Author Archives: Michelle

Upper Miami Valley Young Life

The Piqua Community Foundation’s annual giving campaign is now active.

Gifts made through The Foundation’s annual giving campaign support the unrestricted funds for our spring and fall grant cycles, as well as special projects. In 2021, The Foundation has distributed more than $138,000 through unrestricted grant awards.

“We are so thankful for The Piqua Community Foundation’s generous support to cover the cost of our volunteer’s attendance at the Ohio CASA Conference this fall. This conference delivers quality training that covers all of the required training hours for our 50 CASA volunteers advocating for more than 190 abused and neglected children in Miami County each year.

When our volunteers give so much of their time and energy to protect the best interest of children in difficult situations, it isa blessing for them to not have to pay for the conference that allows them to continue as volunteer advocates. So far this year, 46% of the children served by our program are from Piqua, and we are proud to partner with The Piqua Community Foundation to make a difference for these children.”

—  Nikki Sherck, executive director of CASA/GAL of Miami County, Inc.

CASA/GAL of Miami County, Inc.

Your contributions at work serving Piqua

• More than $18.3 million given from The Foundation since its founding in 1993!
• More than $628,000 distributed in 2020 through grants and scholarships!
• More than $138,000 in 2021 grants to local organizations and schools made through unrestricted donations like this annual campaign!

Please consider a gift to The Foundation by visiting our Donate page or mailing a check to P.O. Box 226, Piqua, OH 45356.

When you share with us, we share with many.

Piqua Parents as Teachers — Averie Zweibel, age 3

The Piqua Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the Donnelly Advised Fund totaling $22,700 to 18 organizations that serve Piqua residents.

Richard Donnelly established the Donnelly Advised Fund, along with others at The Foundation, in 2008. The grant award decisions are made by a donor-appointed committee annually based upon community needs; there is no application process.

“The committee and I enjoy meeting in the fall each year to determine how best to utilize the fund to serve the Piqua community,” Donnelly said. “The awards we make represent a broad range projects that benefit Piqua residents and improve our community. It’s a true pleasure to share from the advised fund each year.”

The organizations receiving 2021 Donnelly Advised grants are:

• American Legion Post 184 for the Veterans Elite Tribute Squad
• American Legion Post 184 Ambulance Fund
• The Bethany Center
• The Edison Foundation for the nursing scholarship
• Forest Hill Cemetery Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation
• Greene Street Church food pantry
• The Little Kinger Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation
• MainStreet Piqua
• Miami County Dental Clinic
• Miami County YMCA
• Piqua Arts Council
• Piqua Area Chamber Foundation for The Garden Tribe Schoolyard Garden
• Piqua Civic Band
• Piqua Compassion Network
• Protecting Our Water Ways
• Salvation Army for the needs bank and summer feeding program
• Upper Miami Valley Young Life
• YWCA Piqua

Jeff Lange of Protecting Our Water Ways (POWW) said that the support of the Donnelly Advised Fund is used to cover programmatic expenses such as vehicle registration, insurance, maintenance, fuel and supplies to orchestrate successful sweeps of local waters.

“In 18 years, POWW volunteers have removed over 198,250 pounds of trash and have worked over 12,500 community man hours,” Lange said. “Thanks to Mr. Donnelly, The Piqua Community Foundation, local businesses, our sponsors, and POWW volunteers, our citizens can enjoy much cleaner waters!”

Protecting Our Water Ways is one of 18 local organizations to receive a grant award from the Donnelly Advised Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation this fall. Here, members of the POWW A Team work on the Great Miami River during one of its river cleanups.

The Piqua Community Foundation Life Trustees honored members of the Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting on November 9.

Steven K. Staley, president, and Emily E. Shawler, incoming president

Emily E. Shawler, incoming board president, recognized Steven K. Staley who has served as the president of The Foundation for 2020 and 2021 and thanked him for his leadership through a transition period for the organization.

Staley shared his year-end comments with the audience, including the continued growth of The Foundation thanks to donors who allow for the organization’s continued support of charitable organizations serving Piqua residents. Shawler highlighted programs on the horizon for The Foundation, including the new Pitch Piqua charitable grant pitch initiative with the community event on March 3, 2022.

