Fun for All was created in response to local feedback that affordable, family-friendly activities were scarce.
From arts and theater to sports and recreation, there’s fun for everyone!
To keep the fun going, the Foundation board launched the Fun for All Fund.
All gifts to the fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 through December 20, 2025.
Since 2023, we’ve partnered with 31 organizations to bring 60+ free events to 40,000 people, half of Hancock County.
From pool days to opera nights, arts and crafts to ice skating, we’re breaking down financial barriers so everyone can enjoy arts, parks, and recreation right here at home.
Your support creates joy, connection, and lasting memories for our community.
Wreaths Across America is a national event whose mission is to REMEMBER the fallen U.S. Veterans, HONOR those who serve our country, and TEACH future generations about the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms.
Join us as we respectfully place approximately 6,500 wreaths on area Veterans’ graves in Hancock County in honor of their service on Saturday, December 13, at 10 a.m.
Participating cemeteries include Arlington, Benton Ridge, Eagle Township, Maple Grove, McComb, North Baltimore, St. Michael’s, and Vanlue Cemeteries.
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President of Garner Trucking, is the coordinator of the Findlay event at Maple Grove Cemetery.
Donations can be made at the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber Foundation for the Hancock County participating cemeteries or you can visit our website (www.hancockveterans.com).
Findlay City Council voted down a proposed loitering ordinance at its Tuesday night meeting.
Several community members have pushed back against the ordinance since it was proposed, saying it threatens the freedom of people to exist in public spaces without fear of being criminalized.
The city said it has received increased complaints regarding loitering in and around parts of downtown, loitering that often includes signs of drug use and other criminal acts.
The city said the intention of the ordinance was to have some control and enforcement of such conduct which currently does not exist in city code.
Below is audio of how the vote went, the text of the ordinance, and video from Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-134
AN ORDINANCE ENACTING REGULATIONS ON UNLAWFUL CONGREGATION.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council for the City of Findlay, Ohio:
WHEREAS, Council for the City of Findlay desires to prohibit lingering in a public place
for an extended period of time without apparent purpose with the intent to deter more
serious criminal acts.
SECTION 1. That effective immediately upon adoption of this Ordinance, the new
regulations on unlawful congregation as attached hereto shall be active and enforced.
SECTION 2: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the earliest
period provided by law.
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to promote public safety and order by prohibiting conduct that
obstructs public ways or facilitates criminal activity, while preserving the constitutional rights of
individuals to move freely, assemble, and engage in lawful activity.
Section 2. Definitions
For purposes of this ordinance:
“Loiter” means to remain in a public place without apparent lawful purpose after being
requested by a law enforcement officer to move along, when such conduct obstructs
pedestrian or vehicular traffic or interferes with lawful business on the premises.
“Public place” means any street, sidewalk, alley, parking lot, or area open to the
general public.
“Obstruct” means to intentionally or recklessly block, hinder, or impede the free
passage of pedestrians or vehicles.
Section 3. Prohibited Conduct
(A) No person shall intentionally or recklessly:
Obstruct the free passage of any other person or vehicle on any public way, sidewalk, or
public place; or
Remain in a public place after being lawfully ordered by a law enforcement officer to
move, when the officer has observed that the person’s conduct:
(a) Is causing or contributing to an obstruction; or
(b) Is reasonably associated with the commission, attempted commission, or
solicitation of a specific unlawful act including but not limited to; prostitution, drug
trafficking, or assault.
(B) No person shall be stopped or ordered to move solely for standing, walking, talking, or
otherwise engaging in lawful behavior in a public place.
Section 4. Law Enforcement Procedures
Before issuing an order to disperse or move along, a law enforcement officer shall:
– Identify themselves and explain the specific conduct observed that constitutes an
obstruction or indicates intent to engage in a specific unlawful act.
The person shall be given a reasonable opportunity to comply before any arrest or
citation is made.
Officers shall document the specific conduct and circumstances leading to the
enforcement action.
Section 5. Penalty
Violation of this ordinance is a minor misdemeanor.
Section 6. Severability
If any portion of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions shall
Funday Sunday is back December 14th from 1:00–3:30 p.m.!
Enjoy hands-on winter fun, an interactive story time by author/illustrator Jane Smith, a visit from Santa, and a Children’s Museum of Findlay pop-up from 1:00–3:30 p.m.!
On Tuesday, December 2, Van Buren Local School District received a $20,000 STEM grant from Pilot Travel Centers at the grand opening of the new facility located at 11471 St. Rt. 613.
Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott, who attended the ceremony to receive the grant, said, “We appreciate the generosity of Pilot Travel Centers to our district. The $20,000 they are providing for STEM-related initiatives will help our students gain a wide variety of experiences as they participate in future projects the grant will fund. We are grateful for the partnership we are developing with Pilot and appreciate all of the support our local businesses provide to our district.”
