| Mid Ohio Marine Foundation |
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| The Mid Ohio Marine Foundation: It’s History, Mission and Activities The Mid Ohio Marine Foundation is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation formed in June 2005 by a group of former United States Marines for the express purpose of generating and disbursing funds to provide for the needs of the Marines of Company L/3/25 returning from service in Iraq, where the unit suffered heavy casualties and many wounds. The Foundation’s original, modest goal was to fund the cost for every Lima Company Marine and their spouse or date to attend the 2005 Marine Corps Birthday Ball and spend one night as its guest at the local hotel hosting the traditional event. As the movement gained momentum and the unit returned from Iraq, it was apparent that there were far greater and longer-lasting needs. The Foundation has since provided significant financial assistance to the Marines of Lima Company and their families for a wide-ranging variety of needs. The Foundation has also expanded its mission to include necessary financial assistance to other Marines and former Marines in the mid Ohio area, actively supports the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Program and has financed a number of visits to government hospitals to show support and strengthen morale. The mission continues. The Foundation is looking ahead to providing scholarships and other worthy and valuable programs of assistance. The Foundation provided major funding of a monument dedicated to all the Marines of Company L/3/25 who were deployed to Iraq. This impressive granite and marble monument is set in a garden area with surrounding walkways, marble benches and illuminated flag poles displaying the colors of the United States of America, the 25th Battalion USMCR and the traditional MIA/POW flag. The names of fallen Marines are identified with a gold star. The names of all wounded Marines are identified with a Purple Heart insignia. This striking memorial is erected outside the Navy & Marine Corps Reserve Forces Training Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Foundation also provided major funding of marble markers for 58 fallen Marines at the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial in Sunbury, Ohio. This impressive memorial is recognized as the Official State Memorial for Ohio for all those brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Most recently, the Foundation provided major funding for The Lima Company Memorial: “A Remembrance of Spirit and Choice” exhibit featuring life size portraits of the 22 Marines and one Navy Corpsman who lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. This traveling exhibit was displayed in the Ohio Statehouse rotunda for a number of months and is currently on display in the National museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico , Va The Foundation has been granted tax-exempt status under the provisions of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to the Foundation are fully tax deductible. The Foundation is governed by an eight person Board of Directors including: the current Commandant and two (2) Past Commandants of the local Marine Corps League Detachment; the Judge Advocate of the Department of Ohio, Marine Corps League; a Columbus, Ohio police sergeant and former Master Sergeant of Lima Company; a local banker and former NCO of Lima Company; a recently retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. and former Commanding Officer of Lima Company; a former Marine Corporal, and a local businessman whose well known company is an ongoing major supporter. In addition, the Board is advised by another former Marine officer and prominent local attorney. None of the Board members receive any form of compensation. |
| Board of Trustees Jim Bannister, Chairman John Maurer, Vice Chairman Joe Hart, President Stephen Walter, Secretary/Treasurer Darris Blackford, Trustee David Baran, Trustee Gordon Kaylor, Trustee Lowell Rector, Trustee Advisory Board Major Jonathan Holder, I&! Staff, Company L/3/25 1stSgt Stephen Sullivan, I&I Staff, Company L/3/25 CWO Mary Santiago-Foos, Company L/3/25 Company Commander, Company I/3/25 1stSgt, Company L/3/25 |