Village House fundraiser focuses on mural of 'UP'

Melissa Baker
·2 min read
The mural in The Village House allows sponsors and donors to have their name painted on a balloon.
The mural in The Village House allows sponsors and donors to have their name painted on a balloon.

FREMONT- A mural inspired by the 2009 Disney movie "Up" is on display at The Village House. The mural is called "Together We Can Lift Our Community."

A mural is displayed each year, from the end of November to the end of December, providing a way to raise funds for The Village House of Northwest Ohio. The nonprofit organization provides court-ordered and other referred supervised visitation or exchange services for a child in Sandusky County.

The "Up" theme is to honor Bob and Charlene Moyer, who have been huge sponsors of The Village House for nine years. Bob’s wife Charlene died in April. Despite his wife's death, Bob remains a big supporter.

Each balloon in the design holding the house in the mural is available to be personalized for a $2,000 donation to the agency. The company or sponsor then will have their name on the balloon and a picture taken with a company link on The Village House website.

“We depend on outside sources for funding,” said Sue Fuller, Village House executive director. “We don’t work here to get rich.”

The Village House has comfortable rooms for parents and children to meet.
The Village House has comfortable rooms for parents and children to meet.

The Village House provides a homey location for children and parents — not a cold, sterile place like many doctors’ offices. Instead, each room has a different theme, and provides books, games, TV, sports, and activities.

This holiday season, Village House also has a Christmas tree so parents who could not be with a child at their own home can meet with the youth on Christmas Day in a secure location with a holiday atmosphere.

There is also a kitchen, which allows parents and children to bake, cook, eat, or just enjoy a meal together.

“We work here to make a differece,” Fuller said. “We also focus on who they are and what they can be.”

The Village House opened in 1995 when Gary Ruggiero wanted to start a halfway house for teenagers. The law would not let him to create his project, so he opened the juvenile court-supervised facility known today as The Village House.

To make be a sponsor, make a donation or volunteer at the village house go to villagehouse.org or call 419-334-4582.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Mural inspired by Disney's "Up" helps raise funds for Village House