Ann Buis
While she humbly points to everyone involved in the task of raising 18 million dollars to renovate the Central Middle School into the Marathon Fine Arts building, the success falls on the mastermind, Ann Buis, according to most of those she worked with.
Born in humble settings on a farm in Van Wert, she learned to play music first by ear at the young age of four. She came from a musical family and later received formal musical training. Ann attended BGSU where her options of …the time were to be a secretary, a nurse or a teacher. She choose teaching and in the field of music. She spent 20 years full and part time teaching music while raising two daughters.
She later went back to BGSU and earned a Masters in Music. Her thesis ,with a group of class mates, was to create the Art’s Council, (now the Arts Partnership) here in Findlay. This was her home for almost seven years as she served as the Executive Director.
Her ability to work with the community and raise money for the Art’s Council caught the eye of Bill Ruse, then the President of Blanchard Valley Health Systems. He recruited her to be the Public Relations face of BVHS and she was there for another 20 years. Thinking she had served her time in the work force Ann, and her husband of 51 years Tom, retired and planned to travel. Little did she know her journey was not over. She was approached by Gary Heminger and Tom Donnell about an idea to renovate the middle school and create a brand new Arts Center here in Findlay.
She has spent equal or more time the past three years as a volunteer fundraiser than she did working. Her team was able to reach out and touch people of all walks of life who donated to the project. Her efforts were recognized when she received the Northwest Ohio Philanthropic Volunteer Award at a recent event
Ann credits her upbringing and family values to her success in life. She and her siblings were taught the Golden Rule at an early age, and encouraged to do “more than their fair share” in all that they did. Her parents taught the children to love people and see the good in everyone.
Her mentors have included Bill Ruse, Scott Malaney, Tom Donnell and Gary Heminger
When she takes a breather from her fund raising efforts she loves tennis, bridge and traveling, including Florida in the near future. She has been blessed with two daughters, six grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.