The Zanesville Foundation was incorporated in 1985 and awarded tax-exempt status from the Internal Service Revenue Service in January 1986.
Our History
In 1985, civic leaders in the area established the Zanesville Development Corporation to generate ideas to enhance the quality of life in Zanesville. The corporation suggested three projects: formation of a community leadership program, an enhanced economic corridor along Interstate 70, and the establishment of a community foundation.
Raymond W. Thomas was one of five people invited to serve on a permanent committee to working to establish a community foundation to serve Zanesville. Ohio University-Zanesville volunteered their Director of Community Education, David Mitzel, as the first executive director for the new foundation.
In Fall 1985, Ray Thomas and David Mitzel attended an annual meeting of the Donor's Forum of Ohio (now Ohio Grantmakers Forum). One session featured a leading expert in the field of community foundations, Eugene Struckhoff, who discouraged communities with a population less than 250,000 from trying to establish a community foundation because he felt they always failed.
Although they listened closely to Struckhoff's presentation, Mitzel says that Ray told him on their travels home that "Mr. Struckhoff does not know our community."
Thomas was elected the founding president of the Zanesville Foundation, which became the Muskingum County Community Foundation in 1988. Thomas was MCCF's president for six years and was recognized as President Emeritus. Since 1995, MCCF has presented The Ray Thomas Community Service Award each year at the Donor Recognition and Awards Celebration, honoring an individual who has given significant time and energy to serving a local organization.
Thomas strongly believed in the strength of his community, and did more than his share to help it grow. Thomas was born in Madison Township in Muskingum County in 1916. He graduated from Salem-Adams High School in Adamsville and served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. In 1949, he started the Ray Thomas Cabinet shop, where he built and installed custom kitchens and built new homes. Thomas opened a lumber shop in 1955 that he eventually expanded and renamed Ray Thomas Lumbertown. He and his wife Eva, whom he married in 1942, lived at the summit of the Stonehenge subdivision, which Thomas developed in 1975.
Thomas was well known for his art in wood, which he never sold. Thomas opted to donate his pieces to local charities, including the Alfred S. Carr Center Cake Auction and the Muskingum County Community Foundation. Some of Thomas' works are still on display at the Community Foundation's office.
In 2002, Thomas and Mitzel co-authored a book honoring Thomas' work, called Artistry, Community, and Legacy. Proceeds from the project benefited local community projects.
Thomas rang the bell at Muskingum County's celebration of the Ohio Bicentennial on July 13, 2003.
Thomas died in June 2006 at the age of 89.
Timeline
The organization's first executive director, David Mitzel, was a loaned executive from Ohio University-Zanesville, where the Foundation's office was initially located. The Board of 25 Founding Trustees elected Ray Thomas as the first President.
The Zanesville Foundation took the name The Muskingum County Community Foundation (MCCF) to reflect a broader mission of serving the entire county.
The Foundation celebrated the contribution of $1 million from the Founding Trustees
The Muskingum County Community Foundation Council was established. The Foundation Council is an organization of young professional volunteers. The Council exists to conduct the annual giving program and special events for the benefit of the Foundation's general fund while acquiring skills that will enhance their abilities to serve the community.
: The inaugural MCCF Groundhog Day Celebration and Auction was held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of The Muskingum County Community Foundation and generate funds for grant and special project programs.
Through the support of The J. William and Mary Helen Straker Charitable Foundation, MCCF moved to its current home at 534 Putnam Avenue, Zanesville.
The Foundation celebrated the success of a $3 million campaign, increasing its assets to more than $12 million.
The Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation was established with surplus funds from the Foundation's Groundhog Day Celebration. 13 students from seven Muskingum County high schools were introduced to the community during the National Philanthropy Day Celebration on November 14, 2000, at the Schultz Mansion in Zanesville.
With the help of Trustee Emeritus J. William Straker, MCCF established the Scholarship Central Access Program to increase access to higher education in Muskingum County by providing students, parents, and residents a one-stop for information about colleges and universities, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities.
MCCF became the fifth of seventy eligible community foundations in Ohio to receive an accreditation of compliance with the Council on Foundation's National Standards for Community Foundations.
Scholarship Central was chosen to lead a GEAR UP Grant, focused on embedding a college-going culture in targeted schools. The program ran through the 2011-2012 school year.
The Foundation purchased Park Central (formerly Armco Park) with funds from an anonymous donation, the Longaberger Quality of Life Endowment, the Muskingum Family Y, and the Foundation's general fund. The Muskingum Family Y currently leases the park to conduct summer programs.
The Foundation partnered with the Muskingum Family Y, Genesis HealthCare System, and Ohio University-Zanesville to develop the Muskingum Recreation Center, which opened for business in May 2014.
MCCF became the first of more than 700 community foundations to achieve reconfirmation of compliance with the Council on Foundation’s National Standards for Community Foundations.
Scholarship Central joined a state-wide federal AmeriCorps grant, placing recent college graduates into area high schools as Ohio College Guides to serve alongside professional counselors as college access advisers through the 2020-2021 school year.
Scholarship Central was chosen to participate in an eight-year federal GEAR UP Grant at Crooksville Exempted Village School District. This specific GEAR UP program was completed at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
The Foundation hosted the Zanesville Prize for Contemporary Ceramics which attracted artists from around the world and offered a prize of $20,000 for Best of Show. The show was held again in 2015 and 2017.
David Mitzel stepped down as Executive Director and 20-year volunteer and former Board Member Brian Wagner was named CEO of the Foundation.
The Board of Trustees of the Foundation approved a strategic plan and MCCF started to focus work around four Cornerstones: Arts & Culture, Wellness & Recreation, Economic Vitality, and Education.
The inaugural Zanesville City Half Marathon raised $30,000 toward improving quality of life in Muskingum County according to Wellness & Recreation Cornerstone objectives.
MCCF establishes the Community Cares Fund to be used in emergency situations. The Fund was used to support local food pantries through the Muskingum County Hunger Network in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In partnership with the J.W. And M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation, MCCF established Make Muskingum Home, a talent attraction and retention program to bring recent college graduates to live and work in Muskingum County. The first awards were announced in January 2023 and honored at the 28th annual MCCF Groundhog Day Celebration.
Enterprise Muskingum, a cradle-to-career approach to achieve equitable outcomes in education, healthcare, and employment in Muskingum County, hired its first Partnership Director and gained partner status within the StriveTogether network. MCCF was a founding partner organization of Enterprise Muskingum and serves as its fiscal agent.