LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Four Allen County organizations are receiving sizable grants from an endowment fund created by the family of longtime community supporters.
The Lima Rescue Mission, Market Street Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army of Lima, and Humane Society of Allen County each received $46,000 from the Warren A. and Mary E. Copeland Fund. The Copelands founded Warren Electric in 1961, and after their daughter passed away in 2023, the family established an endowment at the Lima Community Foundation to support the organizations the couple cared deeply about.
“We want to make sure that we honor the wishes of the donors that set up these funds. They you know, it makes me, I feel really responsible as to carry on their wishes. So we do this and to see the impact that each organization can make in the community, and then we feel a part of that, because we're able to carry on the legacy for the Copeland family,” said Robin Frazier, executive director of the Lima Community Foundation.
For the Lima Rescue Mission, the grant provides flexibility to support several projects.
“Last year, we just used it as in the general budget and helped with the ministry to the homeless men and also to our after school program and camp for kids. Maybe this year, I'll talk with the board, and we'll maybe designate it for a special project. I'll leave that up to them, but, but it's, we are run by donations. So it's, it's a it's a great gift and a great thing to know that it's coming once a year,” said Chuck Ferguson, executive director of the Lima Rescue Mission.
This is the second year of donations from the Copeland Endowment Fund.
