After 39 years of service, John “Tim” Donnellan retired from Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area on August 1, 2017, where he served as President and CEO since 1978. Prior to joining the War on Poverty, Donnellan served on active duty in the US Army for four years, one year of which was with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, which included the TET Offensive. He then served 26 years with the Ohio Army National Guard retiring with the rank of full Colonel. Donnellan has a bachelor’s degree in history, and is a graduate of the US Army Command, General Staff College, and the US Army War College. He has three sons and four grandchildren. Donnellan is also an avid runner; he has completed 16 Marine Corps Marathons.
In 2014, Donnellan was the recipient of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Service Award presented by the National Community Action Partnership board in recognition of his commitment to the Community Action mission to help low-income people achieve economic stability. He was presented with the Spirit of Community Action Award by the National Community Action Foundation in 2009. Donnellan was also the recipient of the 2012 Access to Justice Award presented by Legal Aid of Western Ohio and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality.
Mr. Donnellan served on the Board of Directors of the National Community Action Partnership for 13 years, including 4 years as Board Chair. He was a member of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) Board of Trustees for over 25 years and served on many local nonprofit boards.
John “Tim” Donnellan and Cherish L. Cronmiller
Committed to eliminating poverty, promoting self-sufficiency, and serving as an advocate for low income and poverty stricken individuals and families, CAP of the Greater Dayton Area provides programs such as utility payment assistance, weatherization services, a legal clinic, transitional housing, a homeless shelter, emergency services, youth programs, computer literacy courses, the Earned Income Tax Credit program, management of two Housing Authorities, and ownership and operation of three elderly and one multi-family apartment complexes. The agency also provides services unique to the nine counties in its service area. On August 2, 2017, Cherish L. Cronmiller, Esq. was named the new President and CEO.
We are truly honored to have worked alongside Mr. Donnellan here in Ohio, and we admire his commitment to helping people and changing lives. He will be greatly missed throughout our network, though we wish him well in his retirement!
To learn more about the agency and the progress made during Mr. Donnellan’s tenure, we invite you to view Building a Legacy Part One: Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area.