The St. Marys Community Foundation is a public trust fund, founded in 1974. It was started to provide a means for flexible administration and conservation of gifts of money and property from public spirited citizens, corporations or groups. The Internal Revenue Service has designated the St. Marys Community Foundation as a "public charity."

The scope of the Foundation includes every aspect of St. Marys and the surrounding area's vitality. The Foundation is aware of the social needs of the community. The Foundation serves to distribute funds to help the community meet religious, scientific, literary, educational, recreational and charitable goals.

As a donor to the Foundation you can share in the goal of making our community a better place to live for all citizens. The Foundation also provides a way for your family's name to live on forever.

1. Permanent preservation of the principle of charitable gifts.
2. Securing funds to help the community grow.
3. Opportunity to devote large and small gifts and estates for the good of the community.
4. Creation of a better and broader community spirit.
5. Provide for the wise distribution of gifts.
6. Flexibility in the meeting of future needs.
7. Provide means by which the entire community can participate.
8. Assist donors in carrying out their charitable intent in the most effective way possible.
9. Gifts made to the Foundation, [501 (c) (3)] charity, qualify for maximum deductibility for income, gift, and estate tax purposes.

The Spring Street Journal. News Story/Pictures

Ned E & Doris Lawler Scholarship (1) ~ $3,000
Study Education, Horticulture/Floriculture, Home Economics, Human Ecology or Engineering

The St. Marys Community Foundation is a public charity where gifts can be deposited to do good deeds in the St. Marys community. Some examples of funds already operating are:

Children's Toyland Fund -- funds are used to purchase gifts for children during hospitalization at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital.

The Maria Sebestyen & Elizabeth Rohr Fund -- Income is used to provide assistance for deserving and needy people in the community.

Goodfellows Fund -- funds are used to provide Christmas items for the needy.

Memorial Bridge Fund -- funds are used to maintain the bridge in Memorial Park.

K.C. Geiger Park Improvement Fund -- funds are used for the maintenance and improvement of the K.C. Geiger Park.

Veterans Walk Fund -- funds are used to maintain the Veterans Sidewalk in Memorial Park.

Mary Hartman & Lois Brewer Library Funds -- income is used to purchase library books for East School and McBroom School Libraries.

Edith Stoker Fund -- income is used to assist the indigent of the city of St. Marys.

Loan and Scholarship Funds -- there are numerous funds set up to grant loans and scholarships to students graduating from Memorial High School, who want to continue their education.

Community Gifts Fund -- fund is set up to receive gifts, large and small, as memorials or to honor someone on a special occasion. These funds are used for charitable purposes in our community.

Wallpaper Project -- funds are used to support the goals of preserving and sharing the Auglaize County area's history.

Depot Renovation -- funds are to be used to relocate and renovate the old Nickle Plate railroad depot.

Please contact Darwin D. Zeigler at smcf@bright.net if you would like to set up a fund for a special purpose or to make a donation to a fund that already exists.

You may make a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation for either general or specific purposes. You can select a favorite charity for you donation and know that your gift will continue doing good in the St. Marys community forever. Bequests and gifts, large or small, are solicited from people who want the insurance of reliable and efficient management of their funds now and in the future.

You may also place funds or securities in a trust and retain control of the income for you and/or your spouse's lifetime. The remainder could be used for specific charitable, benevolent or educational purposes afterward.

Many of these donations can take advantage of income tax savings.

For additional information and details, you should contact an attorney, an accountant, financial planner or The St. Marys Community Foundation. Discussion with the Foundation are held in confidence and are free of any obligation.

There are no regular office hours for the St. Marys Community Foundation. If you would like to apply for a loan or scholarship, make a donation or have questions, you can contact Administrator Darwin Zeigler by e-mail at: