Granges of Morrow County Scholarship Fund

Williamsport Grange No. 1815 created this scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation in 2023. It provides annual scholarship awards to Morrow County students pursuing educational opportunities beyond high school.

The Williamsport Grange is the last remaining in Morrow County, which throughout its history had as many as 31 Granges. Williamsport Grange members envisioned such a scholarship to create a lasting legacy for the Grange locally.

Founded in 1867, the Grange is a social organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture. In 2005, the Grange had a membership of 160,000, with organizations in 2,100 communities in 36 states.

Many rural communities in the United States still have a Grange Hall and local Granges still serve as a center of rural life for many farming communities. In 2019, the National Grange revised their Mission Statement: The Grange strengthens individuals, families and communities through grassroots action, service, education, advocacy, and agriculture awareness.

In order to support students and increase awareness of the Grange, this scholarship requires applicants to write an essay describing the Grange and contributions it has made to society locally, statewide, or nationally. The goal of this scholarship endowment is twofold: to provide financially for students to advance their studies, and to serve as a perpetual beacon of the Grange’s essential mission of promoting the values of community and service.

Williamsport Grange No. 1815 has created a scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation, announced by Grange President, Donna Carver. It will provide annual scholarship awards to Morrow County students pursuing educational opportunities beyond high school.