are grown. Many of them are prominent Toledoans, others are scattered throughout the United States. But wherever they are, each year they come home to a tribute to the man who played an important role in their early lives.

David Alvarado, a retired teacher, is one of those "kids" who decided to find a way to honor Mr. Densmore.

"We began talking and someone said, "Whatever happened to Mr. Densmore?" we called him "Denny". I knew he was alive and well. We started talking about some way we could thank him."

Tim Yenrick, director of the East Toledo Family Center and Mr. Alvarado, both said Mr. Densmore was a man who liked to work quietly behind the scenes, organizing and giving money, food and other necessities to families in need. So, Mr. Alvarado said, the group members wanted to do something that would have an impact.

The group decided to develop a scholarship program which would bear the name of Warren Densmore. They formed the East Toledo Neighborhood House Alumni and planned their scholarship program.

"We knew he would like that. He believed in kids," Mr. Alvarado said. "He liked things that were positive and had a long-lasting impact."

The group began holding an annual golf outing at the Sugar Creek Golf Course, in Elmore, Ohio, and collecting donations from businesses and individuals.

The first year, the group gave out two $ 500 scholarships at a dinner in honor of Mr. Densmore. Then it started it's fundraising efforts all over again. Their efforts were helped by a $ 10,000 donation from the now disbanded Colony Men's Club, where Mr. Densmore had been a member.

The following year, the group again gave two $ 500 scholarships. One scholarship was given to a Waite student and one given to a student attending Cardinal Stritch.

Funds are now kept in a trust that generates more money for the scholarships. Scholarships are now increased to $ 1000. One is awarded to a Waite student and one is awarded to a Cardinal Stritch student.

Mr. Densmore was an outstanding Toledo athlete. He brought his love for athletics and children to the East Toledo Neighborhood House located on Vinal Street in 1946. According to Mr. Alvarado, "Denny" continued the legacy of caring for East Side youngsters which was started several years before by Harper and Mary Hoover in a tent in the back yard of their Vinal street residence. Later Mr. & Mrs. Hoover donated their residence to the community and it became the East Toledo Neighborhood House.

In 1969, the East Toledo Neighborhood House became the East Toledo Family Center. Trophies form the football, baseball, and softball teams that Mr. Densmore coached in the 1940's and 1950's are still displayed in the lobby of the East Toledo Family Center located at 1020 Varland Avenue.

Tim Yenrick served as the Executive Director of the East Toledo Family Center from 1984 until 2003. Tim carried on the legacy of caring for east Toledo youth with the continuation of athletic programs. Tim was also instrumental in the introduction of new comprehensive, family oriented social service programs at the Center. It was during Mr. Yenrick’s tenure that the Senior Activities Center was upgraded and received three new rooms, nearly doubling the size of the existing building. The Works Progress Administration Building, our Senior Center, was completed in 1932 and did not house our program until 1987. In addition, the Family Center received a new $ 3.4 million addition in 1998. This upper level of this two story addition is currently used for Center programming and houses the Toledo Police Community Policing Office. The lower level houses the St.Charles/Mercy Navarre Park Health Clinic, providing health care for east Toledo residents.

Kim Partin was selected as the person to succeed as Executive Director. Kim began her time with the Family Center in 1998 as an intern from Bowling Green State University. Kim then managed the Family Resource Program for several years, assisting in the addition of the Heffner Early Childhood Center. Since being selected as Executive Director Kim has expanded or Child Care Program to include Help Me Grow and Learn serving children ages 3-5 years. We recently qualified as an Early Learning Initiative (ELI) site serving children ages 3-5 and families with all-day day care. The GED program was re-established and is housed at the Heffner Early Childhood Center. Entered in to a collaborative with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program to provide onsite services to children and families in the east Toledo area.

Kim believes that in order for the Family Center to continue and be effective in our new and ever changing social structure we must continue to build on our established community ties and assist our community members to become a strong and unified entity in our society. People need to continue to participate in their community activities. It is time to come back and pass torch to our new generations. After all it is People Building People that makes it all work.