October 17, 2025, Press Release from the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio:
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio hosted their 4th Annual Gala on October 9th, 2025 at Ebenezer Mennonite Church. MHCO's Gala is a fundraising event to benefit the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio Benevolent Care Fund, which provides support to care for older adults who have outlived their resources. This year’s theme was “Aloha Nights”, and guests dressed in their favorite Hawaiian attire.
The local community showed their support for MHCO and the elders that receive services in a big way for this event, with an attendance of just over 150 guests. The event raised nearly $65,000. While a majority of these funds will go toward the Benevolent Care Fund, $23,300 will be used to purchase items from our “Resident Wish List” to help make our residents’ lives brighter. Items that will be purchased as a result of this generosity include a handicapped swing for our Willow Ridge community, a new table-top shuffle board and floor curling game for our Maple Crest community, a Tover Tafel sensory machine for our elders at Mennonite Memorial Home, and beauty shop gift certificates for any of our residents to use.
Daren Lee, Chief Operating Officer shared, “The Gala continues to be a humbling event for MHCO as our community of supporters gathers and shows their support through their gifts of time and financial giving. It is an affirmation of the commitment the community has to the missional work we carry out every day. The funds raised from the Gala are helping further our work toward growing our Benevolent Care fund to help us provide care to Elders who have outlived their financial resources. We are already looking forward to our next event which is only a year away!” The 5th Annual MHCO Fall Gala is planned for Thursday October 8, 2026.
The event was made possible by so many staff members, MHCO residents, sponsors, organizations, and volunteers that we cannot list them all, but some include;
Sponsors: Don & Dima Snyder, Pat & Harlan Basinger, Citrin Cooperman, Hometown Pharmacy, Water Equipment Company, Lorrinda Smith, Smith Realty Professionals, McGohan Brabender, Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, Everence Financial, First National Bank, Symbria, Armor Fire Protection, Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center, Citizens National Bank, GROB Systems, Inc., Patriot Concrete, RCM Architects, Innovative Office Solutions, Family Eye Care Clinic - Bluffton, Croy’s Mowing, MCS Design Company, State Farm Insurance – Jason Cox. and other anonymous donors.
We would also like to thank our emcee for the evening, Greg Denecker. Mr. Denecker kept the guests engaged and made the event fun and entertaining for all!
And of course, we would like to thank all of those who attended the event, gave to our Resident Wish List and bid on auction items in support of our mission. More pictures from this event can be found on our Facebook page.
The Bluffton, Pandora and surrounding communities have continued to show their support and generosity to our mission for over 70 years. MHCO’s Mission Statement is, “We are dedicated to being a Christ-centered community that promotes personal decision making and purposeful living for each older adult served.” If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring or providing prizes for next year’s Gala, please contact Ryan Gathard at 937-683-6540 or at ryan.gathard@bhrc.org.
