Foundation earns ‘Friend of 4-H’ Award

VW independent/submitted information

The Ohio Friend of 4-H Award is designed to recognize a group that supports the Ohio 4-H program in a charitable manner at the county level. This award was presented to the Foundation on March 12 at the Ohio 4-H Conference in Columbus.

The Van Wert County Foundation has been a large part of the integration of new programming, and the support of current programming with the local 4-H program. Through their efforts, the foundation has supported 4-H Camp Scholarship, 4-H Camp Counselor Training, Continuing education for youth livestock and still projects, and the support of a summer intern to give support to the busiest season of the program.

For the past 50 years, the Van Wert County Foundation has supported the Black Inc. Awards, which support the continuing education of youth livestock and still projects in the community. Black Inc. was originally set up as a standalone foundation. Articles of Incorporation show that it was started in July 1945 by LaDoyt G. “LG” Purmort, who owned Meadow Lane Farm on Lincoln Highway across from the former Starr Commonwealth campus. Margaret Jones and M. L. Landis were also original trustees.

The purpose of the Black Inc. awards was “to promote the general welfare and business acumen of the children of Van Wert County, Ohio, and vicinity, by assisting them jointly and severally in planning, performing, conducting, and continuing in worthwhile juvenile financial projects, including guidance and counsel in the investment of earnings and savings derived therefrom.”

The history of support from the Van Wert County Foundation made them a desired choice as a nomination for the Ohio Friend of 4-H.