We also appreciate Mrs. Cassie Schaffer, Director of Teaching and Learning, for writing the grant proposal, which included a student-led project to design the layout of the interior of our newly renovated greenhouse and student-led improvements to the medieval garden between the high school and elementary buildings.
The Hancock Historical Museum is pleased to announce the December Brown Bag Lecture, featuring Dr. Charles “Chuck” Coletta of Bowling Green State University’s Department of Popular Culture. His presentation will explore the enduring legacy of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and the deeper intentions behind director Frank Capra’s beloved film.
Although widely embraced today as a quintessential holiday classic, Capra never meant the film to be viewed solely as a Christmas movie. As his first feature following his World War II service, Capra envisioned it as a tribute to the everyday Americans whose lives, dreams, and quiet determination shape their communities. Both Capra and James Stewart regarded It’s a Wonderful Life as their favorite work. Dr. Coletta’s lecture will trace the origins of Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story and its journey to the screen, highlighting how the film evolved into one of the most cherished seasonal traditions in American culture.
A Cleveland native, Dr. Coletta earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from John Carroll University and his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Since 2000, he has taught courses on television and film studies, contemporary popular literature, and mass media.
The lecture will take place on Thursday, December 4, at noon, at the Hancock Historical Museum, 422 West Sandusky Street, Findlay. Presented by Eastman & Smith, the museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of each month and highlights topics connected to Hancock County and Ohio history. The program is free for museum members and included with regular admission for non-members. No registration is required. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy an engaging hour of history. For more information, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.
Make sure to mark your calendar for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 and return to the Museum for Classic Movie Night featuring It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).
Congratulations to Employees Brooke Coulter and Allison Lentz on their graduation from the Corrections Academy on November 21, 2025!
We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout the academy. This accomplishment reflects their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and public service.
Brooke and Allison will be tremendous assets to our team, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and make a positive impact within our facility and our community.
Please join us in congratulating them on this outstanding achievement!
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $1,262,356.20 at the November board meeting. This total includes 26 responsive grants, four president’s discretionary grants and 89 donor advised fund grants.
“After every board meeting, I am reminded of the generosity of our community and the incredible partners we work with,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “I’m grateful for all of these partners who received grant funding and will now be implementing these projects and programs, as well as the donors whose initial investment in the Foundation makes this important work possible.”
Responsive Grants
Responsive grants are awarded to organizations that meet community needs and match The Community Foundation’s goals and objectives. 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, which comprises 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:
50 North was awarded $75,000 to support the green space expansion project.
Blanchard River Watershed Partnership was awarded $20,116 for an urban prairie pilot project.
Blanchard Valley Center was awarded $10,401 for changing tables in four Findlay City Schools buildings for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Bluffton Lions Club was awarded $50,000 to support an all-inclusive playground.
Challenged Champions was awarded $1,000 to support their strategic planning process.
CHOPIN Hall was awarded $15,000 for improvements to the Community Gardens at The Family Center.
City of Findlay was awarded two grants:
$623 for ornament decoration at November’s ArtWalk.
$2,137 for lighting and decoration in downtown Findlay.
Findlay Fresh Step was awarded $1,618 for hygiene kits.
Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded $1,500 for community-wide mayors’ meetings and community focus groups.
Hancock County Educational Service Center was awarded two grants:
$550 for Project Bridle Buddies.
$2,000 for Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program.
Hancock Historical Museum was awarded $8,386 for an America 250 mural at Brucklacher Park.
Hancock Properties Foundation was awarded two grants:
$13,094 for network infrastructure at The Family Center.
$242,052 for capital improvements at The Family Center.
Mazza Museum was awarded $3,250 for the February Funday Sunday event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation was awarded $4,000 for the Touch A Truck event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services was awarded $489 for a community strangulation training and resources.
Toledo Opera was awarded $10,000 for several events throughout Hancock County as part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
Toledo Zoo was awarded $2,009 for the February Funday Sunday event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
Village of McComb was awarded $1,271 for community beautification projects and fishing equipment for residents to borrow.
Village of Mt. Blanchard was awarded two grants:
$657 for trash receptacles for the Hurricane Park expansion project.
$3,043 for a synthetic ice rink for Christmas in the Village, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
President’s Discretionary Grants
The President’s Discretionary Grants und 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:
This year, TCF staff dedicated the 2025 president’s discretionary funds to show appreciation for those who help others. These grants are dedicated to first responders and veterans. More information on these will be announced soon.
Veteran and First Responder Appreciation for $20,000.
Donor Advised Grants
Individuals, families or corporations establish donor advised funds to recommend grants to nonprofits they’re passionate about. The Foundation vets the nonprofits, and grants are awarded.
89 grants to 72 organizations totaling $761,727.20.
