The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) is pleased to announce the 2008 Philanthropists of the Year, John A. and Barbara Campbell of McMurray, PA.  The Campbell’s generosity to the community will be recognized at the WCCF’s annual Philanthropist of the Year Banquet on Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Southpointe Golf Club.   They join a very distinguished list of previous honorees which includes: Pete Cameron, Thomas R. Milhollan, E. Ronald Salvitti, MD, John L.S. Northrop and William B. Northrop, Frank Sarris, Joseph Hardy, III, Melvin and Lillian Bassi, Charles and Carol Keller, and Genevieve Russell.

The WCCF, a 501(c) (3) charitable corporation with assets of approximately $5 million, is concerned with the promotion and facilitation of local philanthropy.  The Foundation created the Philanthropist of the Year award in 1999 to recognize local philanthropists for exceptional generosity to the Washington County Community.  The award is normally presented during National Community Foundation week which falls in the middle of November.  Criteria for the award are as follows:

v    Demonstrated exceptional generosity and civic responsibility in providing financial support and leadership to a local non-profit cause

v    Helped to improve the quality of life in the Washington County community through a commitment of leadership to a non profit cause

v    By example encouraged and motivated others to support a philanthropic cause

v    Contributed significantly to other community efforts           

v    Advance philanthropy in general

Even before John and Barbara Campbell were married in 1965, they shared many things - including attending the same middle school and graduating from the same high school in the state of Michigan.  Their shared desire to further business connections in the insurance industry brought the young couple, and son, Mark, to Cincinnati in 1966 and then to McMurray, PA, in 1973, after the birth of their daughter, Lori.

And it was a shared commitment to family that resulted in the couple being actively involved with their children’s many and varied activities including sports, school, and community.  In early 1975 as President of a local insurance agency, John began volunteering for the United Way, Rotary Club and various other community causes.

Eventually, the couple’s shared vision to establish their own family business resulted in the creation of Campbell Insurance Associates in Washington in 1989.  Since its inception, John has served as the President, and Barbara as the Chief Financial Officer of the company. 

With their children grown and their own company created, the couple shared a wish to become more involved in the community and it was decided that Barbara would provide behind the scenes support to John as he expanded his involvement with various business, civic and charitable groups.  One of the first groups John became involved with was the Jaycees.  Quickly, he became known as a volunteer who could make things happen and was asked to join many organizations including the United Way of Washington County.  At United Way he held many positions and eventually was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Board.  Through his United Way activity, he learned of the good work of many health and human service organizations which he and Barbara had been supporting on an annual basis. 

“As we saw the good that our annual gifts were doing, Barbara and I wanted to ensure that our giving would continue forever through endowed gifts,” remembers John.  “In other areas, community foundations had been created to accept endowed gifts and I was very excited to join other community leaders in initiating the Washington County Community Foundation in late 1995.  Since then, Barbara and I have tried to ensure that our giving to favored charities will continue forever through endowed funds at the Community Foundation.”

In addition to being a Founding Trustee and past Chairman of the Board of the Community Foundation, John was also a Founding Trustee and Chairman of the Washington Hospital Foundation and currently serves as the co-chair of its capital campaign.

John and Barbara’s shared commitment to family has been renewed with their four grandchildren, Molly Michael, Nicholas and Robert John.  In fact, the grandchildren are expected to attend the banquet honoring their grandparents.  “For us, philanthropy is a family activity and we are pleased to know that our children are actively seeking ways to educate our grandchildren about the importance of giving,” said John.  “It is very important to us that the charitable spirit will continue in future generations.”

To purchase tickets to the November 14 banquet, please contact the Washington County Community Foundation at 724-222-6330 or info@wccf.net.