“The golfers are wonderful, but they pretty much just pay for their golfing, their lunch and that type of thing,” said Bev Beery of Family Promise of Lima-Allen County. “But if we can get sponsors, that's what we really need. We need sponsors. We start at $150, which a lot of people say, ‘only $150,’ and then it kind of moves up—$300, $500 and up. But our sponsors are our main supporters that help us with the fundraising.”

Speaking recently to the Lima Rotary Club, the founders of Warriors Way shared updates on their program’s progress. In 2024 alone, the organization served 780 individuals through various therapeutic activities designed to support veterans’ transition back into civilian life.

“We challenged our senior DECA members to create micro business plans,” Gipson said. “We presented them to ‘sharks’ who approved the ideas, and then we turned them into real products—like dog treats, hair combs, car air fresheners—and sold them at the event to the community.”

Local nonprofits had the opportunity to pitch their programs in hopes of securing grant funding, with this year’s focus on youth mental health. Activate Allen County and the Mental Health Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin counties, along with several sponsors, provided funding for the top three organizations, which were selected by audience members.