Foreclosure Prevention Program Recognition Event
July 8th, 2010
On Wednesday June 30th, Robert Klein was recognized for his involvement with the Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program.
Piecing Together a Better Future Award
“For bridging the gaps between sectors and expanding partnerships through dialog”
Robert Klein, Founder and Chairman, Safeguard Properties
On Wednesday, June 30th Robert Klein was formally recognized for his ongoing leadership, involvement, and dedication to the Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program. Robert was honored to accept this award with fellow recipient Congressman Dennis Kucinich. An impressive collage by Cleveland photographer Norm Roulet and featuring a local community garden was a fitting medium selected for the award.
Cuyahoga County Treasurer Rokakis applauded Robert for his commitment to local and national relief efforts, commending him for his continued willingness to “share his good fortune”. Rokakis complimented Robert's unique perspective and ability to both capture and share the “real story” of the crisis, which has led to collaboration and policy development. As he graciously accepted his award, Robert stated that its proactive network has designated Cuyahoga County as the “trend setter” for the rest of the nation.
Joseph Benny accepted Congressman Kucinich’s award on his behalf. The Congressman was honored for his stewardship with the Domestic Policy Subcommittee to have Ohio be included as one of the recipients for the second round of Hardest Hit Funds, and his ability to bring other leaders (including Herb Allison, US Department of Treasury) to Cleveland to hear the demands of the foreclosure prevention community that subsequently led to counseling being a use for the allocation of these funds.
During the course of the evening attendees viewed the trailer, the first showing of which to take place in the United States, of to the soon-to-be released and Cannes Film Festival feature documentary, “Cleveland versus Wall Street”. An interview with the Producer, Jean-Stephane Bron, affirmed the magnitude of the crisis within the city. Actors from the film, including local activist and ESOP Board Member Barbara Anderson and local attorney Josh Cohen, shared that the film captured the true fabric of Cleveland and the unyielding strength and empowerment displayed by its residents.
The evening’s reception had commenced with the opening remarks by Treasurer Jim Rokakis, who eloquently stated that the purpose of the annual event was to “celebrate the response, not the crisis”. The foundation and success of the Foreclosure Prevention Program is a well-established network of private, non-profit, and government sectors, a feature facilitated by both leadership award recipients. The theme of partnership continued as representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, and Cleveland State University shared a report of findings and examples of local agencies working together to research and address the impacts of foreclosures. The presentations revealed and reinforced the social and geographic trends of foreclosure within the County, including, but not limited to, suburban expansion, discrimination (demographics), impact disparity, REO activities, and market values. The sophisticated network and demonstrated capacity of institutional and non-profit agencies have paved the way for research and practice to merge, learning from each other how to demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and implement opportunities for re-establishing stability.
About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with approximately 800 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.