Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, Inc.

Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, Inc.

“Rea & Associates always works above and beyond the call of duty. We have a good rapport with our Rea team, and they offer our center credibility just by being associated with them.”

-- Shon Gress, Executive Director

Guernsey County Senior Center

Client Since 1994

Located in Cambridge, Ohio, the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, Inc. (GCSCC) offers a variety of services and recreational activities to all senior citizens aged 60 and older, enabling seniors to live in the comfort of their own homes. GCSCC promotes the physical, emotional, social and economic well being of older adults and encourages their participation in all aspects of community life.

The center’s programs include transportation, home delivered and group meals, homemaking, personal care, telephone reassurance and legal assistance. In addition, they provide the community with a variety of social, recreational and educational activities, including Tai Chi, low-impact aerobics, exercise, line dancing, square dancing, quilting, crafts, bingo, computer classes, euchre, musical entertainment, monthly senior dinners and holiday parties.

The Issues

As a nonprofit organization, the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center has unique financial reporting needs. It is crucial to have a favorable reputation within the community and with those offering grant money, as this is how the center continues to operate financially. Professional and credible financial reports contribute to the image of the center as a strong entity.

The Objectives

During the mid-90s, the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center issued a Request for Proposal to Rea & Associates. Maribeth Wright, who leads the non-profit team at Rea’s Cambridge office, had a large part in winning the proposal. According to Shon Gress, Executive Director, Ms. Wright’s impeccable reputation in the community and her experience in the non-profit field helped influence the decision.

From the start of the relationship, the objective has always been to have clean, professional financial statements for the center.

The Strategy and Tactics

Rea & Associates provides the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center with an annual audit. In order to make the year-end report flawless, GCSCC shares each month’s financial records with Rea for review. At the end of the year, Rea presents the audit to the executive board of directors and helps explain what it reflects about the financial well being of the center.

GCSCC also relies on Rea for business advice. “Rea was instrumental in implementing our computer systems at the center. I also rely on Maribeth for her expertise in all our financial decisions,” said Gress.

The Results

With the professional execution of GCSCC’s financial reports, the services, programs and the center continue to grow while the finances have remained stable. The center also credits Rea with helping them win grants and secure alternative funding sources, such as the $700,000 loan to build a brand new facility to better serve older adults and caregivers in the community.

“Rea & Associates always works above and beyond the call of duty,” Gress said. “We have a good rapport with our Rea team, and they offer our center credibility just by being associated with them.”