Annetta Rutland started her career at 4C for Children in 1979. At that time—seven years after the agency was launched—there was a “staff of less than 10 people and our offices were in the United Way building downtown,” Annetta remembers. “Since then the number of staff has grown to nearly 100 people who serve two regions of the state!”
After spending 45 years “bleeding blue and green” at 4C for Children, Annetta has announced her retirement effective Aug. 30.
“It’s been really emotional as I’m preparing to leave this work and the people,” she says. “This agency and those I’ve worked with over the years have become an extension of my family.”
She started her career at 4C “doing whatever needed to be done in the office.” Soon she was trained to begin implementing the child care component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in the region as well as recruit southwest Ohio in-home child care providers to take part in the program.
4C for Children administers the CACFP through the agency’s Child Nutrition Program (CNP). This program provides nutritious meals to vulnerable children as a regular part of their child care. The program also reimburses child care providers for the food served. Last year, CNP supported nearly 375 child care programs and administered nearly $4 million in CACFP reimbursement funding.
“CNP has evolved over these past four decades and grown just as the agency has evolved and grown to meet the needs of children and families in our community,” she says. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with child care programs and help them support the children in their care by serving the most nutritious meals possible.”
When asked what’s her favorite memory over the past 45 years, she immediately says expanding the CNP to include child care centers. “Someone on the state level told me that it couldn’t be done. I took that as a challenge and proved it could be done,” she says. “We’re coming up on the tenth anniversary of centers participating in CNP!”
Annetta has had various titles and responsibilities over the years and today serves as the strategic director of the Child Nutrition Program. What kept her coming back year after year is the excitement of always having opportunities to learn new things and implement them.
In announcing Annetta’s retirement to staff, the agency’s President/CEO Vanessa Freytag detailed all of Annetta’s accomplishments over 45 years, ending with her being the “number one cheerleader and ambassador for 4C.
“I can’t begin to describe all the ways Annetta has impacted this agency and those we serve,” Freytag says. “She lives our mission each and every day and has an unwavering dedication to that mission. She has helped ensure tens of thousands of children in our community get the nutritious, well-balanced meals they need.
“As I’ve said so many times, I’m so grateful that she walked into that 4C office 45 years ago!”
Annetta’s impact isn’t just felt locally. She’s shared her expertise as a three-termed member of the National Association of CACFP Sponsors Board.
Although bittersweet, Annetta is looking forward to beginning retirement and simply enjoying life. This will no doubt include spending quality time with her children and 26 grandbabies with perhaps a few art classes and definitely dancing thrown in.
“This has been an amazing time in my life. I’ve met so many wonderful people—at 4C, in the community and in the child care provider family we serve.” Annetta says. “I’m so proud of the work I’ve done and the impact it has made. Now it’s time to learn other new things and see where the journey leads me.”