Kenton Times May 17th, 2019

The Hardin County Community Foundation awarded $157,698 in grants and scholarships during its annual Grant Celebration on Thursday at the Hardin County Armory in Kenton.

 

The grants were presented to 137 community/civic organizations, along with funds for five scholarships.

 

Money for the grants is generated through the investment of the Foundation’s nearly $6.8 million in assets.

 

The grant recipients are as follows: Ada Exempted Village School – reading department books for grades 1-2, $750.

 

Ada Public Library – summer reading program, $1,250.

 

Alger First United Methodist Church – Backpack Blessings program, $1,500.

 

Alger First United Methodist Church-Home Missions – tables and chairs for the newly built Neighbor to Neighbor Outreach Community Center, $600.

 

Alger Public Library – summer reading program, $1,250.

 

Bark Park, Kenton – repairs and maintenance, $500.

 

Belle Center Free Public Library – summer reading program, $500.

 

Blanchard Dunkirk EMS – oxygen regulators, $590.

 

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. OH 32 – postage for care packages sent overseas to deployed men and women, $2,000.

 

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. OH 32 – Thank-A-Vet program goodie bags, $500.

 

Boy Scout Troop 124 – summer camp, $500. Boy Scouts of America Troop 150 – summer camp, $500.

 

Camp Common Ground – Camp Wednesday Program, $500.

 

Christian Missionary Alliance Church – NextGenKids program for kids 4 years old through 6th grade, $500.

 

City of Kenton – flowers, mulch and updating and replacing equipment at the parks, $1,000.

 

Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Hardin County – provides monthly books to children birth to age 5, $1,500.

 

Dunkirk Community Improvement Corporation – playground equipment and miscellaneous projects, $625.

 

Dunkirk Firefighters – fire safety education materials for youth, $700.

 

Dunkirk Masonic Lodge 549 – Annual Winter Fest, $500.

 

Epworth United Methodist Church Youth Group – summer camp, $500.

 

Forest Area CIC Community Committee – Charlie Brown Christmas lighting display, $1,000. Forest Fire Department – 2.5" gate valves, $1,050.

 

Forest Firefighters’ Association – Fire Prevention Week educational materials, $500.

 

Forest Police Department – bulletproof vest, $1,000.

 

Forest Tree Commission – trees, $1,000.

 

Forest United Methodist Church – summer lunch program in conjunction with the Forest- Jackson Public Library's summer reading program, $500.

 

Forest-Jackson Public Library – summer reading program, $1,250.

 

Friends of the Alger Public Library – assistance with the 5th annual art exhibition, $750.

 

Hardin County 4-H Council – 4-H camp partial scholarships, $1,000.

 

Hardin County Agricultural Society – Fourth of July fireworks, $3,000.

 

Hardin County Agricultural Society – digital sign for the fairgrounds entrance, $2,500.

 

Hardin County Agricultural Society – Junior Fair Board COSI's Science Spot exhibit for youth at the fair – $600.

 

Hardin County Armory Restoration Foundation – front roof repairs, $2,500.

 

Hardin County Collective Youth Group – local mission projects, $750.

 

Hardin County Common Pleas Court – 12-step and self-help reading materials, $325.

 

Hardin County Council for Retarded Citizens (ARC) – Move and Learn program workshop, $750.

 

Hardin County Dog Shelter – medical care assistance, $1,500.

 

Hardin County Family YMCA – HVAC installation, $4,500.

 

Hardin County Family YMCA – youth summer camps, $1,702.

 

Hardin County Health Department – miscellaneous projects, $915.

 

Hardin County Historical Museums, Inc. – Past Perfect software, $1,000.

 

Hardin County Humane Society – emergency veterinary care assistance, $500.

 

Hardin County Humane Society – spay/neuter program and starter kits for new pet owners, $1,500.

 

Hardin County Juvenile Court – Moral Reconation Therapy workbooks and other educational materials, $325.

 

Hardin County Players – Children's Theatre Workshop, $750.

 

Hardin County Poultry Banquet Committee – signage for the poultry tent at the fair, $500.

 

Hardin County Young Professionals Alliance – playground equipment for Pioneer Park project, $500.

 

Hardin Hills Health Center – updated lighting, front lobby chairs, bedside cabinets and wardrobe closets, $3,613.

 

Hardin Leadership, Inc. – scholarships to attend Hardin Leadership, $750.

 

Hardin Memorial Community Outreach – Loads of Love program, $442.

 

Hardin Northern Community Center – electric upgrade, $500.

 

Hardin Northern Public Library – summer reading program, $1,250.

 

Hardin Northern School-History Brigade – Trip to Gettysburg student activities, $1,250.

 

Hardin Northern School Library – reading programs throughout the year, $500.

 

Heartbeat of Hardin County – sex trafficking education and awareness programming and supplies, $500.

 

Heartbeat of Hardin County – crib and car seat program, $750.

