(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $544,997 at the November board meeting. This total includes 18 responsive grants, four president’s discretionary grants and 31 donor advised fund grants.

“As we head into giving season, these grants are a reminder that our work would not be possible without the generous local philanthropists in Hancock County,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation. “We are proud to partner with donors and these local nonprofit organizations to help improve the quality of life for all in Hancock County.”

Responsive Grants

Responsive grants are awarded to organizations to meet community needs and match the goals, objectives and priorities of The Community Foundation. Grantseekers must submit a written grant proposal for consideration. Applications are reviewed four times per year.

Funding for responsive grants comes from our Community’s Endowment, made up of Funds for the Common Good and Field of Interest Funds established by donors at The Community Foundation. The following responsive grants were approved by the Board of Trustees, made possible by our Community’s Endowment:

• Blanchard Valley Center was awarded $10,683 for literacy and evaluation kits for parents and youth with developmental disabilities.
• City Mission of Findlay was awarded $250,000 to move the women and children’s emergency shelter offsite to Martha’s House in order to make room for a low-barrier shelter and to serve additional clients due to increased need.
• Cory-Rawson Local Schools was awarded $231 for fishing equipment for research activities in the high school environmental science class.
• Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded $10,000 to pilot a professional services assistance program for local nonprofit organizations.
• Findlay-Hancock County Public Library was awarded $10,141 for library improvement projects and Read for LIFE language books.
• Fort Findlay Playhouse was awarded $1,000 for the radio production of It’s A Wonderful Life as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.
• Hancock County ADAMHS Board was awarded two grants:
  • $35,000 for architectural drawings for a capital project.
  • $7,000 to leverage Cultural Humility and Health Equity Delegation’s Train the Trainer strategy.
• Hancock Public Health was awarded two grants:
  • $2,500 for a Be Healthy Now brand refresh.
  • $907 to support local youth with diabetes.
• Miracle League of Findlay was awarded $551 for recreational programming for individuals with disabilities.
• Raise the Bar of Hancock County was awarded $6,000 for Leader In Me action team projects in local schools.
• Riverdale Local Schools was awarded $1,000 for a K-5 STEM Lego project and other content strategies.
• Van Buren Local Schools was awarded $1,299 for the Founder’s Wall service-learning project.
• West Ohio Food Bank was awarded $3,129 for food boxes and hygiene items for local senior citizens.

President’s Discretionary Grants

President’s Discretionary grants fund urgent or special requests outside The Community Foundation’s various grant cycles. The President of The Community Foundation is allocated an amount each year. These grants typically do not individually exceed $5,000. The following discretionary grants were awarded:

• Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County was awarded $5,000 to expand Financial Opportunity Center services.
• City Mission of Findlay was awarded $5,000 to operate a warming center through the winter for 2023-2024.
• HHWP Community Action Commission was awarded $5,000 for transportation to The Family Center through HATS.
• West Ohio Food Bank was awarded $5,000 to pilot a food pantry at Cory-Rawson and expand the Glenwood Middle School and Bigelow Intermediate School pantries.

Donor Advised Grants

Donor Advised funds are established by individuals, families or corporations to recommend grants to nonprofits they’re passionate about. The nonprofits are vetted by the Foundation and grants are awarded. The following donor advised grants were awarded:

• 31 grants to 28 organizations totaling $142,350.

Findlay High School quarterback Ryan Montgomery is a finalist for the 2023 Ohio Mr. Football Award.

This season, Montgomery finished 228-of-333 for 3,018 yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

That included a performance of 32-of-37 for 491 yards with 6 TDs at Sylvania Southview, breaking the single-game yardage record held by Ben Roethlisberger in 2000.

We spoke with coach Stefan Adams about Ryan being up for Mr. Football. 

In 2021 as a freshman, Montgomery was 173-of-299 for 2,420 yards with 29 TDs and 7 INTs.

As a sophomore in 2022, he was 172-of-285 for 1,787 yards and 22 TDs and 5 INTs.