The Life Trustees also re-elected five incumbent directors and elected one new director (identified with an asterisk) who will serve three-year terms beginning January 1, 2022:

• Bryant W. Fox
• Lt Col Daniel P. French, USAFR, Ret
• Stephanie A. Gunter
• Trenton Karn*
• Randi M. Pearson
• Tony Wendeln

Stacy P. Scott, retiring board member, with Steven K. Staley, president

Additionally, Stacy P. Scott was recognized as a retiring board member who served the organization for 18 years, including two years as the board president. Jack L. Neuenschwander was recognized as retiring legal counsel for The Foundation, a role he’s filled since the organization’s inception in 1993.

Also at the annual meeting, Foundation leaders honored 2021 standard grant recipients in The Foundation’s spring and fall grant cycles.

Organizational representatives receiving grant awards in The Piqua Community Foundation’s 2021 grant cycles

Vickie Kirk, MBA, MT(ASCP), medical laboratory technician, phlebotomy and CLA director and associate professor of health sciences at Edison State Community College

Dr. Doreen Larson, president, and Vickie Kirk, associate professor, of Edison State Community College presented to the audience. Larson shared the impact The Foundation has had on the institution over many years of support. Kirk presented about the spring 2021 award that allowed her to purchase molecular testing equipment for the medical laboratory technician program and the growth of the program in recent years.

To see the full Board of Directors list, view Foundation grant recipients and learn more about The Foundation’s programs, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org.

The Piqua Community Foundation awarded $62,917 to organizations that serve Piqua residents this month.

The distribution is part of The Foundation’s twice-annual standard grant cycles from unrestricted funds. The Foundation’s Distribution Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval based on a grant application and review process.

The Piqua Community Foundation delivered fall grant awards on November 8 to organizations that serve Piqua residents. Pictured here is the grant award delivery at Greene Street Daycare & Preschool with, from left, Debbie Frazier, director of the center, and Jim Sever and Randi Pearson, Foundation Distribution Committee co-chairs. The fall 2021 grant award helped to fund a new fire door at the center to keep children safe.

The organizations awarded 2021 fall grants are:

• Arbogast Performing Arts Center – emergency AED equipment
• CASA/GAL of Miami County Inc. – CASA Caring Tree
• The Center for Early Learning at Piqua Catholic – gross motor equipment
• Dr. E. Robert Torrence Medical Benovolence Fund – Torrence Medical Benevolence Fund
• Forest Hill Cemetery & Arboretum – trash receptacle replacement program
• Friends of the Piqua Public Library – Holiday Cabaret
• Girl Scouts of Western Ohio – Piqua Girl Scouts financial assistance
• GIVE Medical Ministry – knee walkers and overbed tables
• Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley – Piqua Adult Day Support activity boxes & technology
• Greene Street Daycare & Preschool – fire door replacement
• Health Partners Free Clinic – certification for psychiatry services
• Isaiah’s Place Inc. – Christmas for kids
• Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County – volunteer program support
• Piqua Catholic School – window security
• Piqua City Schools – Piqua Central Intermediate School – Improving Math Facts One Step at a Time
• Piqua City Schools – Washington Primary – first-grade STEM brain bins
• RT Industries – service area improvement project
• Upper Valley Career Center – scrubs for students
• Upper Valley Medical Center Foundation – Special Care Nursery renovation

The grant awards were made to a variety of organization service sectors, all with a demonstrated impact on Piqua residents. One award was made to Greene Street Daycare & Preschool to support the replacement of a fire door to maintain the safety of the children served.

“Early childhood education has been very different the last 19 months. The Piqua Community Foundation has helped us to overcome one of our obstacles, by providing us with a grant to help replace and old fire door,” said Debbie Frazier, director of Greene Street Daycare & Preschool. “Without this help, we would not have been able to meet this fire code requirement. I would like to thank The Foundation for their gratitude toward helping to keep the children safe in our care.”

The Piqua Community Foundation’s next grant cycle has a March 31 deadline. To learn more about the grant and scholarship programs of The Piqua Community Foundation, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants.

Randi Pearson, far left, and Jim Sever, far right, Piqua Community Foundation Distribution Committee co-chairs, present a grant award to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley representatives Caryl Segalewitz, development manager, second from left, and Jen Bonifas, interim vice president of program services, on November 8. The grant award will support activity boxes and technology equipment for clients of the Piqua Adult Day Support program and was one of a total of $62,917 distributed by The Foundation in the fall 2021 cycle.

The Piqua Community Foundation today announced the three finalists in its Pitch Piqua charitable grant pitch competition with a $50,000 top prize.