 

Helen Mabrey Shoe Fund, Inc. – shoes for less fortunate children, $5,000.

 

Helping Hands Outreach Ministries – Summer Back to School project, $4,500.

 

Jackson-Forest Ambulance District – lettering and graphics for new ambulance, $1,000.

 

Jackson-Forest EMS – training equipment and educational materials for EMS week, $750.

 

Keep Hardin County Beautiful – flowers and supplies for urns and Jackson Garden, $1,000.

 

Keep Hardin County Beautiful – recycling program to teach children the benefits of recycling, $500.

 

Kenton Area Swim Team (KAST) – flag strands and lane lines, $500.

 

Kenton City Schools Cafeteria – assistance to children who have exhausted their ability to charge their lunch cost, $1,000.

 

Kenton City Schools-Elementary – The Book Room Project which will provide guided reading books for grades K-2, $1,000.

 

Kenton City Schools Elementary Vocal Music Department – – sheet music, $300.

 

Kenton City Schools-High School – refrigerator and kitchen supplies to instruct special needs students living skills, $500.

 

Kenton City Schools-High School – reading books for leadership course, $250.

 

Kenton City Schools-High School Vocal Music Department – SmartMusic and Total Tone Savvy subscriptions, $750.

 

Kenton City Schools-Third Grade – supplies for leadership clubs, $500.

 

Kenton Fire Department – King Vision LED Video Laryngoscope kit, $1,000.

 

Kenton First Baptist Church – building fund, $866.

 

Kenton Full Gospel Bread of Life Food Pantry – food pantry supplies, $1,000.

 

Kenton Historic Courthouse District – downtown flower pot and hanging basket project, $1,000.

 

Kenton Historic Courthouse District – maintenance of the Gene Autry Park, $500.

 

Kenton Little League, Inc. – scholarships and maintenance, $1,700.

 

Kenton Police Department – bullet-resistant vests, $1,000.

 

Kenton Tree Commission – trees, $1,000.

 

Lake of Lights – light conversion to LED lighting, $750.

 

Love INC of Hardin County – special needs requests, $1,000.

 

Master Gardeners of Hardin County – garden description signs, $500.

 

McGuffey Church of Christ – youth group meals and programming, $750.

 

McGuffey Church of Christ – Summer Block Party event, $1,000.

 

McGuffey Volunteer Fire Company – update emergency and scene lighting, $1,000.

 

Memorial Park Golf Club, Inc. – youth golf program, $896.

 

Midwest Regional Educational Service Center – educational supplies for preschool classrooms, $500.

 

Midwest Regional Educational Service Center – Smart Board, iPads, visual timers and classroom computers for the Little River Preschool at USV School, $500.

 

MLJ Hardin County District Library – senior citizen and disabled patrons program and other adult programming, $425.

 

MLJ Hardin County District Library – summer reading program, $1,250.

 

Mt. Victory Community Improvement Corporation – old walking path removal and installation of a new walking path, $2,000.

 

New Creations – program to teach veterans skills to learn a new trade, $804.

 

New Hope Ministry Park, LLC – homeless shelter renovations, $1,500.

 

Northern Hardin Fire District – iPads and software to track firefighters operations and locations at fire scenes, $1,500.

 

Not By Choice Outreach – Beautiful Warrior program, $2,500.

 

Not By Choice Outreach – Chemo Bags of Hope program, $1,500.

 

Ohio State University, Hardin County OSU Extension – water bottles and hands-on activities materials for the Healthy and Hydrated: It’s in Your Hands program at the Hardin County Fair, $250.

 

Ohio State University, Hardin County OSU Extension Girls' Group – activities and programming for grades 4-8, $250.

 

Ohio State University, Hardin County OSU Extension – Cooking Matters program, $1,000.

 

Painter Creek Community Grange – metal roof, $750.

 

Patterson United Methodist Church – furnace for the sanctuary, $1,000.

Pawsitive Pals – medical care assistance, $1,000.

 

Project Linus – Blankets for children going through illness, injury, trauma or loss, $1,000.

 

Quilts for Kids NW Ohio – quilting supplies to make quilts for long term or terminally ill children, $300.

 

ReStore Community Center, Ada – tape, wrapping paper and photo paper for their Christmas programming, $150.

 

ReStore Community Center, Ada – various community meals, $1,500.

 

Ridgemont Public Library – summer reading program, $1,200.

 

Ridgemont Youth Summer Sports Association – shelter house at the Ridgeway ball park, $750. Ridgeway Firefighters – backup cameras for tankers, $500.

 

Riverdale Youth Soccer – paint sprayer, $1,500.

 

Robert Reed Jr. Genealogy Library and Hardin County Genealogy Society – replacement of computers and associated equipment, $2,070.

 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio – housing for families with hospitalized children, $1,000.

 

Roundhead McDonald Park Board – playground equipment, $1,250.

 

Roundhead United Methodist Church – wheelchair ramp, $2,500.

