The Village Network Welcomes Three Inductees To Hall Of Fame

WOOSTER — On Thursday, December 5, The Village Network was proud to recognize three outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization, including The Honorable K. William “Bill” Bailey, Michael Reardon of United Titanium, and Roger Shooter, retired director of the Knox County Department of Job and Family Services

Individuals inducted into The Village Network’s Hall of Fame have made a difference in the organization’s trajectory and/or the lives of the youth served by The Village Network by making a meaningful volunteer contribution, providing extraordinary financial impact, or a forward thinking vision that led to success of TVN and growth.

Retired judge William “Bill” Bailey first began his professional relationship with The Village Network in 1968 when he began working as a probation officer at the Wayne County Juvenile Court. Initially, Bailey made referrals for placement at the Wooster Residential Campus, visited boys under his care, and met with social workers. Later, as a judge of the Juvenile Court, he became an advocate for the youth at The Village Network and helped develop the Day Treatment Program. After many years collaborating with The Village Network, Bailey retired from the bench in 2002, and then served in various roles on The Village Network’s Board of Trustees until 2018.

Since the 1980’s, Michael Reardon and United Titanium have supported The Village Network through event sponsorships, facility improvements, and other financial support. They were part of the capital campaign to build the Gault Youth & Family Enrichment Center in 2004 and became a Community Investor in 2007. They were instrumental in developing the Welker Smucker Culinary Arts Center through renovations of an old service building in 2015. Recently, they supported the building of Ohio’s first Therapeutic Stabilization Center, which provides intensive, short-term care for youth experiencing a severe crisis. Reardon and his wife Stephanie have been lead contributors for many organizations in Wayne County, and were recently named the 2019 Friend of Philanthropy by the Wayne County Community Foundation.

Board member and community partner Roger Shooter played an instrumental role in expanding The Village Network’s programming and services in Mount Vernon, Ohio. As the Director of the Knox County Department of Job and Family Services, he was a driving force in partnering with The Village Network to open the Children’s Resource Center in Mount Vernon. In addition to his collaboration with The Village Network, Shooter further helped children in Knox County by helping to stabilize funding and services at Children Services. For the Shooter family, caring for needs of youth is a family affair, as his wife Jean is also an experienced social worker and their daughter Sarah is a Bridges Regional Coordinator in The Village Network’s Southeast Region.

“The Village Network’s success is not about one person’s accomplishments, but the foundations set by the many individuals who have played a crucial part in our organization,” stated Richard Graziano, president and CEO of The Village Network. “Each one of these inductees had a tremendous impact on where we are today, and I am thrilled to bestow them this honor.”

Sponsored by Gallagher, Medical Mutual and the Whitaker-Myers Group, the Hall of Fame celebration was held at the Gault Youth & Family Enrichment Center on The Village Network’s Wooster Residential Campus. Scott Allen, Vice Chair of The Village Network’s Board of Trustees, member of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and chairman and CEO of Whittaker-Myers Group, was the master of ceremonies for the induction ceremony, which included video introductions for each inductee, and youth speakers who shared a prayer and how The Village Network has impacted their lives.