It is so easy to overlook, or take for granted, the many assets we have in Butler County, especially the ones that have been here for a very long time.

Slippery Rock University would be a primary example. SRU goes well beyond the educational aspect for the community it serves. It truly does serve the county, and serves it well. Countless numbers of county residents have taken advantage of having an institution of higher learning conveniently located to attend and to get an education that is second to none.

Today, we want to shine a little light on a slice of the service “The Rock” provides that isn’t as well known or visible to most of us. The Institute for Nonprofit Leadership was established in 1995, and, for over 25 years, has been helping build stronger community support agencies.

The scope of their efforts vary, and in 2023, they will be really dialing in the focus of one of their programs. They have selected the Butler 9023 Census Tract for a new program that is intended to assist 10 to 12 families in the area around Broad Street school with affordable, accessible and stress-free activities throughout the year.

Parents in the program will receive Community Leadership Certificates, offered by the Institute for Nonprofit Leadership at Slippery Rock University. We encourage everyone with an interest in the program to go to its website and learn more. Sponsorships are available if local businesses want to show support by helping defray costs.

Although SRU does so much more in the community, we want to offer a word of support and praise for this particular program and for the leadership that is seeing the small picture in addition to the big picture. One of the listed core values for the university is social responsibility, and this is a program that serves that purpose very well.

SRU is truly Rock Solid.

—RV