Keep the fun going

FINDLAY — A new fund has been established to make sure that Hancock County residents always have something fun to do. The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation's Fun for All program will see to that. "The Fun for All program is one of the biggest programs we've ever done and one that's having the biggest impact," said Brian Treece, foundation president and CEO. Fun for All was created by the foundation in 2023 to support free or reduced-cost pro-social activities for county residents. From its beginnings through 2025, more than 40,000 people — representing half of the county's population — have attended a Fun for All event. These have ranged from making a clay gnome and swimming to watching a Christmas movie and taking a quarter-scale train ride, he said. "Every year we've allocated about $100,000 of our grantmaking to that initiative. We want to make sure that lasts forever," Treece said. The foundation board has created the Fun for All Fund, and gifts to the fund through Dec. 20 will be matched 1:1 up to $100,000, he said. "So if somebody gives us a dollar, that becomes $2. If they give us $5, it becomes $10, up to $100,000," he explained. "Hopefully we'll have enough partners take advantage of that and we'll maximize it and the fund will be at $200,000. Then every year forever, a portion of that will be granted out and it will continue to grow." "We want to make sure that no matter what other interests or priorities there are that the fund continues," he added. The program began in response to surveys and conversations with residents, who said finding affordable, family-friendly activities was a challenge locally. Since 2003, the foundation has partnered with 31 local nonprofit organizations and groups to provide 60-plus free events and activities. Treece said people have told the staff how much they enjoy the events. "When we're out and about, people often come up to us and talk to us about one of the programs or one of the events they went to," he said. "That makes you feel really good because it's a meaningful program and it's having an immediate impact." So much of their work at the foundation is long-term, he noted. "When we posted our swimming days over the summer, somebody commented that she always marks those down on the calendar because that's when she can take her kids swimming. Those are the days. And I think we forget that there are so many in our community that fun is an afterthought, not a priority," said Treece. With this program, you don't have to make a choice, he said. "You don't have to sacrifice something to have fun. You can do both. So this is really important work, and it's fun work," he said. There's also science behind it, he said. "The science being pro-social activities or fun things, that's the only thing that crosses over every single one of the social determinants of health," said Treece. "And it's not only the product. It's being around people. It's letting your brain take a break. So many folks are in survival mode, and you can only exist in that so long before you need a break. You need to have fun. And this let's us do it." So it's having fun and also increasing community health, he said. "One event at a time, one laugh at a time. It's doing what it can in small ways to help improve overall community health. It's making a difference," said Treece. "When you go to the events, you see people just smiling and having fun." The foundation board has already committed to sponsoring another year of Fun for All in 2026, said Treece. Events will be posted on social media every couple weeks, and a running list is kept on the website at: community-foundation.com/fun Donations to the fund can be made through the website, by stopping by the office at 101 W. Sandusky St., Suite 207, or mailing a check. "There's so much that people can determine that divides us. It's nice to just come together and none of that matters," he said. "It's just having fun together."