The Robert E. and Genevieve B. Schaefer Fund has awarded 19 grants totaling more than $129,000 to organizations serving the City of Chillicothe and Ross County.

The John W. and Edna McManus Shepard Fund/Guernsey County Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2015 program. The application deadline is Friday, May 27, 2015.

Each year, the J. Floyd Dixon Memorial Fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations located in Jackson County that focus primarily on education or health issues. Since its founding 17 years ago, the fund has distributed more than $637,000 in grants to 23 different organizations.

The Columbus Foundation named Mayor Michael B. Coleman the 2015 winner of The Spirit of Columbus Award at an event held at the Foundation on April 17. The Spirit of Columbus Award, affectionately known as the The Jerries in honor of aviatrix Jerrie Mock, was established in 2013.

Columbus’ nationally recognized community foundation marked another banner year in 2014, with the Columbus Foundation taking in $132.9 million in gifts and bequests. That money significantly benefits central Ohio, helping do everything from fight hunger to support the arts. The figure announced last week was not a record, coming a year after the foundation attracted an unprecedented $160.6 million in 2013. It does, though, mark the fifth year in a row that the foundation has reported at least a nine-figure total and was enough to keep the foundation ranked seventh among the largest community foundations in the country.

The conversation about suicide — the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. — will continue. Survivors and mental-health experts will share their stories, experiences and frustrations at a community forum from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St. The event, which is free and open to the public, is made possible by a grant of $8,500 from the Richard C. and Nanciann Kaufman Ninde Fund of The Columbus Foundation

The J. Floyd Dixon Memorial Fund is currently accepting applications for its 2016 grant program. The application deadline is Monday, May 2, 2016.

Douglas F. Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation announced today that Scott Heitkamp, CPA, will be The Columbus Foundation’s next Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective July 1, 2016—upon the retirement of Raymond J. Biddiscombe, CPA, the Foundation’s VP and CFO for the past 26 years.

Interest in The Big Table, a new civic conversation project set for Aug. 30, has far surpassed expectations, organizers at the Columbus Foundation said this week. They recently developed a host toolkit — available for download from the foundation’s website — to help guide what likely will be hundreds of discussions.

Columbus, OH (November 15, 2016)—The Columbus Foundation has released The Big Table Report, which assesses the reach and impact of nearly 500 community-building conversations held in homes, offices, restaurants, libraries, churches, and community centers on August 30. The Big Table initiative far surpassed expectations in its inaugural year, engaging more than 5,000 residents from all walks of life in at least hour-long conversations to discuss how collaboratively we can all build and improve our community. The report details who participated and key discussion themes.