Estate of Twin Art Teachers Enables Enterprises to Prosper
During their 50+ year tenure at Warren Local Schools, Sandra and Sylvia Young touched the lives of thousands. Now their legacy continues by supporting six Washington County nonprofits in perpetuity.
Named in honor of their love for Star Trek, the Sandra Lee Young and Sylvia Lee Young Enterprise Fund was established at Marietta Community Foundation through their estate. The Fund will provide ongoing support to causes near and dear to them.
As directed, the fund will annually allocate fixed-percentage distributions to the following agencies based on the Foundation’s spending policy of 5% of a three-year average:
Marietta Fire Department to purchase and maintain equipment for firemen and emergency medical technicians – 30%
Marietta Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Units to purchase, train, and equip K-9 officers– 20%
Marietta College Legacy Library to preserve and maintain its permanent collections – 30%
Mid-Ohio Valley Players to maintain, repair, and renovate its building – 10%
Campus Martius Museum to maintain its buildings and collections – 10%
Organizations were notified in 2022 of their selection and the percentage allocated to them. However, they didn’t realize that their percentage could equal such substantial funding — more than $150,000 is being disbursed this year.
Representatives from each recipient organization shared words of gratitude in response:
Chief C.W. Durham,
Marietta Fire Department
“On behalf of the Marietta Fire Department, we are honored to be one of the recipients of the annual distribution from the Sandra Lee Young and Sylvia Lee Young Enterprise Fund. This fund will be a tremendous opportunity to ensure the Marietta Fire Department has the equipment needed for both fire and emergency medical responses to better serve our community. We will be very intentional to ensure this donation is well used, to help preserve the legacy of the Youngs.”
Chief Katherine Warden, Marietta Police Department
“The Marietta Police Department is humbled and honored to receive such a generous contribution from the Young family. They have left a wonderful legacy that we are excited to continue by expanding and improving on our K9 program.”
Sheriff Larry Mincks, Washington County
“We would really like to thank the Young sisters for their kindness, and for thinking of us. This is a very worthwhile project, and we’ll certainly make good use of the money. Not only this year, but all of the years in the future.”
Angela Burdiss,
Marietta College Legacy Library Interim Director
“The Legacy Library would like to thank Sylvia and Sandra Young for their monetary gift to Marietta College for supporting the library's collections. In addition, we are thankful for the collections they shared with the library including numerous beautiful art books that are now part of the library's print collection. These gifts will benefit students and faculty at the College.”
Bonnie Rake,
Mid-Ohio Valley Players Vice President
“We are just so happy to receive this. These ladies were such a part of the art world in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and we’re glad that their legacy continues on.”
Erin Augenstein, Northwest Territory Museum Society Executive Director
“What an honor it is for our organization to be held in such high esteem by the Young sisters. We are thrilled to be acknowledged by the estate as a community anchor, and will utilize the funds to enhance our facility and programming for guests locally and for those who travel great distances to visit our historic community.”
Marietta Community Foundation brings together passionate donors and causes to improve Washington County, Ohio for generations to come. Founded in 1974, the Foundation manages more than 350 funds and has distributed more than $24.5 million to charities while meeting rigorous national standards in the community foundation sector.
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