Elizabeth Topliffe
Elizabeth Topliffe is a generous woman with a passion and sincere interest to support the Children’s Assessment Center. Topliffe, currently the Vice President of Human Resources for Fifth Third Bank, was introduced to the Center in 1994 through a friend who volunteered her time for the cause. Upon introduction, she felt an immediate pull on her heart and knew she must be involved. Topliffe began to support the Center through financial contributions. She has now served on the Board of Directors for the past nine years, which have helped her develop a deep understanding of the Center’s mission.
At her first board meeting, Topliffe had the opportunity to hear a parent’s personal experience with the Center. The mother was in tears as she told her own story of being raped when she was her daughter’s age, how the situation was so confusing, and how uncomfortable she was while at the police station to report the assault. This mother was thankful for all the Center offers to support the victims and their families. Mostly, she was grateful that the Center existed when her daughter was assaulted, so she could learn that she did nothing wrong and did not need to be scared. At that moment Elizabeth felt that her efforts would accomplish something greater than merely filling volunteer hours.
Topliffe’s greatest experience with the Center is sharing the cause with her friends and family. “I want people I care for to know about the CAC and all that it offers for the community,” she says. The Center is a piece of her personality; therefore, giving people she cares for a tour of the Center is a fun way to show a piece of her passion. She also feels great joy when new counselors and therapists are available for the children and when the Center offers a new service. With all efforts made, Topliffe feels that her greatest impact on the Children’s Assessment Center will simply be her time spent on the board. She feels that she has made a positive impact by “keeping the board honest to itself” and having difficult conversations when needed. She believes everyone needs reminders from time to time so they can focus on the big picture: that the Center allows hope to be restored.
Even through all of the ups and downs, Topliffe wishes she had more time in the day to help support the Center because helping the children is one of her greatest passions. The Center may be one of the smaller organizations in the Grand Rapids area, but they always have and will continue to function from the heart of the community. Topliffe said [about the Center], “It’s not the most glamorous one, but we are the one that counts and will continue to count in the future.” According to Topliffe, the community must remember that “the CAC came to life due to visionary and good people, from doctors to lawyers to counselors. And they continue to stay involved to keep the Center in its working order, to support the cause.”
— Stacie Sonnenberg, Grand Valley State University
