Life briefs: AAA endowed fund, Visual Bucket List, Richland Academy, Ashland chorus
New Area Agency on Aging fund will be a catalyst for giving
Jana and Pat Mulherin are providing a pathway for people to donate to the Area Agency on Aging Ohio District 5. They awarded a grant from their Richland County Foundation donor-advised fund to the Area Agency on Aging to establish an agency endowed fund.
“Our philanthropic philosophy is simple; it is about giving back. The endowment fund will be a way for people to donate to the Area Agency on Aging and it will make a difference in our community,” said Jana Mulherin.Pat Mulherin’s grandparents, John and Winnie Mulherin, relocated from Iowa to build their Dairy Queen in Mansfield at the corner of Glessner Avenue and Wood Street in 1948. Later, another DQ store was opened on Ashland Road by the family.To incentivize donors and grow the fund, the Mulherins have offered a $10,000 matching grant through Dec. 31, 2022. Area Agency on Aging Ohio District 5 CEO Duana Patton said the fund will be a catalyst for future gifts.To donate to the Area Agency on Aging Ohio District 5 Fund go to richlandcountyfoundation.org and select the fund from the drop-down box or write a check payable to the Richland County Foundation and note the fund on the memo line.
Visual Bucket List awarded $10,000
Thanks to the communities’ support, Mansfield’s Visual Bucket List Foundation was officially awarded a $10,000 donation from Hamilton Insurance Group. The Visual Bucket List Foundation is a local organization dedicated to providing children who face the onset of severe visual impairment or complete loss of vision with the opportunity to create lasting visual memories.
The $10,000 donation will help provide an additional wish to a child losing their vision. VBLF has sent children on a dinosaur dig in South Dakota, to a meet and greet with the Navy's Blue Angels in Florida, on a private plane to view Christmas lights from the sky, and on a VIP trip to Disney World.
Chirstine Myers, CFO of Hamilton Insurance Group, originally received a $5,000 donation for Vision Bucket List Foundation thanks to a submission process with Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance through their 2022 Make More Happen Awards. A story of their local partnership was featured on the official Make More Happen microsite, agentgiving.com/Hamilton-Insurance-Group, where Hamilton Insurance Group had the opportunity to raise an additional $5,000 by conducting a local awareness campaign for the nonprofit. Together with the community the goal was met, increasing the total donation to $10,000 for Vision Bucket List Foundation.
Classes for senior citizens at Richland Academy
Richland Academy of the Arts will be offering more classes for seniors 60+ than ever before this fall. Classes are weekdays and free, thanks to sponsorship by the Area Agency on Aging. They include group drumming, senior ceramics, beginning acting, guitar/ukulele, keyboarding, studio art, stretch, tap dancing and alternate mediums.For more information on the classes and how to register, call Richland Academy at 419-522-8224 or visit richlandacademy.com.
Ashland Area Chorus announces plans for 2022 fall season
ASHLAND - The Ashland Area Chorus, a community-based mixed choir of 50 singers, has finalized information for its 2022 fall season, including rehearsals, concerts and membership requirements.
Starting Monday, the AAC will rehearse each Monday from 7-8:30 p.m., at room 242 of Ashland University’s Center for the Arts. Led by Ron Blackley, director of choral activities at AU, the chorus will perform a program at the AU Fall Concert on Oct. 23, and participate in the annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 11.
The AAC is open to the entire Ashland community and beyond. Singers have come from Richland, Medina, Wayne, Holmes and Crawford counties as well. Previous choral experience is helpful and encouraged. While there are no strict age limits, singers under 18 must be approved by the director. There is no cost to the singer.
The AAC has performed at regular AU concerts, with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, and for the Ohio Choral Directors Association. Recent appearances have included subscription concerts with the ASO and the summer pops concert in the park.
For further information, please contact Ron Blackley at rblackle@ashland.edu or 419-289-5114.
Nettles named new diversity leader at AU
ASHLAND - Brielle Nettles was recently selected to head diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Ashland University, taking on the position of executive director for diversity, equity and inclusive excellence/special assistant to the president. She officially began her duties Aug. 9.
A proficient and results-driven DEI practitioner, Nettles has begun to sort out some short- and long-term goals for AU to increase diversity and foster inclusiveness among the student body, as well as the faculty and staff.
She has served as the director of student equity and inclusion at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., and as the associate director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center at the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to roles at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Fordham University.
Nettles holds a bachelor’s degree in cultural studies from SUNY Empire State College and a master’s in social work from Fordham University.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: New endowed fund for Area Agency on Agency