The three finalist organizations that will compete for the top prize at the March 3, 2022, culminating event are:

• Child Care Choices, Inc. – represented by Co-Directors Jenny Fox & Renee Matsunami

• 

  Renee Matsunami, left, and Jenny Fox, co-directors of Child Care Choices, Inc., accept their place as a Pitch Piqua finalist earlier this month at the Center for Early Learning at Piqua Catholic. The two nonprofit directors will work with Piqua Community Foundation staff over the next few months before presenting their project concept at a public event March 3, 2022.

• Piqua City Schools, represented by Directors of Curriculum Scott Bloom & Teresa Anderson

• 

  Piqua City Schools has been selected one of three finalists in The Piqua Community Foundation’s Pitch Piqua initiative. Pictured, from left to right, are Superintendent Dwayne Thompson, Treasurer/CFO Jeremie Hittle, Director of Curriculum K-6 Teresa Anderson and Director of Curriculum 7-12 Scott Bloom.

• Piqua Compassion Network, represented by Executive Director Rebecca Sousek & volunteers Chloe Clark & Caleb Patton

Piqua Compassion Network (PCN) will develop a project concept alongside The Piqua Community Foundation as one of three Pitch Piqua finalists before presenting their idea to the community March 3, 2022. Pictured, from left to right, are volunteer Chad Lawson, PCN Executive Director Rebecca Sousek, volunteer Shelli Mitchell, volunteer Chloe Clark and volunteer Caleb Patton.

A Foundation review committee reviewed narrative applications then interviewed semi-finalist candidates before narrowing the pool the three finalists.

“We are so excited for and inspired by these three finalist organizations who were chosen among a competitive pool of qualified applicants,” said Emily Shawler, Foundation vice president and Resource Committee chairwoman. “We look forward to working alongside these nonprofit leaders as they develop their concepts and prepare to pitch their ideas to the community in a few months.”

Project concepts will be developed as a partnership between each of the three finalist organizations selected and The Foundation in the months leading up to the public event. Finalists will work with Foundation staff on project scope, budgeting, capacity-building and storytelling presentation skills through this time.

The finalists then present their concepts at a community event on March 3, 2022, to a panel of judges who will decide the same day which organization wins the $50,000 award for its presented project. The other two finalist organizations will each be awarded a $5,000 unrestricted award. The funding for the grant awards is supplied by the fundholders of The Foundation. All finalists will also be eligible for pass-through designated donations made by community members leading up to and at the event.

The project concepts will be evaluated on their impact on Piqua residents, evidence of a demonstrated community need, readiness for launch, sustainability of the project and quality of the presentation.

To learn more about how Pitch Piqua and The Piqua Community Foundation benefit our community, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/pitchpiqua.

The Piqua Community Foundation this week unveils its new initiative to benefit the Piqua community. Pitch Piqua is a charitable grant pitch competition with a $50,000 top prize for nonprofit organizations with a project benefiting Piqua.

“Pitch Piqua is an ultra-local grant competition that promotes local philanthropy and supports our community’s nonprofit sector,” said Emily Shawler, Foundation vice president and Resource Committee chairwoman. “We are ecstatic to offer this new, fun initiative to serve the Piqua community.”

Applications — simple narratives describing the project idea and the community need it meets — are accepted now through July 29. Ideas are developed as a partnership between each of the three finalist organizations selected and The Foundation in the months leading up to the public event. Finalists work with Foundation staff on project scope, budgeting, capacity-building and storytelling presentation skills through this time.

The finalists then present their concepts at a community event on March 3, 2022, to a panel of judges who will decide the same day which organization wins the $50,000 award for its presented project. The other two finalist organizations will each be awarded a $5,000 unrestricted award. The funding for the grant awards is supplied by the fundholders of The Foundation. All finalists will also be eligible for pass-through designated donations made by community members.

The project concepts will be evaluated on their impact on Piqua residents, evidence of a demonstrated community need, readiness for launch, sustainability of the project and quality of the presentation.

To find the guidelines and application instructions and learn how Pitch Piqua will benefit our community, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/pitchpiqua.

Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development

The Piqua Community Foundation awarded $75,289 to 14 organizations that serve Piqua residents this month.

The distribution is part of The Foundation’s twice-annual standard grant cycles from unrestricted funds. The Foundation’s Distribution Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval based on a grant application and review process.