Findlay is 22-13 in his three playoff seasons so far with him as the quarterback.

Montgomery, who also won the QB accuracy challenge at Under Armour’s Future 50 camp in June, is the younger brother of Luke, also a high-profile recruit now at Ohio State as an offensive lineman.

Montgomery is the nation’s No. 15 quarterback and No. 214 overall recruit in the class of 2025, per the 247Sports rankings.

He is the No. 9 ranked junior in Ohio and has full scholarship offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina.

The winner will be announced November, 30th in Canton prior to the start of the OHSAA football state championships. See a list of all the finalists here. 

Below is video of Ryan running in a score against Central Catholic in the season opener.

(From the Hancock County Veterans Service Office)

The below information was just released from the VA and we are looking for help spreading the good news so veterans in financial hardship can take advantage of this opportunity.  – Nichole Coleman

Helping Veterans and their families stay in their homes is a top priority at VA. Over the past year, we’ve been able to help more than 145,000 Veterans and their families retain their homes and avoid foreclosure. Even in the dynamic housing market of the last several years, rates of foreclosures of VA-backed mortgages are among the lowest in the country. And at the same time, we know that there are still Veterans struggling to make their payments.  

To ensure these Veterans can stay in their homes, we are taking two steps:  

We are calling on mortgage servicers to pause foreclosures of VA-guaranteed loans through May 31, 2024. During this pause we will work with servicers on workable home retention solutions for Veterans; and 

We are extending the COVID-19 Refund Modification program through May 31, 2024. This extension will allow Veterans to obtain a zero-interest, deferred-payment loan from VA to cover missed payments and modify their existing VA-guaranteed loan to achieve affordable monthly payments for the duration of this extension.  

By pausing foreclosures and extending the COVID-19 Refund Modification program, we can continue assisting Veterans with their loans while we launch our newest home retention option, the VA Servicing Purchase (VASP) program. Through VASP, VA will purchase defaulted VA loans from mortgage servicers, modify the loans, and then place them in the VA-owned portfolio as direct loans. This will empower us to work with Veterans experiencing severe financial hardship to adjust their loans – and their monthly payments – so they can keep their homes. 

We want every Veteran with a loan to know that VA is here to help – and we encourage any Veteran who is struggling with making their payments to visit us at www.va.gov/housing-assistance or call us at 877-827-3702. We have loan technicians working with Veterans to help them stay in their homes, including discussing available home retention options such as repayment plans, special forbearance, loan modification, and more. And we will continue to actively review our portfolio of loans and work with loan servicers to do everything in our power to keep all Veterans and survivors with a VA-guaranteed mortgage in their homes.  

Nichole Coleman, CVSO

Executive Director, Hancock County Veterans Services Office

1100 East Main Cross, Suite 123, Findlay OH 45840

The Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation’s North Pole Express is a holiday tradition for many people and this year it is once again part of the 2023 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail.

This is the third year that the North Pole Express will be a featured display on the Holiday Lights Trail.

Jim Gabriel, Vice President of the NWORRP, considers their North Pole Express Findlay’s premier holiday light display.

The North Pole Express runs on Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays from Friday, November 24^th through Saturday, December 30^th. It’s closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Learn more about Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation by clicking here.

They are located at 12505 County Road 99 in Findlay.

(From Putnam County Habitat for Humanity)

On Sunday, November 26, the 14th Putnam County Habitat for Humanity (PCHFH) home will be dedicated at 307 West Oak Street, Continental. The public is invited to attend an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. During that time, visitors can tour the new home and  appreciate the fine craftsmanship skills employed by PCHFH volunteers and local industry. The dedication ceremony will follow at 4:30 p.m.

In July, the Dudgeon family broke ground on the 14th Putnam County Habitat for Humanity home. The family partnered in the construction of this house which will be dedicated on November 26.

