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More than 200 people came to MHS on the evening of Thursday, 27 September 2007, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Dave's Markets, and the contributions of its Chairman, Burt Saltzman, to MHS and the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. Dave's Markets serve urban communities throughout Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Each store features foods and items of particular interest to the ethnic communities served by the store.
Burt Saltzman is well-known throughout the community for his deep civic interests, and his unfailing generosity. He has served on the Board of Trustees of MHS for more than ten years. He was instrumental in the MHS strategic initiative to systematically collect, analyze, and use outcome data to understand and strengthen the effectiveness of its programs.
Among the first to honor Mr. Saltzman was Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson (photograph "a" at left). The Mayor presented Mr. Saltzman with a City of Cleveland Proclamation citing the many contributions of Dave's Markets to the City of Cleveland.
Certainly the wittiest and most humorous of the presentations was by Ms Betty Pinkney (b) of the Office of U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, representing Ohio's 11th Congressional District. Ms Pinkney praised Mr. Saltzman's courtesy and generosity to shoppers of diverse backgrounds and cultural values, and the care and respect with which he negotiates with workers of Dave's Markets.
Ms Laurie Rokakis (c) from the office of U.S. Representative (and Democratic Presidential candidate) Dennis J. Kucinich, representing Ohio's 10th Congressionial District, introduced Ms Elena Sanchez, who spoke of the importance of MHS homeless assistance services to the efforts of Representative Kucinich to end homelessness in the District.
Mr. Ken Williamson from the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (d) spoke of how important it was for public health initiatives to have the support of successful representatives of the business community. He praised the commitment of Mr. Saltzman, as Chairman of Dave's Markets, to vocational training programs and other employment initiatives providing opportunities to those with disabilities, and those who have served time in prison.
Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone (e) spoke of the contributions of Burt Saltzman to Cleveland's economy, and of his support of local mental health and social service initiatives.
Mr William Denihan (f), Chief Executive Officer of the Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board, praised Mr. Saltzman's contributions to making MHS one of the most innovative and outcome-focused community mental health centers in northeast Ohio.
MHS Executive Director Steven M. Friedman, Ph.D. thanked Mr. Saltzman for his dedicated service to MHS, and presented him with a figurine of a man clutching a heart (g).
Mr Stephen Prenger (h), President of the Board of Trustees of MHS, spoke of the strong values and compassionate dedication that Mr. Saltzman brought to the Board. Mr. Prengler also told the following story that vividly illustrates the extraordinary generosity and decency of Mr. Saltzman, to say nothing of his sense of humor.
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During the early evening hours of one of Cleveland's brutal winter days, with bitterly cold winds and stinging snow pellets, Mr. Saltzman left his Payne Avenue store, and began his drive home. He soon saw an elderly woman on the sidewalk, struggling against the wind and snow with bags from Dave's Markets. He stopped and offered her a ride home. She gratefully accepted his offer, climbed in the car, placed the bags at her feet, and told Mr. Saltman how to get to her home.
"This is so kind of you," she said, adding worriedly "but I really have no way to repay you." He reassured her that he merely wanted to help her home, and expected nothing in return. The woman sat silently for a moment. Suddenly, she asked him "Do you like steak?" He turned to her, replying "Why, of course," whereupon she unbuttoned her winter coat and offered him several shrink-wrapped packages of steaks from Dave's Market that she proudly pulled from the coat's large interior pockets. With the composure and grace only Mr. Saltzman could muster at such a moment, he smiled broadly and said "Madam, I thank you, but I want you to keep those. Just let me tell you, the next time you find that you can't afford the food you would like, just tell someone at the store that you wish to speak to Mr. Saltzman. I am certain he'll help you out."
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Ms Judith Peters, President and CEO of West Side Ecumenical Ministry and Mr. Andy Calladine, Director of Community Part- nerships of the Center for Families and Children join Dr. Friedman in the celebration (i). Dr. Friedman also took them on a tour of the building that MHS moved into earlier this year.
Program Managers Russell Spieth and James Holbrook (j) were among dozens of MHS staff members stationed throughout the building to tell visitors the story of MHS' clients and services.
Timothy Raymond and Renee Shepherd (k) tell visitors about their critical outreach work with homeless people on the streets. Both work for the MHS PATH program, one of the MHS homeless assistance programs comprising the most comprehensive, single-agency system of care in Ohio for homeless people who have severe mental disorders or other disabling conditions.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson speaks with Dr. Friedman (l), as Mr. Robert Eckhart, Senior Vice President for Programs and Evaluation of The Cleveland Foundation listens in. A $500,000 grant from The Cleveland Foundation launched the capital campaign that helped MHS acquire and renovate its new headquarters.
The plaque (m) presented to Mr. Saltzman by Steven Prengler, President of the MHS Board of Trustees, honoring Burt Saltzman and the Saltzman family.
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