Community raises more than $112,000

NORWALK — Over the last three months, the Norwalk community has leveraged more than $112,000 to permanently benefit the students and faculty at Norwalk City Schools. This was done through the help of thoughtful and generous donors, an Endowment Committee at the school whose mission is to ensure scholarships and faculty grants are available, and a fund strategically located at the Huron County Community Foundation to protect this important asset for the future. A challenge was posed last winter for the Norwalk area community where an anonymous donor pledged a $50,000 match for every dollar given to the Endowment Fund for Norwalk City Schools. With a three-month window to raise funds, the Huron County Community Foundation and Endowment Committee for the school district worked together to get word out quickly. Many individuals and local businesses answered the call, with the Class of 1959 coming in strong and a second anonymous donor giving $25,000 during the last week of February. "We are so proud and grateful to report that not only did we meet our match, but the Norwalk community saw that goal and blew through it," said McKenzie Spriggs, director of development & marketing for the Huron County Community Foundation. "The $112,000+ will be held in an endowment fund that will support the students and faculty today, and of 50 years from now. These dollars support scholarships for seniors, teacher grants to enhance learning, and faculty grants to support creative projects throughout the district. "We would like to give a huge thank you to our community for your generous support and to our media partners for sharing the word." To learn about how endowments can benefit your organization or to give to this fund, visit www.huronccf.org.