Since its inception in 2009, PCHFH has built 12 new homes and rebuilt an entire house. Homeowners purchase their homes through low- or zero-interest mortgages provided by PCHFH or through USDA direct loans. Critical home repair projects completed by Putnam County Habitat for Humanity include bathroom remodels, roof repairs and replacements, electrical repairs, window replacements, wheelchair ramp additions and replacements.

Visit www.putnamohhabitat.org to find out more about PCHFH, call 419-523-9621 or visit the PCHFH office at 150 N. Oak Street, Ottawa, OH 45875 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods each year. As Ohioans and our visitors travel throughout the state, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will be enforcing safe driving.

Troopers will be highly visible and cracking down on impaired drivers and those failing to wear a safety belt from Wednesday, November 22 at midnight through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 26.

“Driving sober, belted, and focused on the road can help prevent senseless tragedies,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I urge everyone to drive responsibly and to buckle up.”

Many Thanksgiving celebrations involve alcohol, which increases the possibility of impaired driving. During last year’s Thanksgiving reporting period, which ran from November 23 – 27, there were 18 fatal crashes in which 19 people were killed, including four instances of pedestrians being struck. Of the 14 crashes where pedestrians were not involved, safety belts were available but not used in 11 of the incidents. Within the same reporting period, alcohol and/or drugs were linked to 12 of the fatal crashes.

“We hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “When you designate a sober driver, put your phone down and properly use safety belts, you are helping save lives.”

The Patrol also made 278 arrests for impaired driving and assisted 1,534 motorists.

Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists.

https://twitter.com/OSHP/status/1727009067518845018

(From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Putnam County Police Chiefs Association are hosting the 6th Putnam County “Shop with the Cop” on December 9, 2023. This program is designed to help children in Putnam County from disadvantaged homes or have witnessed an event in their family setting that may have left them with a negative image of law enforcement. Our objective is to create positive ties between children and law enforcement in Putnam County and to give them a little brighter Christmas.

Applications are submitted from Putnam County Schools. Thank you to all the teachers, guidance counselors and principals that took the time to submit applications for your students, without you our program would not be a success.

***The application period is closed for 2023 ***

Due to the overwhelming number of applications that we have received this year we are asking for monetary donations from our community to help assist in our objective. We will also accept sealed refreshments or snacks for the event. Please message our Facebook page with any questions on how to donate. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

The Findlay Fire Department is sharing some Thanksgiving safety tips.

Inspector Eric Wilkins says cooking is the number one cause of house fires and more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year.

While you’re cooking, stay in the kitchen and remain alert, and if you’re baking or roasting something be sure to check it regularly.

Keep anything flammable away from the stove like oven mitts and paper towels.

If you use a turkey fryer to prepare your turkey, make sure the turkey is completely thawed, as frozen turkeys and hot oil do not mix well at all.

Also, be sure not to overfill your turkey fryer and to keep it at least ten feet away from any structures.

Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency.

“And don’t hesitate to call the fire department, that’s what we’re here for,” Wilkins said.

Late Monday, State Route 568 reopened from Bright Road to County Road 236 after being closed for construction of the pedestrian bridge portion of the Blanchard River Greenway Trail extension.

The City of Findlay says details of the ribbon cutting for the trail extension are forthcoming.

The new shared-use path starts at the existing Greenway Trail on East Main Cross Street and extends eastward along State Route 568 towards the County Road 236 shared-use path.

The new path goes under the Bright Road overpass, turns south towards State Route 568 and then turns back to the east along State Route 568.

At the Blanchard River, a new pedestrian bridge has been built just north of the existing bridge to get users across the Blanchard River.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is excited to show off its newly renovated offices to the public.

The Community Foundation posted the following to its social media.

“We’re thrilled to announce that our renovated office is OPEN in Suite 207! Save the date to see our new space on December 7 at our Holiday Open House. Thank you for your patience during construction over the past several months.”

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is located at 101 West Sandusky Street in Findlay, Suite 207.