“To one way or the other affect others.” That was the purpose of David Rogers as said on his school software to St. Joseph’s School in 1993. In his temporary life, David influenced the lives of many, as evidenced within the tributes paid to him by his highschool and school classmates upon his premature demise on the age of 19 from a congenital coronary heart defect.
This previous December marked the twenty ninth anniversary of David’s demise. In these 29 years, David has continued to affect the lives of others by way of a scholarship fund created in his reminiscence by pals and family. David’s mother and father, Decide Richard Rogers and Sophie Rogers, later moved the scholarship fund to Marion Group Basis, the place it stays as a everlasting legacy to David. The scholarship is awarded to college students who graduate from any Marion County highschool however with particular consideration for college students who’re energetic members of St. Mary Church, the place David attended. Most significantly, the scholarship additionally provides particular consideration to candidates who reveal exemplary character, a requirement essential to David’s mother and father once they established the scholarship.
“By character we merely imply a person who reveals consideration for his/her schoolmates and are appreciated by that group as a genuinely pleasant, courteous, and caring individual, somebody who is just enjoyable to be round,” said Decide Rogers.
David’s exemplary character was evident on the Marion Catholic Excessive College soccer workforce the place he was a pacesetter in each his athletic prowess and as a mannequin pupil. At St. Joseph’s School, the place he had solely simply accomplished his freshman 12 months of soccer, this system created the David Rogers Optimistic Psychological Angle Award to acknowledge gamers on the workforce who exhibited the type of highly effective persona and perspective that David demonstrated. I solely knew David because the son of Wealthy and Sophie, however I want I had recognized him higher. Because the steward of David’s scholarship fund at Marion Group Basis, I one way or the other really feel I do.
College students can now apply for the David Ok. Rogers Memorial Scholarship at Marion Group Basis, in addition to the 146 different scholarship funds out there on the Basis, by finishing a single, frequent on-line software earlier than the deadline of Feb. 15. Lots of our scholarships on the Basis are created by family and friends in reminiscence of family members who’ve gone earlier than us. These endowed scholarships create a everlasting legacy to those folks, and I’ve discovered they function a blessing to the households of these now we have misplaced.
Folks usually ask me if they’ll contribute to an current endowment fund now we have on the Basis, akin to David’s. Sure! In truth, we frequently see a small flurry of donations to specific endowment funds across the time of holidays and birthdays. Giving to an current endowment fund is an excellent option to bear in mind a particular individual. Along with your present by examine or on-line, merely notice the identify of the fund and the individual you want to honor or memorialize. “Gone, however by no means forgotten” is actually true on the Basis.
Along with scholarships, one other approach the Basis helps training is thru our Instructing, Educating, And Classroom Assist (TEACH) Grants Program. Heading into our fourth 12 months for this system, TEACH has already awarded $35,000 for classroom initiatives by Marion Metropolis and County educators. This system is supported by Pillar Credit score Union, the River Valley Academics Fund, the Ray & Charlotte Baldauf Fund, the Dean & Sue Jacob Fund, the Robert & Dorothy Wopat Fund, and several other beneficiant people.
Among the many 38 instructional applications and initiatives which were supported to date is the Household Profession and Group Leaders of America program (FCCLA) at Ridgedale Excessive College. In an effort to assist finish the cycle of poverty, this program provides management alternatives to college students who’re financially or academically in danger. Profession-Primarily based Intervention instructor Lori Grieshop wrote the profitable grant software that awarded her class $2,500 so their new program at Ridgedale might present convention registration charges, workforce polo shirts and blazers that might give the group of scholars an expert have a look at the state FCCLA retreat.
“These at-risk college students have by no means been given the chance to decorate professionally or attend a state-wide convention,” stated Grieshop. “The sensation of pleasure and confidence was palpable among the many college students who attended this 12 months’s retreat in Columbus as they wore their shiny crimson blazers with the FCCLA emblem embroidered on the breast.”
The scholars participated in profession exploration competitions and team-building experiences. As new leaders, the FCCLA college students are beginning initiatives at Ridgedale Excessive College that embrace photo voltaic powered college zone indicators, pupil protected driving practices, and inspiring college students to achieve out for psychological well being wants.
“For You. For Marion. Perpetually.” is the chorus at Marion Group Basis, whose mission is to repeatedly enhance the Marion space group by way of philanthropy, management, and civic engagement. The Basis works laborious to realize its imaginative and prescient of a beneficiant, educated, wholesome, collaborative and vibrant group. By the generosity of our donors, the spirit of individuals like David Rogers, and the innovation of lecturers like Lori Grieshop, we get nearer to that imaginative and prescient every single day.
Dean Jacob is the president & CEO of Marion Group Basis, which celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary in 2023. For extra details about grants and scholarships, or to donate to, or create an endowment fund, go to MarionCommunityFoundation.Org.
