2025 Designated Grants

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | Designated funds allow donors to annually support specific charities of their choosing and in perpetuity. Below are the funds that awarded grants in 2025 and the grant recipients. Designated awards totaled $613,000.

Animal Care

Mary H. Hollaway Humane Society | Marion Area Humane Society
Johnny McDaniel Memorial | Marion Area Humane Society
Louis & Susan Nemeth | Marion Area Humane Society
Mike & Betty Rogerson’s Charitable | Marion Area Humane Society

Arts, History & Culture

Jerry & Barb Baker | Marion Palace Theatre
Ida Barlow Brilliance Award | Marion Women’s Club & Home
Rebecca S. Craig Family Education | Marion Palace Theatre
Jerry & Betty L. Davis Palace Theatre | Marion Palace Theatre
Linda Davis DeNise & Susan Davis Dodds | Marion Palace Theatre
Gene & Jan Farison Family | Marion Palace Theatre
Don & Peggy Hall Family | Marion Palace Theatre
F. Riley Hall & Geraldine A. Hall Memorial | Marion Co. Historical Assoc. & Stengel-True Museum
A. Merle Hamilton Marion County Historical Society | Marion Co. Historical Society
Warren G. Harding Home & Presidential Center Endowment | Ohio History Connection-Warren G. Harding Home & Presidential Center
Mary H. Hollaway Palace Theatre | Marion Palace Theatre
Huber Museum | Edward Huber Memorial Association
Linn School Endowment | Marion Co. Historical Society
Joe & Martha Douce Maniaci Memorial | Marion Palace Theatre
Kenny Martin Charitable | Marion Union Station Association and Marion Palace Theatre
Meredythe & John McDaniel | Marion Palace Theatre
David K. Miller | Marion Co. Historical Society
Poorman Palace Theatre | Marion Palace Theatre
Mike & Betty Rogerson’s Charitable | Marion Palace Theatre
Joe Slanser Marion Union Station | Marion Union Station
Randy & Sandra Winland Marion County Historical Society | Marion Co. Historical Society

Children, Family & Seniors

Marion County Youth Foundation | Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Assoc.
Mike & Betty Rogerson’s Charitable | Boys & Girls Club of Marion and Marion Senior Citizens Assoc.
Thomas E. Ruzzo Endowment | Marion Family Court Family Resource Center

Community Development

Matt & Christine McCoy | Downtown Marion, Inc.
Marion CAN DO! | Marion CAN DO!
Betty L. Davis III | League of Women Voters

Education

Bill Burga Endowment | Tri-Rivers Career Center
Jacob R. Cannon Memorial | Ridgedale Local Schools
Patricia Anne Chapman Helping Hands | Marion City Schools and River Valley Local Schools
Stephen J. Chaney Memorial | St. Mary School
James C. Cooper’s St. Mary Church | St. Mary School
Farison Family Helping Hands | Pleasant Local Schools
Father Fred Furey | St. Mary School
Knowledge Academy Education | Knowledge Academy Educational Services
Let’s Read 20 Endowment | Marion Public Library
Marion County Youth Foundation | The Ohio State University at Marion
Joan Zucker Milner Memorial Teachers’ | Marion City Schools
Dr. T. Michael & Gretchen Murphy | Elgin Local Schools
Pleasant Music Boosters | Pleasant Music Boosters
Pleasant Schools Endowment | Pleasant Local Schools
Prexy Play Scholarship | Marion City Schools
Arthur J. & Jo Ann Radwin Journalism | Marion City Schools
Jean Zoeller Reas Endowment | Calvert High School and St. Ursula Academy
Vince Reed Memorial | Tri-Rivers Career Center
Mike & Betty Rogerson’s Charitable | Thiel College
Judge William Wiedemann Family | Marion Technical College and Ohio State Marion

Faith-Based

Linda Davis DeNise & Susan Davis Dodds | Trinity Baptist
Epworth United Methodist Church | Epworth United Methodist
Gene & Jan Farison Family | Epworth United Methodist
A. Merle Hamilton Centenary United Methodist Church | Centenary United Methodist
A. Merle Hamilton Central Christian Church | Central Christian
A. Merle Hamilton Epworth United Methodist Church | Epworth United Methodist
Jane Laucher’s Emanuel Lutheran Church | Emanuel Lutheran
Lust Family | Emanuel Lutheran
Meredythe & John McDaniel | Epworth United Methodist
Parrott Family Emanuel Lutheran Church | Emanuel Lutheran
Jean Zoeller Reas Endowment | St. Mary Parish of Tiffin, OH
Joe Slanser Epworth United Methodist Church | Epworth UMC
William D. & Alice L. Young | First Church of the Brethren
Daniel H. Zimmerman Presbyterian Church | First Presbyterian

Food, Shelter & Support

Gene & Jan Farison Family | United Way of North Central Ohio
Jack V. & Violet M. Griffith Family | Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter
Norma Jacob St. Vincent de Paul Society | St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marion
Leapin’ Outreach Center | Leapin’ Outreach Center
Legal Aid Society Endowment | Legal Aid of Southeast & Central Ohio
Marion County Red Cross Endowment | American Red Cross East Central Ohio
Marion Matters Endowment | Marion Matters
Jo Ann Radwin-Zimmerman Bridge Out of Poverty | Marion Matters
Mike & Betty Rogerson’s Charitable | American Red Cross East Central Ohio, Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity, and Salvation Army
SSG Shannon M. Smith “No Fear” | Ohio Fallen Heros Memorial
Pamela Stone United Way Impact | United Way of North Central Ohio
Judge William Wiedemann Family | United Way of Marion County

Health & Wellness

Larry & Sara Babich YMCA Heritage | Marion Family YMCA
Betty L. Davis | Third Street Family Health Center
Fout-Price Memorial | Marion General Hospital Hospice
Nobel F. Hollaway YMCA Scholarship | Marion Family YMCA
Merle & Evelyn Lashey YMCA | Marion Family YMCA
Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities | Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Marion Family YMCA “Doc” Butterworth Scholarship | Marion Family YMCA
Gladys Simpson & Melvin Ulery Memorial | Center Street Community Health Center
Sutherin Family Eye Care | Center Street Community Health Center
Wopat Family YMCA | Marion Family YMCA
Dan Zimmerman & Jo Ann R. Zimmerman YMCA | Marion Family YMCA

Parks & Environment

Don & Deb Alspach | Prairie Parks Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Glen Burton Jr Memorial | Prairie Parks Foundation
Jerry Davis Prairie Parks Foundation | Prairie Parks Foundation
Linda Davis DeNise & Susan Davis Dodds | Prairie Parks Foundation
Khurshid Husain | Prairie Parks Foundation
Terradise Nature Preserve | Prairie Parks Foundation