Letter to the editor: Habitat for Humanity thankful for Jack Timken and Timken Foundation

As Jack Timken steps away from his post as president of the Timken Foundation, I’m grateful for the impact he’s had on Habitat for Humanity’s ministry and our greater community.

I’m thankful for his faith-driven vision and the way he sees our community’s potential. This is why the foundation reaches nearly every corner of our community through arts, housing, health and economic development. As Jack and the foundation shape our community, he shapes my life and the lives of countless others. I’ve learned much from Jack. Through our friendship, there are two lessons that stand out to me, lessons I’ll carry forever.

At Habitat, we have a team of volunteers called the Habitat Crew — many of them retired after fulfilling careers at Timken. I hear them reminisce about their experiences there, sharing stories of how Jack walked the shop floor at all hours and how he genuinely cared about their families. They feel they know him as a friend. Jack instills the value of genuine relationship, modeling the importance of bringing families, people, and communities together.

When the Timken Foundation began with Habitat, Jack was the first one on the worksite. Jack even met with Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat, learning all he could about the need for affordable housing. He was driven to find ways the foundation could support Habitat’s families. Today, the foundation builds Habitat houses globally. This is how Jack built support and trust that extends beyond our community. He always shows up to learn and understand, because meaningful relationships deserve our fullest presence.

At Habitat, we’re thankful for Jack and the Timken Foundation. We know the principles Jack fostered in the foundation he fostered in his family. As the next generation takes the helm, the future remains bright for our community and beyond.

– Beth Lechner, executive director, Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Habitat for Humanity thankful for Jack Timken