The organizations awarded 2021 spring grants are:

• CASA/GAL of Miami County, Inc. – conference for court-appointed special advocate volunteers
• Elizabeth’s New Life Center/Women’s Centers of Ohio – Earn While You Learn Program
• Isaiah’s Place, Inc. – bridging to foster care bags
• Johnston Farm Friends Council – History Alive at Fort Piqua
• Miami County Dental Clinic – Dental Direct and Traveling Smiles programs
• Miami County YMCA – new facility campaign
• New Creation Counseling Center – counseling and psychiatry services
• Piqua Area Chamber Foundation – website upgrade
• Piqua Catholic School – hand drums for music class
• Piqua Catholic School – zoo crew alphabet rug
• Piqua Catholic School – keyboard covers
• Piqua Catholic School – junior high school football helmets
• Piqua Catholic School – gym floor resurfacing
• Piqua Catholic School – interactive projector board
• Piqua City Schools – Piqua High School – William H. Pitsenbarger burial flag case
• Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development – pediatric activity chair
• The Edison Foundation – molecular testing equipment
• Troy-Miami County Public Library – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• Upper Miami Valley Young Life – summer camp trip

The grant awards were made to a variety of organization service sectors, all with a demonstrated impact on Piqua residents.

The award to the Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development will support the purchase of a new pediatric chair for one-on-one neuroeducational classroom activities for those diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, birth trauma, Down syndrome, autism, ADD/ADHD, chromosomal disorders, developmental delays and other brain-related conditions.

“The generous support of The Piqua Community Foundation means more than words can express,” Rehabilitation Center Executive Director Carla Bertke said. “Having the ability to purchase the pediatric chair will help us continue to provide services to our very young participants. It is a vital piece of equipment that will be used on a daily basis and allows us to fulfill our mission of ‘hands that give hope!’”

The Edison Foundation

Other awards were made to educational entities, including The Edison Foundation to support molecular testing equipment, and charitable organizations to facilitate the delivery of services including psychiatry, children’s care and dental health.

The Piqua Community Foundation’s next grant cycle has a September 30 deadline. To learn more about the grant and scholarship programs of The Piqua Community Foundation, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants.

The Piqua Community Foundation presented four local volunteers with the Margaret W. Hinsch and Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Awards on Tuesday.

The following volunteers received the awards in surprise presentations:

• • • Elizabeth “Liz” Hall, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

    • Jill Todd, CASA/GAL of Miami County, inc.

    • Jordan Browner, Upper Miami Valley Young Life

    • Clete Thobe, Forest Hill Cemetery

The recipients received a glass plaque to commemorate the occasion, and the nominating nonprofit agency received a $2,000 unrestricted grant from The Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation, in recognition of that outstanding volunteer. The grant award marks an increase from the previously offered $1,000 per award.

Scott & Margaret Hinsch

John Hinsch, son of the late Margaret and Scott Hinsch, joined the presentations in honor of his parents, and their legacy of service to the Piqua community. He also represented his wife, Marsha, and his sister, Dr. Linda Hinsch Campbell, who were unable to attend the presentations.

The Hinsch awards are offered annually, typically to one male and one female volunteer. The Hinsch family generously offered to award two male and two female volunteers this year due to the high quality of outstanding candidates in this year’s pool of nominations.

“The decision committee was blown away by the contributions of volunteers to organizations serving the Piqua community this year. We all acknowledge that 2020 was a year of increased need in our service organizations, and we are so inspired by the incredible dedication of these volunteers to rally around their community. We are so humbled to share these awards in memory of my parents who loved and served Piqua all their lives.”                                                                                                          — John Hinsch

Liz Hall, left, and John Hinsch

Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Elizabeth “Liz” Hall

Karen Wendeln, service unit treasurer of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, nominated Elizabeth “Liz” Hall for the numerous hours she spent designing and implementing Zoom badge meetings for the local troops. This allowed leaders without much technology experience to continue with virtual activities and allowed troop members to continue to earn badges during the pandemic.

“The many hours Liz contributed to the online project most likely kept Piqua girls interested in the Girl Scout program,” Wendeln stated in her nomination form.

Nikki Sherck, left, and Jill Todd

Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Jill Todd

Nikki Sherck, executive director of CASA/GAL of Miami County, Inc. nominated Jill Todd for her direct work with abused and neglected children in Piqua. CASA/GAL of Miami County trains volunteers to be Court Appointed Special Advocates to protect the interests of each child in court. Todd has served in the role since 1998 and is recognized for the award due to  volunteering more than 160 hours and driving 1,183 miles in 2020.

