Blog
Success Stories of Interns from Buckeye Imagination Museum
By Brenna Koch Over the years, we’ve had many interns come through the doors of Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, now Buckeye Imagination Museum. Each one was unique, but all of them have proven to be successful in their lives after interning here. Here are some examples of success we’ve seen at Buckeye Imagination Museum!
Ohio Bird Sanctuary Hires Former Interns
By Gail Laux The Ohio Bird Sanctuary has greatly benefited from the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund’s Internship Program. We have had so many success stories that we couldn’t pick just one to share!
Gift of Grain Fund Receives First Donation and Awards Grant
The Richland County Foundation Gift of Grain Fund received its first donation of grain. Brian Alt of Alt Farms in Shelby gave bushels of corn to the Foundation's account at Sunrise Cooperative Inc. in Crestline recently. The Foundation sold the grain the same day.
Sherrilyn R. Wilson Languages Scholarship Fund
A teacher gave Sherrilyn Wilson the nudge she needed to find her career path. “My high school Spanish teacher, Renee Zody, nominated me for a scholarship at The Ohio State University at Mansfield. That lead me to major in Spanish and to my career with the U.S. government as a Spanish linguist.” “Before that, I never contemplated a career and thought I would be a secretary just like my mother,” said Sherrilyn. She wants to return the favor and help other students. To that end, Sherrilyn set up a scholarship fund for Richland County students. Primary preference will be given to those who major or minor in a foreign language and secondary preference will be given to those who major or minor in foreign affairs, international relations, or political science.
Doug Castle Legacy Fund Benefit Features Former Buckeye Football Players
Richland County Foundation President Brady Groves will be the guest speaker at the Doug Castle Legacy Fund benefit dinner Friday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 Trimble Road, Mansfield. Proceeds will go to the Doug Castle Legacy Fund.
Foundation Grants Over $8.8 M in 2022
(Photo: Chairwoman Jessica Gribben hands over the gavel to incoming Chairman Chris Hiner during the Richland County Foundation annual meeting.) During the Richland County Foundation annual meeting, President Brady Groves reported the Foundation granted $8,805,272 in 2022. Donors continued to be very generous and gifts for the year totaled $3,544,561. Foundation donors were most passionate about supporting education with grants totaling 2,995,520. Other sectors receiving grants were children/families/youth $1,646,478, community development $1,185,896, health services $841,996, arts & culture $762,800, environment $664,344, human services $363,967, economic development $216,296 and churches $128,975. To review the 2022 annual report, go to richlandcountyfoundation.org.
Foundation Supports Summer Fun for Local Children
(Photo: The First English Lutheran Church Early Learning Center was awarded a grant last summer to instruct children about gardening.) The Richland County Foundation is supporting summertime programs focused on children. The Summertime Kids Committee Chaired by Foundation Board of Trustee member Karen Bierly along with members from the community approved $65,501 in Summertime Kid grants. The grants of up to $2,500 support creative, educational, and fun-filled activities for hundreds of Richland County children.
Working Together to Improve Local Childcare
Anticipating its 25th Anniversary, the Wome's Fund of the Richland County Foundation put into motion an extensive research plan to find a way to make a larger impact. They started the childcare initiative.
RCF Invites Public to its Annual Meeting
The Richland County Foundation will conduct its annual meeting Friday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 Trimble Road, Mansfield
What you need to know about Secure 2.0
A new year has brought more than just resolutions. It also has brought new laws and other changes that may affect your giving decisions. And with any economic change, you may be looking at your finances and wondering how you will be impacted.
Foundation Opens Scholarship Application Early
(Photo: Ohio State University Mansfield students in the classroom.) College scholarship application opens two weeks early.
Foundation Funds Richland County Fair Show Arena
The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $1,002,661 in grants during its December meeting. The Richland County Senior Fair Board received a $100,000 grant to build a larger and more accessible livestock show arena. More than 700 students are involved in 4-H and FFA in Richland County. The new arena will expand education, entertainment, and other activities to enrich youth and the entire community.(Photo: Cadence Fairchild, a member of the Bibs N’ Boots 4H Club, shows her hog at the Richland County Fair.)
Wayfinders Ohio Sets Up Agency Fund
Harmony House Homeless Services, now known as Wayfinders Ohio, set up an agency-endowed fund to support the organization in the future.
