A separate organization from BACC Ohio, the BACC Foundation has its origins in 2008 when BACC Ohio started providing scholarships for University students to study in the UK for a semester. In 2010, pursuant to a decision by the Board of Trustees to provide a platform for fundraising and management of these scholarships, the BACC Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The Loxley Purse would greatly appreciate any donations, you can use the PayPal link below to make your donation by credit card or via your own PayPal Account.

On behalf of the Loxley Purse and our scholarships recipients, we thank you for your generosity.

Scholarship Application

For students that would like to participate in this program, please click here to download our scholarship application.

Student Experiences

Ben, a journalism graduate, studied one term at Leicester in 2010, taking courses in international relations, ancient Greek history, and English literature. Even now, he maintains friendships across four continents with people whose common bond is four months in the East Midlands. He said “The English semester, with support from the BACC, was an opportunity to explore the islands and the continent before post-graduate commitments take hold”.

Joe, an English major, studied one semester in Ulster and decided to go back for more, he wrote; “I’m very excited to go back to Ireland and resume life as I knew it last Spring. I want to thank you again, wholeheartedly, for all the aid you and the organization gave to me last year. I had a life-changing experience!”

Christine, an Art Education major, studied one semester in Leicester. In addition to her course work she observed the differences and similarities in the UK and US educational systems from both student and teacher perspectives.

Kelly, a Chemistry major, chose to study at Leicester due to its well established science courses in ‘green chemistry’. She comments, “Studying at the University of Leicester was one of the most enjoyable, fun, and challenging experiences during my undergraduate career. I learned how to study independently and got to experience the learning process in chemistry courses from a different perspective. Overall, my time abroad resulted in acquiring many new friends, advancing my knowledge in chemistry, and making memories that I will never forget”.

Alicia, a Biology major, studied cellular and molecular biology while also doing genetic research for her Honors Thesis. She chose to  study at Leicester because they have one of the top genetics departments in the world. While studying abroad, Alicia kept a blog to let her family and friends keep up with her adventures as well as keeping a journal of her experiences.

Bridget, a History major, stated, “My semester in Leicester was the highlight of my undergraduate career and a real dream come true. Because of the Loxley Purse scholarship I was able to see more of the U.K. than I ever thought possible!”

Emily, who studied English at Leicester says, “Studying abroad is wholly life-changing and highly recommended. It helped me understand my place in history, adapt to changing circumstances, and view life from new perspectives. It also refined my palate for jacket potatoes beyond that which Ohio can satisfy.”

Board of Trustees

David C. Sinclair, C. Eng, FIEE – President

Mr. Sinclair has over 43 years in global marketing, business management and business development and is an experienced business builder. From 1979 through 2002, Mr. Sinclair served in positions of increasing responsibility within the Reliance Electric Company, culminating in, from 1988 to 2002, his position as Vice President of Strategic Business Development for the Power and Outside Plant division of Marconi Inc, based in Lorain, Ohio. He began his career in 1970 with General Electric and currently is President of Advanced Hydro Solutions LLC, a developer of hydroelectric projects in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. Mr. Sinclair holds an MSEE in Electrical Power & Systems Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in Manchester, England and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of London. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a Chartered Engineer. Currently he on the Board of Fusion Inc., a Member of the Board of the National Hydro Association, Chief Advisor to the Hydro Research Foundation and a Trustee of the British American Chamber of Commerce.

David V. Allen, Esq – Vice President

Mr. Allen is the Assistant General Counsel at Forest City Enterprises, Inc. and a former partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP for 16 years. His principal area of practice is in real estate and corporate transactions, both commercial and residential including, acquisitions, development, construction, leasing, private and public financing, and all other aspects of real estate transactions for shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, apartment complexes, homeowner and low income housing tax credit transactions. Mr Allen taught both business law and ethics at Walsh University and served four years on Strongsville City Council. He is a member of the Cleveland Bar Association and current President of the BACC. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace College and Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law. Mr. Allen is currently Chairman of the British American chamber of Commerce.

Elzabeth Jochum Thorne – Trustee, Chair of Student Selection

Elizabeth Jochum Thorne is the Vice President of Client Management for AETNA’s Mid Atlantic Region with over 28 years of sales, marketing and account management experience within the Corporate Insurance Industry with her primary focus in Employee Benefit Consulting. Elizabeth’s expertise is assisting large national employers to effectively manage their benefit investments as well as providing strategic guidance on human capital initiatives, long term healthcare strategies and health and welfare benefit solutions. Elizabeth also spent 13 years as a consultant for international consulting firms Willis and Gallagher Benefit Services. Elizabeth graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and has served on the Board of Directors for the Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the National Health Underwriters and WIN (Women in Networking).

Robert Whittall, CPA – Treasurer

Mr. Whittall is a Chartered Accountant and a CPA, who splits time between the UK and US advising companies seeking to expand globally. He specializes in both inbound and outbound international taxation issues for closely held businesses and for individuals. With close to 20 years of tax experience, Rob began his career working with family owned businesses in the UK. He then came to the US to work for one of the Big Four Accounting Firms and later transitioned to another top US public accounting firm where he became a partner specializing in international tax issues. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in both England and Wales. Rob also has his Master of Accountancy in Taxation from Cleveland State University. He received his undergraduate degrees in accounting from Staffordshire University and Reed College of Accounting. He is Treasurer of the BACC and a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.

Michael Farago – Secretary

Mr. Farago is a Vice President in the Group Benefits Department at Oswald Companies, where he has worked since 2005. Oswald is a leading Independent consultative insurance broker in the Midwest and one of the largest employee-owned firms in the country. In addition to leading the consulting function for the Department, Michael manages a diverse group of domestic and international clients. His areas of expertise include wellness and risk reduction strategies for self-funded healthcare plans. Michael started his insurance career in Boston more than twenty years ago with Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at Boston University and holds a Health Insurance Associate (HIA) designation, along with Life & Health license. Michael lives in Wellington, where he grew up, with his wife and two school-aged children. His family loves spending time together camping and experiencing live music.

Christina (Christy) A. Woskobojnik – Trustee

Christy is a Tax Manager with Dyke Yaxley and as a former controller, Christy provides her clients with a comprehensive perspective on their tax and operational matters. Christy brings more than 20 years of experience with privately-held companies in the professional services, transportation, and manufacturing industries. Her roles at these organizations have given her the unique skillset of being able to identify issues and provide practical solutions across functional departments as they apply to the financial management of the company. In addition, Christy completed the 10-month Cleveland State University Global Target Program, which matches companies with a mentor company to help implement exporting best practices and teaches a variety of relevant topics including international logistics, compliance, country selection, and customs.
She currently serves as a Trustee, Board of Directors and Chair of the annual fundraising event for Neighborhood Family Practice, and is a board member for the SBCA – Small Business Council of America.

James (Jim) Wilson – Trustee

Jim is a Senior Consultant with the professional services firm Nitor Partners where he works with clients to understand opportunities and implement efficiency strategies focusing on best practices and FinTech solutions within the Procurement, Working Capital, and Treasury disciplines. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience with global Fortune 500 companies in the banking, transportation, and manufacturing industries. His roles in Finance, Accounting, Treasury, and Risk Management have given him a well-rounded foundation to understand processes within business models in order to solve problems and identify opportunities. Jim is an active member of the BACC and a board member of the Clifton Club in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland State university with a BBA in Finance and received his MBA with a focus on International Business from Baldwin Wallace University. Jim resides in Rocky River, Ohio with his wife and two children. his family loves spending time together and travelling abroad.