 

Safe Haven of Hardin County – storage unit, shelving and totes to store donations for the domestic violence shelter, $500.

 

St. Vincent dePaul Society of Immaculate Conception Church – hygiene and cleaning items for the less fortunate, $1,500.

 

Silver Creek United Methodist Church – various youth activities, $750.

 

Silver Creek United Methodist Church – Turn Around Outreach, $750.

 

Some Of Us People (S.O.U.P.) – monthly meals for the less fortunate, $3,000.

 

Southeast Hardin Northwest Union Joint Fire District – SCBA carbon fiber air bottles, $1,000.

 

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church – food for Kids Backpack Program, $1,000.

 

Table One Ministries – Tuesday night meal sponsorship, $1,500.

 

The Neighborhood Opportunity Center – food boxes for the less fortunate, $2,000.

 

Tree Town Festival – youth exhibits for the festival, $2,000.

 

Trustees of Memorial Hall – ox roast, $750.

 

Upper Scioto Valley School – Parental Read Aloud handbook for Title I participants, $500.

 

Upper Scioto Valley School – summer literacy program for grades K-6, $2,000.

 

Upper Scioto Valley School-Middle School Student Council – Backpack Blessings program, $1,000.

 

Upper Scioto Valley School-Music Department – speaker system for the marching band, $500.

 

USV Ambulance District Alger Unit – free county EMS training, $2,000.

 

USV Ambulance District- Alger Unit – CPR adult mannequins, new stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs, latex glove holders, and other CPR equipment, $2,000.

 

Veterans' Service Office – annual veterans dinner, $1,000.

 

Village of Dunkirk – HN Community Family Fun Day, $500.

 

Village of Dunkirk – flowers and seasonal decorations, $500.

 

Village of Dunkirk – trees, $1,000.

 

Village of Forest – downtown planter flowers, $1,000.

 

Village of Forest-Recreation Board – resealing of the walking paths at Gormley Park, $1,500.

 

Village of Mt. Victory – trees, $1,000.

 

Village of Mt. Victory – outdoor metal waste receptacles, $750.

 

Wolf Creek Center for the Arts of Hardin County, Ohio, Inc. – art classes, $750.

 

Scholarships

 

Jerry Jester – Kenton Dollars for Scholars, $1,000.

 

Catherine Lens – Kenton Dollars for Scholars, $500.

 

Mr. and Mrs. OJ Hogan – Kenton Dollars for Scholars, $500.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Spath – two USV students, $2,500 each.

Kenton Times July 24th, 2019

The Hardin County Community Foundation introduced its new office facility to the public on Tuesday with an open house.

 

The building is called the Judge William D. Hart Community Foundation Building and is named in honor of the man who led it for several years, said Board President Matt Jennings.

 

He noted the spacious building will be used not only to house records of the organization, but to serve as a meeting place for the board and its officers. The Hardin County Community Foundation was started in 1991 by John Jester and Al Horn, noted Hart in his comments to the crowd who gathered at the event.

 

“He (Jester) was very philanthropic and a man who believed in the goodness and greatness of Hardin County,” recalled Hart.

 

Jester and Horn approached area businessmen and community leaders and encouraged them to invest in the foundation. The money raised would be used for projects requested by municipalities and organizations to better the community.

Their vision of the group grew over the years to the point that the foundation this year could exceed $10 million in funds, noted Hart.

 

In recent years, he continued, there was a growing need to gather the records of the foundation to a central location.

 

“The records were kept all over the county,” said Hart.

 

The board began looking for a suitable location for its offices and when the former McKinley and Crates Law Office building on E. Franklin Street became available, the community supported its development to fulfill that need, said Jennings. Through the generosity of Clarence and Melba Jean Hensel the building was purchased and with the further assistance of the community of volunteers within and outside the board, the building became the new home of the organization.

 

Donations from the family of Ray and Mary Thompson were recognized by the board naming one room the Thompson Conference Room. Office furniture from Farm Credit was donated to the project, noted Jennings, and many hours of cleaning and painting were donated by a group of dedicated board members to bring the building to the point it is today.

 

Those who are seeking grants and other assistance for projects can seek information at the office, said Jennings. All the trustees are listed on the organization’s webpage and each will be “more than happy to talk with them.”

Eventually, said Jennings, the board hopes to be open to the public for regular hours. The board also approved a new logo designed by local artist Wes Goldsmith, Jennings continued, which will be featured on a sign in front of the building in the near future.

 

State Representative Jon Cross presented Jennings with a proclamation from the legislature honoring the opening of the new building. The decision to name the building in honor of Hart was easy for the board, said Jennings. Hart has dedicated himself not only to foundation through his endless hours of dedication, but has been a leader in the community.

 

“We are a very public organization,” said Hart. “We work well together … We need to do a better job of selling what we have to the community. We are here to help people and I will be behind that and pushing as far as I can go.”