Generous Donors Make Richland Gives a Success
Richland Gives, an online giving event hosted by the Richland County Foundation, raised $507,069 via 1,802 donors for 96 Richland County nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2015, Richland Gives has raised $2,476,007.
Camp Nuhop Update
The Nuhop Center for Experiential Learning home of Camp Nuhop acquired The Mohican School of the Outdoors Property in August. 2021. There is so much more to the story than a transaction between two nonprofit organizations. The Mohican School was the first outdoor education center in the state of Ohio, founded by Ron and Deb Reed. It was the Mohican School that gave Nuhop co-founder, Jerry Dunlap, an opportunity to student teach at the school when he was a senior at Ashland College in the late 1960s. The teaching experience was the impetus for Jerry and his wife Terrie to open Camp Nuhop in 1974 as a residential summer camp for children with special needs.
Seeking JoAnn Dutton Award Nominations
(Photo: Last year's winner Linda Smith with her daughter Lauren Smith.) The Women’s Fund is accepting nominations for the JoAnn Dutton Volunteer Community Service Award. The award celebrates and honors women leaders who devote a significant amount of time and energy in a meaningful way to local charitable organizations.
New Area Agency on Aging Fund Will Be a Catalyst for Giving
(Photo: Duana Patton, Pat and Jana Mulherin at the Area Agency on Aging Ohio District 5.) Jana and Pat Mulherin are providing a pathway for people to donate to the Area Agency on Aging Ohio District 5. They awarded a grant from their Richland County Foundation donor-advised fund to the Area Agency on Aging to establish an agency-endowed fund. “Our philanthropic philosophy is simple; it is about giving back. The endowment fund will be a way for people to donate to the Area Agency on Aging and it will make a difference in our community,” said Jana Mulherin.
Foundation Awards Scholarships to Local Students
The Richland County Foundation recently awarded $708,300 in scholarships to Richland County students. Scholarships are awarded based on a student’s financial need and grade point average.
Foundation Grants Close to $7.3M in 2021
During the Richland County Foundation annual meeting recently held President Brady Groves reported the Foundation granted $7,299,660 in 2021.
Friends for Life
Jeff Ellington was a generous man who befriended everyone he met. So when Jeff died in 2020 after a lengthy battle with kidney cancer, a group of his friends decided to memorialize him by establishing the Jeff Ellington Legacy Fund through the Richland County Foundation
Enjoy Free Outdoor Movies This Summer
Local residents can enjoy free family-friendly activities and outdoor movies this summer in downtown Mansfield. This is a Richland County Foundation Mansfield Rising project. Partners in the project are the Renaissance Theatre, Little Buckeye Children's Museum
Gift of Grain Fund to Benefit Agricultural Nonprofits
A Gift of Grain Fund was established by the Board of Trustees to accept donations from area farmers and donors, and it provided an initial $15,000 to seed the fund. The Committee will vet and award grants to agricultural nonprofit organizations.
Professional Advisor Webinar with Credits Offered
The Richland County Foundation will host a webinar Wednesday, March 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. on Zoom. “Stretching to Realize Philanthropic Goals - IRAs, CRTs, and SECURE Act” will be presented by Attorney Brandon Borgmann of Carlile Patchen & Murphy Attorneys at Law.
Mansfield Rising Update
Progress is being made in Mansfield Rising projects. The vision is for Mansfield to become an optimal place to conduct business, gather and live. This vision can be achieved through five key areas: effective land use, wayfinding, technical assistance for business, branding, and marketing, and safety.
Students Can Apply for College and Career Tech Scholarships
The Richland County Foundation announces its college and career technical education scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 school year are now available online at richlandcountyfoundation.org.
We Are Accepting Summertime Kids Grant Applications
(Photo: Children participated in the Summer Zone at the Salvation Army thanks to support from a Summertime Kids grant.)
Richland Gives Raises $504,504
Richland Gives, an online giving event hosted by the Richland County Foundation, raised $504,504, via 1,220 donors for 86 Richland County nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2015, Richland Gives has raised $1,940,373.
Take Advantage of Your IRA
Make a Gift of a Lifetime IRA Transfers to the Richland County Foundation Individuals aged 70 ½ and older can transfer up to $100,000 annually from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to the Richland County Foundation without being federally taxed.
