It has been nearly two years since Licking County and communities across America have had to change and adapt to a new everyday life. Looking back at those times, what Licking County Foundation remembers best is not how fast we learned how to meet over Zoom, but how quickly nonprofit organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and donors came together to begin solving a problem whose impact was yet unseen. Coming together to solve problems and fund solutions is the perfect demonstration of compassion in action – also known as philanthropy.

The word “philanthropy” means “love of humanity.” When COVID-19 came to Central Ohio, Licking County Foundation partnered with United Way of Licking County to rally donors to help families whose basic needs took a direct hit by the pandemic. Licking County citizens demonstrated love for people they would never meet, donating more than $300,000 that was distributed to organizations providing help to individuals and families, many of whom were asking for help for the first time in their lives.

This act of investing in the future and in people you will never know really is an act of love. In 2022 we’ll celebrate six decades of love in action with stories about donors and the impact their philanthropy has had on our community through the years. We’ll introduce you to recent donors and what inspired them – and honor new funds, too. Finally, if you’ve chosen to share your love by making a gift to one of our funds, thank you on behalf of the lives you’ll change. Whether you supported a scholarship that will help a student on a learning or career journey, a project fund that will help complete a community undertaking, or a field of interest fund that supports a cause you care about, you’ve made a difference.

Visit thelcfoundation.org to learn more about our 65th Anniversary celebration, read stories of compassion in action, and connect with us!