Community Roundup: Giving Birthdays adds board members, expands area
Giving Birthdays program adds new board members, expands
FREMONT - Giving Birthdays, Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves Sandusky County, Erie County, Seneca County and Wood County, celebrated its first official year as a registered nonprofit organization and welcomed three new board members in 2023.
The program provides youth in foster or kinship care the opportunity to celebrate their birthday and make a birthday wish. A customized, celebration birthday package is assembled and then delivered to a youth.
Giving Birthdays was launched in 2021 through the Sandusky County Young Professionals Group. In its first year 53 youths received birthday packages. In January 2022 the program merged into Wood County and served a total of 130 youths between the two counties. Then a month later, the program registered as an Ohio nonprofit and recently received 501(c)3 status through the IRS, noted Andrea Gibson, founder and president of the group.
“In 2023 we began celebrations in both Erie County and Seneca County,” Gibson added. “At the end of 2022 we served 180 youth since January of 2021. In 2023, we have already served 53 birthdays (the same number of birthdays we served in all of 2021) and expect to serve over 300 birthdays this year alone”.
The Giving Birthdays Board is made up of nine community members from the three counties being served, including representation from County Job and Family Services, Foster and Kinship Parents, and public and private sectors. In January 2023, the board approved the following slate of officers for additional one-year terms: Andrea Gibson, president; Jeremy Bowling, vice president and secretary; Megan Craun, treasurer. The board also approved new board members to serve three-year terms: Jenni Zaika, Alisha Chamberlain, and Jenn Dirnberg. Additional board members serving a three-year term include Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez, Mel Cook, and Micah Dezanett.
For more information, email Gibson at givingbirthdays@gmail.com.
Historical Society to hold St. Paddy’s Day membership drawing
PORT CLINTON - Catawba Island Historical Society (CIHS) will hold a membership drawing on March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and determine which of its members has “the luck of the Irish”.
Kathie Holbrook, vice president of CIHS, noted, "The drawing provides an extra incentive for people who intended to support the CIHS mission but just haven’t gotten around to writing their membership checks. Those we hear from by March 17 will be included in the 2023 drawing pool.”
The drawing prize will be a $100 gift certificate donated by McCarthy’s Irish Pub at 101 Madison St. More information is also available at catawbaislandhistoricalsociety.com.
ProMedica Physicians welcomes new Certified Nurse Practitioner
FREMONT - ProMedica Physicians welcomes Alexandra Rojas, CNP, who joined the Dr. Hiestand practice at Fremont Internal Meds/Pediatrics, 2575 Hayes Ave., Suite 1.
Rojas began her medical career in high school, volunteering at ProMedica Memorial Hospital, and then continued her education at the University of Toledo where she obtained her bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing. She now has over 600 hours of clinical experience.
Previously, she was an acute care RN at Memorial Hospital for more than eight years. Rojas is bilingual in Spanish so she can cater to Spanish-speaking patients. To schedule an appointment, call 419-332-1551. For more information about ProMedica, visit promedica.org.
PCHS announces Class of 2023 Summa Cum Laude, Top 10
PORT CLINTON - Port Clinton High School announced the top students in the Class of 2023. These students will graduate on May 21 with Summa Cum Laude honors. To earn the designation of Summa Cum Laude, students must have a grade point average of 3.65 or higher and complete 11 or more honor point courses.
Class of 2023 students that have earned Summa Cum Laude honors are: Melissa Ali, Carlie Blaesing, Lydia Boykin, Parker Fanning, Olivia Felbinger, Claudia Gillum, Emily Holcomb, Isabella Marvicsin, Carly Robinette, Addisynne Siefke, Grace Smothers, Paige Smothers, Payton Vargas, Cadence Wallace and Jacob Weldon.
The Top Ten Students in the Class of 2023 that will represent PCHS at the Ottawa County Top Ten Banquet are: Carlie Blaesing, Olivia Felbinger, Claudia Gillum, Emily Holcomb, Addisynne Siefke, Paige Smothers, Grace Smothers, Payton Vargas, Cadence Wallace, and Jacob Weldon.
See more good news from Port Clinton Schools at www.pccsd.net
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Community Roundup: Giving Birthdays adds board members, expands area
