CVS Samaritan Award
Jenniffer Deckard has been involved in her fair share of helping nonprofit organizations.
So, the feeling Deckard, chief financial officer of Fairmount Minerals, left with after meeting Karl Ertle, president and principal of Cleveland Central Catholic High School, wasn’t due to a lack of experience dealing with people who help others.
“While I serve on many nonprofit organizations from a board, volunteer or benefactor perspective, I left Cleveland Central Catholic that day more committed to Karl and to this organization than I have ever before experienced,” she says.
“In addition to the statistical data around the mission, what really struck me was the fact that Karl knew every single student by name and approached each child with a genuine openness, concern and reception.”
Ertle was hired in 2004 after a successful career at St. Ignatius High School, and at Central Catholic, he inherited significant financial debt — close to $4 million — and decreased enrollment with a student population of only 318.
Instead of turning away from such a challenge, Ertle took it on with tenacity and spirit.
He led a major capital campaign, raised approximately $13 million and increased the student population to 550. Although the school has a good financial foundation, it still has many financial challenges, which are constantly being addressed through Ertle’s direction.
He actively leads fund-raising activities, foundation support, and individual and business sponsorships.
It’s that type of leadership that impresses everyone who comes in contact with Ertle, including Deckard.
“Karl is a true leader with respect to all the qualities that are acknowledged and celebrated in truly great business leaders — great as determined by the long-term outperformance and success that has been achieved by their respective businesses,” she says.
Ertle also commits that the students become engaged in bettering themselves and, in turn, in giving back to their community through service.
“Without this opportunity, I shudder to think that these young Cleveland citizens would melt into the staggering statistics around them and would miss the opportunity to reach their own full and genuine potential,” she says. “I am grateful every day for Karl and CCCHS. Because of Karl, my commitment remains with this mission.”
How to reach: Cleveland Central Catholic High School, (216) 441-4700 or www.centralcatholichs.org
