Celebrating a Summer of Impact: OFIC's 2026 Non-Profit Internship Program
This summer, OFIC's Non-Profit Internship Program placed students from member campuses in paid roles at Ohio non-profit organizations. The program is made possible by two longtime partners: The Nord Family Foundation, supporting placements in Lorain County, and Employers Health, supporting placements across Stark County.
The program does more than give students a paid summer job. It sends them back to their home communities to do meaningful work, and it gives non-profit organizations extra capacity they could not otherwise afford. This year, that impact was on full display at two celebratory luncheons: one hosted by Employers Health on July 23 for interns serving Stark County, and one hosted by The Nord Family Foundation on July 22 for interns serving Lorain County.
Employers Health Luncheon
Chris Goff, Chairman, President and CEO at Employers Health and this year's Stark County sponsor, opened the luncheon with a reminder of what these internships can lead to. His message to this year's cohort was clear: start building your network now. Most careers are not built through job applications alone. They are built through the relationships formed along the way, and internships like this one are where that network begins.
Next, five Stark County non-profits took the microphone to introduce their interns and described their summer work.
C.A.M.P. (Career Apprenticeship & Mentorship Program), which supports Canton City Schools Early College students for college and career success through mentoring, internships and scholarships, Executive Director Touby McCammon introduced Kadence, a computer science and data science double major from John Carroll University, who spent the summer building a donor and mentorship portal from the ground up. Her supervisor described years of information scattered across paper files and spreadsheets, and credited Kadence with turning that into an organized, searchable system the team can build on for years to come.
Compassion Delivered, which prepares meals at no cost for individuals with life-threatening illnesses, is marking its tenth year and will surpass 100,000 meals delivered this November. Co-founder and CEO Daniel Anschutz introduced this summer's intern, Nada of Baldwin Wallace University, who worked closely with the organization's menus, studying how different ingredients support clients managing serious health conditions, and helped build out educational materials explaining the nutrition behind each meal.
Domestic Violence Project, a 48-year-old organization operating two shelters, a transitional housing program, and legal advocacy services, was pleased to have the help of Anna, an English and psychology double major from Ohio Wesleyan University, just weeks before its largest fundraiser of the year. Her supervisor Lydia Carmany, Director of Fund Development, called it the organization's most successful fundraiser yet and credited Anna's help running the event. Anna’s favorite project was small but personal: assembling a handmade gift for a client at the shelter who was expecting a baby.
First Tee Canton, which uses the game of golf to teach youth life skills and healthy habits, Executive Director Scott Life introduced Ethan of Cedarville University. Life said Ethan managed golf instruction for children ages 5 to 18, helped run seven satellite tournaments, and worked on the organization's largest annual fundraiser, its Summer Golf Outing.
Stark County Minority Business Association, which supports minority, women and veteran-owned businesses through certification, consulting and access to capital, represented by Elise Watkins, Marketing and Communication Coordinator, introduced Candace of Muskingum University, who worked across the organization's marketing and finance teams as they launched a new business marketplace on 10th Street. Watkins said Candace did not just execute ideas handed to her, she took ownership of projects, including leading a full social media video shoot on her own.
The Nord Family Foundation Luncheon
Tina Kimbrough, Executive Director of the Nord Family Foundation, spoke as a proud sponsor of the program through OFIC and the importance of helping non-profit organizations and the communities they serve. She framed the foundation's involvement around a simple question: how can the Nord Family Foundation further help Lorain County? That question led to the inaugural funding of the summer non-profit internship program.
Following Ms. Kimbrough's remarks, six representatives from the participating Lorain County non-profit organizations stepped up to introduce their interns and share how the summer unfolded.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (of Lorain County), which provides children facing adversity with one-on-one mentoring relationships, introduced Mia of Baldwin Wallace University, who spent the summer supporting the organization's youth mentoring programs.
City Fresh, a farm-to-table box program that brings fresh, affordable produce to neighborhoods across Lorain and Cuyahoga counties, Program Director Leah Finegold introduced Chapin of Oberlin College, who took ownership of two projects that had long fallen through the cracks for the busy organization. First, producing weekly recipe cards distributed with City Fresh's produce boxes, and second, staffing sign-up events for a program which provides eligible families with up to $140 in coupons to spend at local farmers markets. Chapin signed up ten families in a single afternoon at the Elyria Public Library, and volunteers have consistently asked to work alongside Chapin throughout the summer.
El Centro, a Hispanic-Latino advocacy organization providing social, educational and community development services in Lorain County, introduced Skyla of Oberlin College, a rising junior majoring in anthropology, who supported the organization's senior programming and community engagement work. Skyla’s supervisor stated the extra capacity allowed the team to take on more committee work, grant research, and marketing than they could otherwise manage.
Elyria Community Partnership, a non-profit organization working to revitalize downtown Elyria and its neighborhoods, Executive Director Mone't Roberts introduced Madeline of John Carroll University, who spent the summer on research tied to downtown development, event support, and community outreach. She said Madeline's steady energy through a fast-moving, unpredictable work environment made a real difference for a small team stretched thin.
Lorain County Urban League, which champions economic empowerment and civil rights through programs in housing, employment and entrepreneurship, introduced William of Oberlin College, a political science student who spent the summer on policy analysis, election summaries, and video production. He described researching legislation on gun ownership and voter registration, and named the creation of a booklet summarizing candidates and voting districts for an upcoming Senate race as his favorite project of the summer.
Main Street Lorain, which promotes the vibrancy of downtown Lorain and supports its small businesses, Executive Director Max Schaefer introduced Artemis of Oberlin College, a web marketing and design intern who worked directly with the local businesses the organization supports. Artemis said the internship gave her a new appreciation for her hometown and the shared sense of pride among the small businesses Main Street Lorain represents. Schaefer said Artemis took on content creation, social media, and website updates the organization could not otherwise keep up with.
YWCA, which works to eliminate racism and empower women through housing, youth and family programs across Lorain County, Executive Director Jeanine Donaldson introduced Elaine of Wilmington College, a social work and political science student, who supported the organization's housing programs and helped coordinate a new playground project for children living in YWCA housing, done in partnership with the Lorain County Health District. Donaldson said Elaine's work reviewing three years of case files brought clarity and consistency to the organization's documentation practices.
Thank You to Our Partners
Both luncheons closed the same way: with gratitude. Gratitude from non-profit organizations that gained real capacity they could not have funded on their own, and gratitude from students who received hands-on, paid experience in fields they hope to build their careers in.
OFIC thanks The Nord Family Foundation and Employers Health for making these programs possible, and congratulates every intern who spent their summer giving back to their home communities.
