The Coshocton County Beacon April 1, 2020 | Page 11

April 1, 2020
The Beacon • 11
Coshocton Foundation announces 2 $20,000 grants
T he t r u st ees of t he
Coshocton Foundation have
announced two, $20,000
grants to local organizations
providing local citizens and
small businesses relief from
the economic impact of the
COVID-19 virus. The first
grant, from the Joseph W.,
Fred E. and Helen LeRetil-
ley Joh nston Fu nd , was
awarded to the United Way
of Coshocton County for
their COVID-19 emergency
response fund.
Submitted
The United Way Board
will administer the granting The trustees of the Coshocton
have announced
of funds to local qualifying Foundation
two, $20,000 grants to local
charitable organizations organizations providing local
operating on the front lines citizens and small businesses
from the economic impact
in providing local individu- relief
of the COVID-19 virus.
als and families with assis-
“Mr. Johnston, a long-time
tance in dealing with the
economic challenges pre- automobile dealership owner
sented by them having been i n Coshocton, remai ned
ordered to shelter at home. throughout his life, a cham-
pion of Coshocton County,”
said Bob Pell, the founda-
tion’s executive director. “He
established not only scholar-
ship funds for local students,
but also the largest single
bequest of the Coshocton
Foundation for the benefit of
our community.”
Johnston was named the
1995 winner of the Coshoc-
ton Chamber of Commerce
esteemed Coshocton ia n
award.
The second grant,
f rom the Edwin F. Mul-
ligan Endow ment Fu nd,
was awarded to the Coshoc-
t o n Po r t Au t h o r i t y fo r
their emergency fund. The
Port Authority Board will
ad mi nister the f u nds i n
order to assist local small
business owners with rent
or lease and utilit y pay-
ments, enabling them to
meet their obligations at a
time when their income is
severely restricted due to the
concerted efforts to reduce
exposure to the COVID-19
virus in our community.
“As CEO of Jones Metal
Products, Mr. Mulligan not
only provided employment
for many local individuals,
his com mu nit y involve-
ment continued to his later
years,” Pell said. “He estab-
lished a fund at the Coshoc-
ton Foundation to benefit
local aquatic endeavors, to
memorialize his late wife
Janet, who was a swim-
mer in the Senior Olym-
pics. That fund continues
to this day and has assisted
local pools and swim pro-
grams. Before his death, he
established another fund,
which is being used for this
endeavor, to benef it the
community needs as may be
determined by the Coshoc-
ton Foundation Trustees.”
Mu l l iga n wa s n a me d
Coshoctonian in 1997.  
It i s t h e h o p e of t h e
Coshocton Foundation Trust-
ees, that in announcing these
grants, other community
members who are in a posi-
tion to offer assistance will be
encouraged to also contribute
to these emergency funds.
The Coshocton Founda-
tion was established in 1966
through the Last Will and
Testament of local merchant
Adolph Golden and to-date
has distributed $8.5 mil-
lion in grants to commu-
nity organizations from its
unrestricted fund.
I n
addition, the foundation has
159 restricted funds from
wh ich d ist r ibut ion s a re
made for specific purposes.
More information about the
Coshocton Foundation can
be found at www.coshoc-
tonfoundation.org.
Ridgewood discusses school closure
Ridgewood Local School
District Board of Education
met on March 20. Super-
intendent Mike Masloski
updated the board on the
many unprecedented events
happening in the Ridge-
wood School Dist rict as
directed by the Governor
of Ohio. A resolution was
approved for the Operation
of Schools during the pen-
dency of Executive Order
2020-01D, ODH Director’s
Order regarding the closure
of all K-12 schools in Ohio
and Future Orders requiring
district response. The Trea-
surer’s report was approved
as presented. Several dona-
tions of food, milk and sport
drinks were accepted from
Troyers Builders, Coshoc-
ton Count y Career Cen-
ter, and The Dollar General
Store. A monetary donation
of $100 was approved from
Carol Lawless.
Masloski updated the
board on the deliver y of
meals to students during
the shutdown. March 19
was the first day of delivery
of meals or pick up meals
to st udents. R idgewood
School Bus Drivers with the
assistance of para pros or
other personnel on the bus,
will stop at all student deliv-
ery stops on the afternoon
routes to deliver a breakfast
and lunch meals daily. Over
556 meals were distributed.
All students up to 18 years of
age are eligible for this ser-
vice. Children do not need
to be Ridgewood students to
get these meals. Deliveries
are scheduled daily through
Friday, March 27 and pos-
sibly longe r. Me als a re
also available at the drive
thru circle drive in front of
Ridgewood Middle School
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The children must be in the
vehicle in order to get their
meals. This also covers all
children up to the age of
18 and they do not have to
be students at Ridgewood.
People providing day care
during this time can also
get meals for children. Call
the administrative office for
more information at 740-
545-6354.
Com mendations were
given to all employees and
volunteers of Ridgewood
Local Schools during this
time due to the COVID-19
virus. The public is advised
to contact the school at 740-
545-6354 if you have any
questions and to follow the
Ridgewood School District
website: www.ridgewood.
k12.oh.us for all updated
information. The next board
meeting will be Monday
April 20, at 7 a.m. at the
administrative building, 301
S. Oak St., West Lafayette.
1199 S 2nd Street, Coshocton, OH 43812
740-622-4470
Contract provider for Mental Health & Recovery Services
BF-00474960