Marsh Foundation completes new sign

Van Wert independent/Marsh Foundation information

A long-term goal of The Marsh Foundation finally became a reality when a new sign in front of the administration building was unveiled last week. After months of planning and research by The Marsh staff and Board of Trustees, a new sign was chosen and constructed.

“We’ve known that the sign needed updated and it’s been a long discussion,” said Gerald Thatcher, trustee. In the past couple of years, The Marsh has undergone a rebranding of sorts and among other things, implemented a new logo and revised mission statement. “We really wanted a sign that would reflect the true vision of The Marsh Foundation,” he said.

The final product was a team effort and would not have become a reality without the help of local businesses, Wellman Brothers Inc. and Swan Memorials. “We have a long-standing relationship with Wellman Brothers and are always pleased with their professional work,” said Jeff Grothouse Marsh Foundation executive secretary and treasurer. Wellman Brothers was responsible for the construction and masonry of the sign.

“We do a lot of masonry work, but this was our first actual sign,” said Blair Walls, owner of Wellman Brothers, Inc. “We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

“Swan Memorials was also fabulous to work with,” Grothouse said. “They really worked hard to ensure that the stone was engraved and painted in a professional and timely manner. They did a great job,” he said.

Connie Boley, owner of Swan Memorials, said it was an exciting community project for her team to work on. “The piece of Indiana limestone weighs 3,900 pounds and is the heaviest we’ve ever worked with,” she said.  The engraving alone took 14 hours and the paint used was mixed by hand to ensure the correct color was created.

The sign, which will undoubtedly stand for generations to come, is a symbol of the steadfast history of The Marsh Foundation and the organization’s commitment to helping children and families.

The mission of The Marsh Foundation is to inspire hope, to teach and to care for children and families. For more information about The Marsh, visit www.marshfoundation.org.

The Marsh Foundation Board of Trustees and executives pose in front of the new sign with representatives from Wellman Brothers Inc. and Swan Memorials. Shown are (from the left) Jeff Grothouse, Blair Walls, Connie Boley, Trustees Bob Gamble, Gary Corcoran and Gerald Thatcher, Marsh Foundation School Principal Roger Salisbury and Executive Director of Child and Family Services Kim Mullins. (Marsh Foundation photo)