Sherck wrote in her nomination form that “Jill’s passion for service and dedication to abused and neglected children is so evident and inspirational.”

Jordan Browner

Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Jordan Browner

David Mason, area director of Upper Miami Valley Young Life, nominated Jordan Browner for his work on developing mentorship relationships with area teens when there was a huge need due to the isolating circumstances of the pandemic.

Mason wrote in his nomination form, “Jordan met kids where they were, whether at sporting events at Piqua High School, YMCA, restaurants, skating rink or anywhere else. During a time of lots of struggles for youth, they needed someone like Jordan to share with them about life.”

Clete Thobe, right, and John Hinsch

Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Clete Thobe

Cindy Pearson, board president for Forest Hill Cemetery, nominated Clete Thobe for clearing brush and maintaining the levy bank from Ziegler Road to south end of the cemetery.

“It has been the mission of the cemetery board to beautify the cemetery and make it an inviting sanctuary for the thousands of friends and families that visit each year. The hundreds of hours Clete has put into his work has helped the cemetery staff achieve this mission,” Pearson said in her nomination form.

To watch livestream videos and view more photos from the awards presentations, visit The Piqua Community Foundation’s Facebook page.

The Piqua Community Foundation opened its spring 2021 grant cycle this week with a revised application process. Pictured here is a Springcreek Primary School student using STEAM materials purchased through a 2020 grant from The Foundation’s unrestricted funds.

The Piqua Community Foundation has introduced a new application process as it releases its 2021 spring grant cycle this week.

The Foundation accepts project-based grant applications twice a year from nonprofit organizations serving Piqua residents with a mission that is religious, educational, scientific, literary or charitable in nature. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating the organization’s 501(c)(3) or equivalent tax-exempt status.

While those key tenets of the grant program remain unchanged, the new digitally accessible process allows applicants additional flexibility in their preferred submission method, Foundation Executive Director Michelle Perry said.

The primary amendments for nonprofit applicants to note include:

• The Foundation now uses one common application and shared deadlines for all grant requests, regardless of the organization’s structure or the amount of the project funding sought.
• Grant guidelines and the application form are available at The Foundation’s website at piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants.
• Applications are accepted via email, as well as in paper form via mail or hand delivery.

“The principles that lie at the heart of our grant distribution model remain the same,” Perry said. “This revised process condenses the information shared and requested and allows for digital access to the application forms at any time. We are proud to be able to continue to support our local nonprofit community in this expanded way.”

The spring 2021 distribution is part of The Foundation’s semiannual grant cycles from unrestricted funds. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021. The Foundation’s Distribution Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval based on the grant application and review process.

In 2020, The Piqua Community Foundation distributed a total of $196,500 in grants from its unrestricted funds through its semiannual distributions and through its Piqua Emergency Response Fund for pandemic relief.

The Piqua Community Foundation’s grant program guidelines and application form can be found by visiting piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines and then confirm their organization’s eligibility by emailing info@piquacommunityfoundation.org or calling 937.615.9080.

The Piqua Community Foundation is now accepting nominations for the Margaret W. Hinsch and Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Awards.

The Hinsch awards are offered annually to one male and one female volunteer serving a Piqua nonprofit organization. The awards are unique because the honorees are selected based on activities done on behalf of one organization during one specific calendar year, in this case 2020. Last year’s recipients were Jim Robinson, a volunteer for the Piqua Area Chamber Foundation, and Catherine “Cathy” Large, a volunteer for the Bethany Center.

Catherine “Cathy” Large, a volunteer for the Bethany Center, left, and Jim Robinson, a volunteer for the Piqua Area Chamber Foundation, were awarded the Hinsch Community Service Awards in May 2020. Nominations are now accepted for this year’s awards through The Piqua Community Foundation.

Scott & Margaret Hinsch

The fund that provides the monetary awards was established at The Piqua Community Foundation by Scott and Margaret Hinsch’s children and their spouses, John and Marsha Hinsch and Linda and the late Bob Campbell. The awards honor Scott and Margaret’s legacy of service to the Piqua community.

The annual award recipients receive a glass plaque to commemorate the occasion, and the nominating nonprofit agency will receive a $2,000 unrestricted grant from the Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation, in recognition of that outstanding volunteer. The organizational grant amount marks an increase from previous years, as the family wishes to recognize the nonprofit with an impactful award that can be used however the agency needs.

The deadline for nomination submission is March 15, 2021. Download the Margaret W. Hinsch and Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Awards guidelines and nomination form HERE.