New Funds Hold Memories, Hope
Eugene E. & Nancy L. Adler Memorial Fund
Farmer, auctioneer, real estate broker, community leader. These are the memories Valerie Wigton holds of her father, Eugene “Coop” Adler (1934-1998). She and her husband, Dan, have created a new fund with Marion Community Foundation to keep his memory, and that of her mother, Nancy (1935-2022), alive.
Valerie recalls her mother’s 33-year career as a school secretary in Bowling Green — while raising five children and honing her blue-ribbon winning pie making skills. Both of her parents were lifelong members of St. Louis Catholic Church in Custar, Ohio; which is why, according to Valerie, the fund will benefit the family’s home parish.
“I am so proud of my parents and all they accomplished in life,” Valerie said. “But most of all, was their underlying faith which was the foundation for life.”
Dan and Valerie have been long-time Marion residents. Valerie has a successful career in marketing and community involvements, currently serving as president of the Marion Women’s Club & Home. Dan is a financial advisor and branch manager at Stifel. He has made significant referrals of donors to the Foundation, including two of its largest, the Wopats and Joe Slanser.
Richard & Kim Dixon Family Fund and Richard & Kim Dixon Non-Endowed Fund
Creating positive influences and family values for Marion youth are the driving forces behind the creation of this pair of new donor advised funds established by life-long Marion residents Richard and Kim Dixon. Richard, who unabashedly credits Kim as the “iconic” mother and foundation of their family, said they intend to recommend grants from the funds to support programs and organizations that benefit Marion County youth, especially those which develop young people socially, economically, educationally, and spiritually.
“Our family is very blessed,” he said, “but it is simply too easy for kids to fall into the trap of seeking a sense of belonging outside their family and to be swayed by bad influences. We want to direct the focus to positive family values.”
Richard has been affiliated with Marion Community Foundation for many years, serving as a local financial advisor, along with his firm 3-D Private Wealth Advisors. The firm started 38 years ago and the three D’s are Richard and his two sons, Brian and Alan, who have been with the firm 14 and 8 years, respectively. They are part of the Wells Fargo network of financial advisors, working out of their original offices in the heart of downtown Marion. Richard and Kim also have two daughters and 12 grandchildren.
“We are in the service business, the advice business,” Richard said of the firm. “We counsel families on their finances for school, retirement, and challenging expenses. Our motto is we want them to be successful in the one life God has given them.”
President’s Band Club Fund
The President’s Band Club Fund is the fundraising arm of a booster club to support the activities of the Marion Harding High School and Grant Middle School band programs.
Created by Bill Hutchman, this fund honors the involvement and service of Rick Baird and Don Wolfe, whom, he said, built the modern marching band program at Harding High School. Hutchman is himself a former Prexy bando and founder and drummer for the local cover band Cherry Blonde. His father, the late Ed Hutchman, was also a huge supporter of school music programs and founder of the Harding Music Parents booster club.
Fundraising events are being planned to add to this new charitable endowment. Hutchman said the goal of the new fund is to make grants to “support any music need brought our way.”
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