LOUDONVILLE — The Mohican Area Community Fund (MACF) announced Tuesday that it has surpassed its 2018 “Have a Mohican Heart” campaign goal of $90,000, the largest in its 42-year history, by raising $90,026.
The goal was achieved thanks to a $500 check presented by Loudonville Steve Stricklen at the regular meeting of the Loudonville Village Council on Monday night.
The final tally for the campaign will be announced in late March.
Donations to the 2018 campaign will fund a record 35 local non-profit organizations that support academic excellence in our schools, the arts, health and family services, youth sports, recreation and scouting activities, as well as efforts to preserve and promote our community’s historic past.
“This is the eighth straight year that MACF has met and exceeded its goal,” said Brian Hartzell, MACF president and campaign chairman. “Since 1974, our Board of Trustees has turned to the Mohican community to raise these funds from local businesses, individuals, service and civic groups, veteran, youth and church organizations, area foundations and others whose lives are touched by the services provided by these charities.
“We are grateful to each and every donor for their support.”
Organizers said the key to the campaign’s success was the support of the employees of Farmers and Savings Bank, Loudonville/Perrysville Exempt School District, Cowen Truck Line, Loudonville Farmers Equity, Mansfield Plumbing Products, The Step2 Company, PV Communications, Truax Printing, the Hugo and Mabel Young Foundation, Rotary Club of Loudonville, and dozens of other local businesses, service clubs and nearly 200 individual donors.
“This campaign began last July with our 4th annual MACF Health & Agency Fair at the Loudonville Public Library,” Hartzell said. “In the months that followed, thanks to many generous donors, we matched or surpassed our campaign milestones and expanded our expectations.
“Towards the end of the campaign, we maintained our optimism and faith in our donors and the community at-large. We never gave up.”
This year’s list of 35 partner agencies includes the American Red Cross, Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Ashland Christian Health Center, Ashland County Cancer Association, Ashland County Council on Aging, Ashland Parenting Plus, Bike 4 Kids, Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts of Loudonville/Perrysville, Budd Partners in Education, Catholic Charities Community Services, Community Help Mission, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, Helping Hand Services, Hospice of North Central Ohio, Loudonville Church Women, Loudonville Free Street Fair, Loudonville Stingrays Swim Team, Loudonville Theater & Arts Committee, Loudonville Youth Football, Loudonville Youth, Inc., Loudonville Youth Soccer Association, Loudonville/Perrysville Academic Boosters, Loudonville/Perrysville Music Boosters, Loudonville/Perrysville School/Community Liaisons, McMullen Parents Association, Meals on Wheels, Mohican Historical Society, Mohican School in the Out-of- Doors, Olive Tree Afterschool Care, Perrysville Association of Churches, Perrysville Economic Development Inc., Perrysville Youth Association, Safe Haven, The Salvation Army/Loudonville Service Unit, and Friends of Wolf Creek Grist Mill.
Applications for the 2019 MACF “Have a Mohican Heart!” Campaign will be solicited starting Feb. 15. An announcement of the Board’s decision of which charities are chosen and how much each will receive from MACF in 2019 will follow later this spring.
MACF’s service area encompasses the villages of Loudonville and Perrysville, southern Ashland County, and adjacent townships in Holmes, Knox and Richland Counties. It also funds agencies with operations elsewhere that provide significant services to residents who live within the MACF service area. To learn more about MACF, its mission and how you can help, visit www.mohicanacf.org.
