Play Library ® Executive Director and Founder Julia Fischer has been selected as the first recipient of a scholarship from the Thomas G. Monaco Memorial Fund.
The scholarship will offset the cost of Fischer’s participation in the Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Greater Cincinnati’s EXCEL program.
Fischer, a New York native, lives in Covington and founded Play Library in Over-the-Rhine.
While working in the toy industry, Fischer realized that the toys that most people could afford were often unsafe or low-quality. The Play Library takes a lending library model and applies it to toys and games, providing access to safe, quality play to families of all socioeconomic levels.
Julia Fisher, Play Library Nonprofit Director and Dave Wallace, ESCC Board Chair (Photo provided)
“I think of a library as for everybody, and accessible to everyone. So I wanted to create a place that was exactly that, for adults and children equally,” Fischer said. After a soft launch as a pop-up at People’s Liberty, the Play Library moved into their permanent location in March, and now has over 80 paying members. Fischer said that she hopes to use the training from the EXCEL program to expand the Play Library, and open multiple locations in Greater Cincinnati.
The Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Greater Cincinnati, a collaboration between Talbert House and Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati (ESCC), provides nonprofit organizations with access to leadership training and professional development. Their EXCEL program is a nine-month course, designed for newer executive directors of nonprofits. Participants are trained in areas such as management skills, strategic planning, fundraising, finance, and marketing. They also receive one-on-one coaching from leaders in the business and nonprofit communities.
ESCC established the Thomas G. Monaco Memorial Fund in May, to honor the life and work of longtime ESCC volunteer Tom Monaco. Monaco spent over 40 years as an educator in Ohio, Kentucky, and his native New York. As an expert in training and curriculum design, Monaco was instrumental in the development of the EXCEL program.
“Through his work, Tom contributed to the leadership training of over 200 individuals from 125 area nonprofits,” said Mark Grote, former Interim Chief Executive Officer with ESCC. “The Memorial Fund is proud to continue his legacy by providing funds to offset the cost of one participant in the EXCEL program.”
