Author Archives: Mike Schultz

The Piqua Community Foundation is a proud supporter of Miami County YMCA’s new Piqua branch project, which broke ground on May 2 downtown. The Foundation made its largest grant pledge to date to the project during the spring 2021 cycle.

The project site is across High Street from the current YMCA building and adjacent to The Foundation office. The 76,000-square-foot building will cost $21.5 million and include a family aquatic center, field house with basketball courts and turf field, group exercise space and youth ninja room.

YMCA leaders expect construction to take 20 months with completion in the first quarter of 2024. The current Piqua YMCA facility continues to operate with full services while the new facility is being constructed.

To learn more about the YMCA’s capital campaign and how to contribute, visit miamicountyymca.net/capital-campaign.

“We could not be happier with how the project is moving forward. The support from partners like The Piqua Community Foundation has been fantastic. We are currently sitting at just under 90 percent of our fundraising goal, so there is still some work to do, but we remain confident we will close the gap.”

— Miami County YMCA Executive Director Jim McMaken

The Piqua Community Foundation welcomed Trenton Karn to the Board of Directors earlier this year after the organization’s Life Trustees elected him at the annual meeting in November.

Trenton’s service on the board began on January 1, 2022, and continues through December 31, 2024.

Trenton fills the seat of former Board of Directors member Stacy P. Scott, who retired at the end of December after 18 years of service, including two years as the board’s president.

Trenton was born and raised in Piqua. He graduated from University of Dayton. He has worked at Hemm’s Glass for almost 20 years, where he is part of the leadership team, heading up the project management team. He and his wife, Andrea Karn, have four children – Aubri, Melanie, Vincent and Ellie.

In addition to joining The Piqua Community Foundation Board of Directors, Trenton serves as a board member for the Salvation Army. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Miami County.

See the full Piqua Community Foundation Board of Directors list here: http://piquacommunityfoundation.org/about-us/our-board/

The Foundation presented two local volunteers with The Scott J. Hinsch and Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Awards on Monday.

Jack Noah and Cari Beth Noah of The Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation

The following volunteers received the awards in surprise presentations:

• Kenneth J. Grimes, Miami Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America
• Edna Stiefel, Friends of the Piqua Parks

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 Hinsch awards are offered annually, typically to one male and one female volunteer.

Cari Beth Noah and 10-year-old Jack Noah, granddaughter and great-grandson of the awards’ namesakes, respectively, presented the awards to recognize their legacy of service to the Piqua community. Cari Beth Noah also represented her parents, John and Marsha Hinsch, and her aunt, Dr. Linda Hinsch Campbell, who founded the fund and were unable to attend the presentations.

“The Hinsch family and The Hinsch Family Fund committee are touched by Edna and Ken’s contributions in 2021 to their respective organizations in service to Piqua residents,” John Hinsch said. “We recognize that 2021 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.”

The Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Kenneth J. Grimes

The Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation awarded Kenneth J. Grimes with the Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Award on Monday in recognition of his volunteer service to the Miami Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America. Pictured, from left to right, are Scouting Executive/Executive Director Jeffrey R. Schiavone, Kenneth J. Grimes, wife Linda Grimes, Senior District Executive Amanda Schaedig and Development Director Iris Juergens.

Iris Juergens, development director for Miami Valley Council, Boys Scouts of America, nominated Grimes for leading Troop 295 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in their efforts to provide meals to people who were directly impacted by COVID-19 during 2021.

“One of Mr. Grimes’ greatest strengths is his reliability,” Juergens said in her nomination form. “It is due to Mr. Grimes’ personal investment of time, talent and treasure that the Miami Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America was able to provide scouting during times when we had to pivot quickly. His efforts ensure Scouting continues at an exemplary level for all our youth.”

The Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Award winner – Edna Stiefel

Edna Stiefel, front, poses with Friends of the Piqua Parks committee members, from left to right, Jim Vetter, President Ruth A. Koon and Russ Fashner on Monday as The Piqua Community Foundation presented her with the Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Award. The award is a part of the Hinsch Family Fund of The Foundation and is accompanied by a $2,000 unrestricted grant award for the nominating organization.

Ruth A. Koon, president of Friends of the Piqua Parks, nominated Stiefel for her fundraising efforts to increase the number of trees in the Piqua parks in 2021. Koon said Stiefel is an advocate for the development of the Piqua’s park system and is highly regarded by City of Piqua parks staff and community.

