• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion County Youth Foundation

By MarionMade! on July 25, 2017

In 1983, Bob and Paul Ludwig, John Courtright Sr., and Bruce Jenkins established the Marion County Youth Foundation, Inc. to financially assist Marion County youth as they pursued their goals in academic, vocational, and extracurricular activities. Subsequently, they formed a committee to plan the first Charity Celebrity Golf and Dinner Outing as the funding source for the Foundation.  This year, the organization hosted its 35th such event and raised $23,000 for Marion area youth.

The 2017 event was held on June 21 and welcomed 80 golfers and 14 celebrities, including Satch Sullinger, 2010 Naismith National High School Coach of the Year; Terry White, who played football for Ohio State, the Kansas City Chiefs and the former Houston Oilers; Ohio State Basketball star Rick Smith, and Ohio State Volleyball player Layne Dreven.

The Foundation supports local youth through grants, an application for which can be found on the organization’s website, marioncyf.com.

“The purpose of the Marion County Youth Foundation is to support young people in their chosen endeavors,” said President Dick Axline.

The leadership of the Marion County Youth Foundation includes, in addition to Axline: Vice President Steve Conway, Secretary Gary Iams, Treasurer Marge Dunaway and General Counsel Dustin Redmond.

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • ERN helps people succeed in Marion

    The Marion Area Employer Resource Network (ERN) is a low-cost, shared resource to help improve employee retention and productivity. The local ERN Success Coach, Natalie Longmeier, provides on-site coaching to employees of participating businesses through this program of Marion Matters. “The program ultimately helps shape a positive culture that businesses care about their employees,” says […]Read More »
  • Nurse Became Statewide Leader in Helping Survivors of Sexual Assault

    Darlene Schoonard rises to meet challenges. In the 1980s, Schoonard cared for her beloved grandmother while she battling cancer. “My grandmother was very supportive of me becoming a nurse. She would tell everyone that I was going to become a nurse,” Schoonard recalled. After her grandmother died, the busy working mom followed her dream. Schoonard […]Read More »
  • Martha’s Legacy Dances On

    The legacy of Martha Douce began many years ago when her mother took her to a baton camp and an instructor commented on her dance talent. Douce started teaching herself to dance at the age of 12. Her instructor career began at the age of 13 when Douce taught neighbors to dance in the backyard. […]Read More »
  • George King Brown

    Known for his unique way of persuading others to see and believe in his vision, the late George King Brown proudly carried on his family’s tradition of hard work, leadership, and philanthropy throughout his life. Brown had a zest for life that rivaled the Energizer Bunny. He made the most of every day of his […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2026 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image