The annual meeting of the Licking County Foundation was recently held to celebrate generosity in our community at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Everett D. Reese Award to Cynthia Menzer for her continuous, compassionate service and dedication to improve lives in this community; and investing her time, treasure and talent in the home she loves. The award was presented by Everett Reese’s great-granddaughter, Sally Heckman. Humble in nature, during her remarks, Cynthia gave credit to the people that have paved the way for philanthropy in Licking County, particularly the Reese family and the powerful legacy of giving that individuals like Everett D. Reese and Gib Reese have left in our community. She also thanked her family for their unwavering support. In closing, Cynthia encouraged the audience of donors and local leaders to continue to give back and make a difference in any way that they can, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
The Everett D. Reese Award was established in 1996 to celebrate philanthropy in our community in the spirit and memory of Everett D. Reese, the founder of Licking County Foundation. The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals like Cynthia Menzer who have led their lives in the spirit of Everett Reese’s sincere and often-repeated invitation, “Let me know if I can do anything for you.” The Foundation’s Director Connie Hawk said, “We are grateful for kind people like Cynthia for her many years of dedicated service. Her efforts will certainly continue to encourage others and enrich our community far into the future.”
Cynthia Menzer moved to Licking County, almost by accident, in 1990 after trying and failing to find a home that had charm and a sense of community while house-hunting in Franklin County. She quickly found Licking County’s abundance of individuals, businesses and nonprofits that make it their mission to build a stronger community. This culture of giving encouraged Cynthia to become involved wherever she could. For almost 30 years, Cynthia has been dedicated to giving back and actively working to make a positive impact on the community.
Cynthia is a lifelong volunteer and is extremely involved throughout Licking County—sharing her time, talent and treasure to ensure that our community continues to succeed. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Licking County Foundation Board and serves on numerous committees at the Foundation. In addition, she serves on the Board of A Call To College, the Steering Committee of the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, and the Annual Fund Committee at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Arts & Technology. She is a past Board Member and Board Chair of The Midland Theatre, The Granville Foundation and The Granville Business and Professional Association. She spent many years as a volunteer for the Granville School District, working her way through the Elementary PTO, Middle School Parents, and the high school’s Music Boosters and academic boosters (ASPIRE). Cynthia is an A Call To College volunteer advisor, helping juniors and seniors at Newark High School navigate the college application process. She also works part time in the research department at White Oak Partners.
