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The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc |
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The Ohio
Association of Garden Clubs has always been fortunate to
count on the dedicated
support of members statewide for many
special projects over the years. As opportunities arose, these special projects were supported by OAGC’s
members, clubs and regions alike.
Ongoing Projects:
OAGC Foundation Inc.
The
OAGC Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity that was
established in 1984 to help carry out educational and
charitable activities of The Association. The Foundation
annually awards scholarships to select
horticulture/floriculture students attending an Ohio
college, university or technical school. It also provides
funding through grants for OAGC Inc. publications and
special projects endorsed by OAGC Inc. Monies are raised by:
donations from clubs, members and non-members; deferred
gifts; memorial gifts; incremental gifts; special gifts;
becoming an OAGC Life Patron (through a contribution of
$500); fundraisers, etc.
A Life Patron is one who makes a one-time donation of $500
or more to the OAGC Foundation. The donor may designate to
which fund the donation is directed. Life Patrons
automatically become Life Members of OAGC, Inc., are
recognized at convention, recognized in The Garden Path and
receive a subscription to The Garden Path for life.
The OAGC Foundation accepts contributions to five
restricted funds: General Fund, Mohican School in the
Out-of-Doors Fund, Nature and Conservation Fund, Scholarship
Fund and Wahkeena Nature Preserve Fund. Additionally, the
OAGC Foundation accepts donations to temporarily restricted
funds as needs arise.
General Fund
The OAGC Foundation’s General Fund supports state awards and
the Foundation’s operating expenses. The Ohio Association of
Garden Clubs, Inc. bestows special awards for worthy
individuals or clubs at the annual convention. A monetary
sum of $2500 or more must be given to the OAGC Foundation in
order to create a named award.
Mohican School in the Out-of-Doors Fund
Mohican School is located south of Mansfield, Ohio in
Richland County. The school provides a resident, outdoor,
environmental education program enriching all phases of
elementary and middle school curriculum. Three, four and
five day sessions are offered to schools all year round. The
program is interdisciplinary with emphasis on
experience-centered education. Many grade school children,
along with their teachers, spend time at the school in an
atmosphere where they can gain positive educational
experience in an outdoor setting. The temporarily restricted
fund was set up in 2009 to assist Mohican in the building of
an on-site pond. This pond will be used as an outdoor lab.
Nature and Conservation Fund
The Nature and Conservation Fund supports projects dedicated
to the environment and all its natural resources.
Wahkeena State Nature Preserve Funds
Wahkeena Nature Preserve is
located five miles south of Lancaster, Ohio in Fairfield
County and is owned and managed by the Ohio Historical
Society. Mrs. Carmen Warner, who bought Wahkeena in the
1930s as a rundown hill farm and turned it into an oasis of
beauty, was a member of OAGC. She was actively interested in
nature and conservation and established OAGC’s annual Nature
Study Camp (renamed Nature Study Retreat). An agreement was
drawn up between the Ohio Historical Society (OHS), as per
Mrs. Warner’s will and OAGC. This agreement with OHS allowed
for donations collected for Wahkeena by OAGC to be given to
OHS. OHS would invest and administer the OAGC Wahkeena Fund
for use for educational purposes. The preserve is open to
the general public and OAGC garden club members are admitted
free of charge by showing their membership card. An on-site
curator is available to answer questions and give tours.
The Foundation has two Temporarily Restricted Funds for
Wahkeena. Following the passing of OAGC state past president
Sarah Budnick, the Sarah Budnick Memorial Fund was created.
Monies in this fund assist school field trip groups with
transportation expenses. Due to the weakened economy and
state cutbacks, in 2009 the Wahkeena Emergency Fund was
established to assist with operational expenses with hope of
avoiding site closure.
Scholarship Fund
Currently (2010), the OAGC Foundation offers three
scholarships. One for an incoming college freshman; one for
an upperclassman; and one for a OSU Agricultural Technical
Institute student. Students must be enrolled in an
accredited school in a horticultural related field. Click
here for
The scholarship
application form
The Nature Study Retreat Junior Camper Scholarships was
established in 2009. Any junior (under the age of 18)
attending Nature Study Retreat for the first time may apply
for scholarship assistance by contacting the current Nature
Study Retreat chair who will forward the request to the
Foundation’s Development Director
~
Completed Projects:
Johnny Appleseed Highway Fund
In 1950, the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs joined the State Highway Department to beautify
and soften the impact of Ohio’s developing highways. They focused on roadside plantings of
crabapples, native trees and shrubs to accentuate scenic views, landscapes, and points of interest along
the routes. Because the heart of the project reflected the lifelong efforts of one early American who
traveled and planted along many of Ohio’s traces, trails, and streams, if was fittingly dedicated, “The
Johnny Appleseed Memorial Highway” by the state of Ohio.
Victor H. Ries Fellowship Fund
In 1956, an endowment fund was established at The Ohio State University to honor OAGC’s
founder Professor Victor H. Ries for his guidance in organizing OAGC. The income generated by this
fund is used for fellowship support of worthy graduate students to further their education in Floriculture
and Ornamental Horticulture. The initial goal of $40,000 was met in 1965 through the contributions of
the membership and Ohio State University administrates this fellowship.
OAGC Horticulture Scholarship
This scholarship fund was started in 1977 by OAGC President, Mrs. Nadine (Quentin) Elder
with the goal of providing an annual scholarship for an Ohio State University Horticulture student. The
initial goal of $10,000 was met by January 1984 and Ohio State University administrates this annual
scholarship.
Garden for the Senses, Wright State University
Ground breaking on this five acre garden, located at the Wright State University near Dayton,
Ohio, took place in 1979. Donations for this project funded plantings for the sun-loving garden, bulbs,
wildflowers, perennials, deciduous trees and evergreens. The Garden for the Senses is fully accessible
to anyone with physical handicaps and is a delight for all people, handicapped or not. The gardens are
open to the general public.
Victor H. Ries Memorial Garden
Located along the woodland edge at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, Dayton, OH, this perennial
garden is dedicated to the founder of The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Victor H. Ries.
Ameriflora 1992
AmeriFlora was just one of many United States’ Quincentennial (1492-1992) celebrations held
in 1992. Held in Franklin Park in Columbus, Ohio, the United States hosted its first International Floral
and Garden Festival which ran from April to October 1992. In a show of support for the festival, a
pledge of $25,000 from OAGC was realized. The Garden Gateway, 3525 square feet, installed by
OAGC officers and members was a magnificent exhibit at AmeriFlora.
Mohican School in the Out-of-Doors Education Building
OAGC collected $25,000 to further the dream of an educational building at this outdoor
education facility located near Mansfield, Ohio. The educational building was dedicated in 1996.
Wahkeena Improvement Fund
The Wahkeena Improvement Fund project was established in 1996 by OAGC president Faye
Collins and first vice president Charlene Thornhill to financially support needed repairs and
improvements at the Wahkeena State Nature Preserve. During 1997 repairs were made to three water
ponds and a spillway created by the original owner Carmen Warner.
Regional Public Beautification Project
In 1997, the OAGC executive committee chose to honor different regions for the purpose of
beautifying Ohio with an annual monetary award. These awards were presented to regions, one per
year, at the annual convention. Regions then used the funds to support a regional beautification project.
Salt Fork State Park Cabin Beautification Project
With the support of the Salt Fork State Park Lodge and Conference Center, OAGC members and
friends representing clubs and regions around the state came together the spring of 2010 to beautify
areas around 25 cabins at Salt Fork State Park near Cambridge with plantings. The plantings will be
maintained by the park landscape department.
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