Lakewood Family Collaborative Honors Service to Our Community

Jason Weiner, 2014 recipient of the Lakewood Family Collaborative's Helping Hands Award

In the spring of this year, the Lakewood Family Collaborative called on community and Collab members to recognize individuals and groups who strive to make a difference. So many meet that description, but we were drawn to the story of Jason Weiner of Beck Center for the Arts, nominated by Cindy Einhouse, President and CEO of Beck Center. 

The "Helping Hands Award" recognizes an individual or an organization that has gone above and beyond in the spirit of collaboration to make a difference in the lives of families in the City of Lakewood.

About Helping Hands Award Nominee Jason Weiner

Cindy writes: Jason has, for the past three years, organized “All You Need is Love (and Food)” a Beatles-themed event to raise money, food, and awareness for Trinity Lutheran Community Outreach (TLCO). He has dedicated countless hours to the events while encouraging dozens of musicians, artists, and local organizations to be part of supporting the effort to combat hunger in our community.

Through this family friendly community event, Jason organizes local musicians to come together and perform Beatles music. Members of the community are invited to come together in support of hunger awareness, paying an affordable entrance fee along with a can of food at the door. This not only provides support to those in need, but it brings people together for a family friendly evening, in support of our community.

Over the first three years of this event approximately 500 lbs of food was donated while funds raised exceeded $5,000.

During these events, dozens of musicians have donated their time and talent. Businesses such as Root Café have donated food and beverages while others have given their time, products and talent in support of technical aspects and fundraising for the event.

This year’s event fell on the evening of a huge snowfall that blanketed Lakewood. The event, minus many musicians went on – even though it was much smaller than planned. Not to be deterred, Jason and his colleagues went to work to add an additional event at Mahall’s at a later date. That event was well received, brought the community together and serves as a testament to Jason's desire to raise funds for TLCO and make a difference right here in the community where he lives and works.

His efforts have also served to bring community leaders together for the cause. The event has featured an “all-star” community leaders choir on stage for the final number, including myself, State Rep. Nickie Antonio, Pastor Paula Maeder Connor from Trinity Lutheran Church, Ian Andrews Executive Director of LakewoodAlive, Julie Hutchison of Root Café and many, many more.

In addition, Jason worked with Beck Center for the Arts on two important functions in support of TLCO. The first, was arranging for the donation of heavy duty shelves that were no longer needed at Beck Center that was easily repurposed for use at TLCO. Secondly, he worked with Beck Center’s education department to have TLCO represented at “Super Saturdays @ Beck Center” where children and families decorated placemats to be used during community meals. TLCO volunteers also had the opportunity to share information about the organization and how the community could support their efforts.

His efforts have resulted in word being spread about the work of TLCO in the community through the Lakewood Patch, coolcleveland.com and even the Huffington Post when Jason was named “Greatest Person of the Day” on October 4, 2011.

One commenter on the Huffington Post stated this about Jason – “When human decency finally becomes extinct, Mr. Weiner could end up as part of an exhibit in a future Museum of Human Nature.” Why wait? I’d like to honor Jason for his work which truly sets him apart from a community filled with many “Helping Hands.”

Cindy, thank you for this submission about Jason; we can see how he has impacted this community.  You are right - Lakewood is full of "Helping Hands" who make an impact.

Our mission:

The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a network of organizations, businesses, agencies, and dedicated individuals working together to enable children, youth, and families to thrive and become successful members of the Lakewood Community.

The Lakewood Family Collaborative

All are welcome to join us for the Lakewood Family Collaborative's monthly gathering. We usually meet the fourth Thursday of each month, except for our holiday dates of November 20 and December 18, 2014, 12:30 until 2 p.m. at the Lakewood Park Woman's Club Pavilion, 14532 Lake Avenue, Lakewood Ohio. Many bring a bag lunch as we network and share resources, participate with our Spotlight Series speaker, and work together to make a difference.  Who comes to our meetings? Attending are a variety of community folks, social workers, counselors, school personnel and faith community members - just to name a few. Join in!

Get more information

• City of Lakewood website: http://www.onelakewood.com/HumanServices/Youth/Collaborative.aspx
• "Like" us on Facebook @ "Lakewood Family Collaborative"
• Visit our website at http://www.thelakewoodfoundation.org/#!family-collab

Thank You

Thank you Jason for bringing your best to our community, Cindy for telling Jason's story and leading the incredible Beck Center for the Arts, Trinity Lutheran Community Outreach for helping to provide meals to our neighbors and friends in need, and to the Lakewood Family Collaborative membership and Leadership Team. Great people doing great things brings great results!