Kurt Karakul 

 

President of The

third Federal Foundation

 

by Ta'Janique Goodwin, crew 5

 

 

First President and Executive Director of the Third Federal Foundation

Kurt Karakul is the First President and Executive Director of the Third Federal Foundation. This foundation was created at the time of Third Federal’s minority public offering in April of 2007. Mr. Karakul’s job is very important to the foundation and the city of Cleveland.

 

Kurt Karakul first became interested in his career through his background as a lawyer. He learned that people don’t have the same opportunities. He saw that this was mostly because they had not received the same educational opportunities. Some students attend schools that provide strong educational environments, but other attend schools that don’t have a good educational environment. Mr. Karakul joined the Third Federal Foundation because he saw it as a way to help give more equal opportunities to all people in Cleveland. He believes that providing educational opportunities are the most important.

 

In order to address educational needs in the community Third Federal began a volunteer reading program at Willow school in the Broadway area. This is just one way that Mr. Karakul and Third Federal Foundation are helping to provide good educational opportunities to students in Cleveland. As Mr. Karakul continues to develop the work that the Third Federal Foundation does in the community he says, “I hope that through our program we are able to help children to develop a better literacy understanding.” The tutors who are paid by Third Federal Foundation are retired Cleveland elementary school teachers who work with individual students and small groups for a maximum of 15 hours per week. Associates help tutor children with their reading during the school day. Third Federal also instituted a tutoring program in Fullerton and Mound schools in the Broadway area. The Broadway area is specifically aimed toward students who need extra help to get them on track for their grade levels. Mr. Karakul and Third Federal Foundation are helping give students better educational opportunities.

 

Although The Third Federal Foundation has made a lot of progress improving education in Cleveland, Mr. Karakul admits that this work has not been easy. The toughest part of his job is to understand ways that teachers and tutors can expand the knowledge base of children in order to build their skills and knowledge. He also says that sometimes he has to say “no” to certain programs because they have so many different program they’re investing in.

 

Mr. Karakul has always been interested in issue of fairness and equality. He has served as a volunteer in many ways before working at Third Federal Foundation to try to extend fairness and equality for people. Mr. Karakul's many volunteer activities over the years include serving as Oversight Committee Chairman for the Youth Resource Centers Project for the Cleveland Public Schools from 1986-1992. He put his interest in volunteerism to work at the Third Federal Foundation as well. The Community Partner Award went to Third Federal Foundation in 2012 for their work in the Broadway/Slavic Village neighborhood. They received this award for their support of Greater Cleveland Volunteers, not just financially, but also with the contribution of volunteer time and resources.  

 

In conclusion, Mr. Karakul has spent a lot of time and effort trying to improve the availability of opportunities for citizens in Cleveland. Mr. Karakul is the first president and executive director of Third Federal Foundation. Through his role he works to help people with a variety of things, particularly with education.