Carrying Forward the Hartzell Legacy with the G. William Hartzell Community Grants
George William “Bill” Hartzell was more than the leader of a successful company. He lived a life that reflected both work and devotion to community. As part of the Hartzell family, Bill was instrumental in carrying forward the Hartzell family business here in Piqua. He dedicated his career to guiding the company’s growth, but his commitment reached well beyond the workplace. Piqua became the place where he built his life and gave back generously to the people around him.
Following in the footsteps of his parents, Robert and Miriam Hartzell, Bill believed deeply in investing in the place he called home. To carry that tradition forward, he made plans through his estate to establish a permanent fund, The G. William Hartzell Charitable Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation. His foresight created a legacy that continues to strengthen Piqua year after year.
Through the bequest left in his estate, nonprofit organizations that serve Piqua residents are eligible to receive support through the G. William Hartzell Community Grant program. Each summer, organizations that serve the people of Piqua are invited to apply for funding.
A committee gathers each year to review applications and recommend grants. This committee reflects both Bill’s personal and professional worlds, including his wife, Barbara Hartzell, several current and former employees of Hartzell Industries, including Sharon Lyons, Randi M. Pearson, Jim Gray and Connie Atkinson, as well as The Piqua Community Foundation’s first executive director, Karen Wendeln. Together, these individuals carry forward Bill’s vision by determining which organizations will benefit from the resources he so generously set aside for the community.
In 2025, twenty-eight organizations received grants totaling $45,000. These grants are unrestricted, allowing each organization to decide how best to use the funding to further their mission and meet the needs of those they serve.
The organizations receiving 2025 G. William Hartzell Community Grants are:
- Bethany Center
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami Valley
- Brukner Nature Center
- CASA/GAL of Miami County
- Child Care Choices
- Congregation Anshe Emeth
- Crayons to Classrooms
- Elizabeth’s New Life Center
- Friends of the Piqua Parks
- Friends of the Piqua Public Library
- Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
- Isaiah’s Place
- Johnston Farm Friends Council
- Miami County Dental Clinic
- Miami Valley Veterans Museum
- Morgan’s Place Cemetery
- Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County
- Piqua Area Chamber Foundation
- Piqua Community Kitchen
- Piqua Compassion Network
- Piqua Parents as Teachers
- Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development
- SafeHaven
- Troy-Miami County Public Library
- Upper Miami Valley Young Life
- UVCC/Piqua Fire Department
- We Care Arts
- Wilson Health Foundation
Bill Hartzell’s decision to invest in Piqua through his estate plan was both a tribute to his family’s legacy and a gift to future generations. Each year, the impact of his generosity is seen in the organizations that serve Piqua residents. His vision lives on in the work of these nonprofits and in the community for which he so deeply cared for.
To learn more about the G. William Hartzell Community Grants or to explore how you can create your own legacy, visit www.piquacommunityfoundation.org or call The Foundation office at 937.615.9080.