“She truly is a committed and enthusiastic volunteer for our committee and for our community,” Koon stated in her nomination form. “The project would not have happened if it had not been for Stiefel’s leadership.”

The Hinsch Family Fund committee, the nominators and family members of the awardees presented the awards Monday. To watch livestream videos and view more photos from the awards presentations, visit The Piqua Community Foundation’s Facebook page.

For more information about The Piqua Community Foundation and The Scott J. Hinsch and Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Awards, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants/hinsch/.

The Foundation has opened its 2022 scholarship season and welcomes applications from local students.

Scholarships through The Foundation are made possible by fund donors who value continuing education and wish to give back to the community. Each of the scholarships offered is distinct in its guidelines directed by the donor when the fund was established.

Scholarship information is available through local schools’ guidance counselors or by visiting piquacommunityfoundation.org/scholarships. Questions about The Foundation’s scholarship programs may be directed to info@piquacommunityfoundation.org or 937.615.9080.

2021 scholarship winners

The G. William Hartzell Charitable Fund committee of The Piqua Community Foundation on Friday delivered $53,500 in grant awards to 15 organizations that serve Piqua residents. Captured here is the grant award delivery at the Piqua Fire Department in support of the burn training tower project. Pictured, from left to right, are Jim Gray, committee member; Randi Pearson, committee chairman; Chief Brent Pohlschneider; Assistant Chief Timothy Risner; Firefighter/Paramedic Eric Wood; Karen Wendeln, committee member; and Barbara Hartzell, committee member.

The Piqua Community Foundation on Friday awarded G. William Hartzell Community Grants totaling $53,500 to 15 organizations that serve Piqua residents.

The grants were made from the charitable fund established by the late G. William “Bill” Hartzell with a bequest from his estate. This fund also awards college scholarships every spring. The grant awards are unique in the simplicity of the application process and the unrestricted nature of the funds to be spent however best serves the organization’s needs.

The Piqua Fire Department is one of the organizations benefiting from a G. William Hartzell Community Grant this year. This award will increase its ability to safely serve the Piqua community.

“The generous donation from the G. William Hartzell Community Grant will be directed towards the building of a burn training tower,” Assistant Chief Timothy Risner said. “This will prepare our firefighters to better serve our community and help ensure they make it home safely to their families at the end of their shift.”

The organizations receiving 2021 G. William Hartzell Community Grants are:

• CASA/GAL of Miami County, Inc.
• Forest Hill Cemetery & Arboretum
• Friends of Mainstreet Piqua, Inc.
• Friends of the Piqua Public Library
• Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
• Isaiah’s Place Inc.
• Miami County Dental Clinic — Traveling Smiles
• Miami Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America
• Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County
• Piqua Arts Council
• The Piqua Community Foundation — Pitch Piqua
• Piqua Compassion Network
• Piqua Fire Department
• Piqua Parents as Teachers
• The Salvation Army of Piqua

Barbara Hartzell, fund committee member, participated in the grant deliveries and reflected on her late husband’s commitment to the Piqua community.

“Bill loved contributing to organizations who were creating opportunities for Piqua to thrive,” she said. “These organizations are making incredible contributions, and we are glad these awards allow him to continue to be part of Piqua’s future.”

Kathryn Booher, program director for Piqua Parents as Teachers, middle, hugs Barbara Hartzell, G. William Hartzell Charitable Fund committee member, as the fund committee presented checks to 2021 grant recipients Friday. Kimberly Lawson, financial director for Piqua Parents as Teachers, right, read the grant award letter while visiting with other committee members at Piqua Junior High School.

To learn more about the G. William Hartzell Charitable Fund, visit the fund’s page.

The Miami County Fire and Emergency Services Chiefs Association (MCFESCA) – Electric Fire Extinguisher Training System

The Piqua Community Foundation is accepting standard grant applications for its fall grant cycle through September 30.

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.

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

The Piqua Community Foundation’s grant program guidelines and application form can be found by visiting our Grants page. 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.

Charitable organizations that serve Piqua residents are invited to apply for unrestricted funding

the G. William Hartzell Community Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation.

The deadline for applications is August 2.

The awards are made from the charitable fund established by the late G. William “Bill” Hartzell with a bequest from his estate. This fund also awards college scholarships each spring.

The grants are unique in the simplicity of the application process and the unrestricted nature of the funds to be spent however best serves the organization’s needs.

To learn about the grant guidelines and access the application, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/grants/hartzell.