Logan Community Foundation’s second-annual gala set for March 21
Fundraiser aims to honor community members, city-wide successes
by Isabelle Foland
For the Harrison County Times-Reporter
The Logan Community Foundation’s community gala is returning for its second run this year with new community champions and entertainment.
The event will be held at Calvary Falls Event Center on March 21st and will consist of a cocktail hour, dinner, award ceremony, live auction and social hour. The event is ticketed, and the link to purchase can be found on the Logan Community Foundation Facebook page. Festivities are scheduled to get under way at 5 p.m.
The foundation’s overarching goal behind the gala is to celebrate the community’s successes, such as Logan’s flourishing business scene and school improvements, and to help keep the positives coming, said Bri Niedermeyer, the foundation’s president.
“We really just want to be able to take the momentum that we have every year and celebrate that, and then keep the momentum going for the next year,” Niedermeyer said.
At last year’s inaugural gala, 188 tickets were sold and around $15,000 were raised, Niedermeyer said. The money has yet to be put towards any specific project as the foundation aims to build up its fund for the future, she said.
However, there are some projects the foundation plans to get to in the future. A big goal includes a $10,000 donation to the walking trail system in Logan to help lighten the city’s financial burden for the project, said Mat Gross, a member of the foundation.
In addition to raising money to improve Logan, the gala also works to honor standout members and businesses within the community, known as “community champions.”
The winners will receive a plaque as well as special recognition at the event.
This year’s winners were announced on Jan. 28. They include Logan Super Foods for Business of the Year, Mitch Flaherty of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office for First Responder of the Year, Logan-Magnolia Community Schools’ Tami Dunham for Educator of the Year, and Molly Green of Fouts Funeral Home for Volunteer of the Year.
Business of the Year – Logan Super Foods
Dion Pitt, owner of Logan Super Foods, said he is honored to be recognized in this way but gives his appreciation to his customers above all.
“I want to thank all the customers for being loyal,” Pitt said. “Logan’s always been a good business town, but I’m very fortunate to have the customers that I do.”
Pitt said he and his employees always try to go above and beyond for the people they serve, and all employees are locally based, so they are a part of the community they help. Pitt himself is also involved in the community, serving on the city’s chamber of commerce as well as the community foundation.
First Responder of the Year – Mitch Flaherty
Chief Deputy Mitch Flaherty has served Harrison County since his move to the area in 2016. Flaherty said he chose to pursue a career in law enforcement so he could feel fulfilled at the end of every work day.
In the decade he’s lived in the county, Flaherty said he’s grown to love and appreciate the support he’s received from those he works with as well as those he meets while on the job. Being recognized by the community with the First Responder of the Year award makes all the hard days on the job worthwhile, he said.
“It’s great to hear from people that I had an opportunity to impact their lives in a positive manner,” Flaherty said. “It’s good to hear that we’re doing good things.”
Educator of the Year – Tami Dunham
This year marks the 32nd that Tami Dunham has taught third-grade at Logan-Magnolia Community Schools. At this point in her career, Dunham said she has had the unique chance to teach former students’ children.
Having poured so much of her heart into the community’s youth, Dunham said when she learned she was Educator of the Year for this year’s gala she broke down in tears of joy.
“I’m just so honored, so thankful,” Dunham said. “It makes me even prouder to be a Logan educator.”
Volunteer of the Year – Molly Green
Molly Green, funeral director and owner of Fouts Funeral Home with her husband, Charlie, said she has lived a busy life since moving to Magnolia in 2007. In that time, she has volunteered at Logan-Magnolia Community Schools, the Lucille Latta Scholarship Board, Logan Christian Church, the Logan Fire Department, and more.
While it’s an honor to be recognized with this distinction from the community foundation, Green said she doesn’t volunteer to get any sort of award. Instead, she said it’s a higher calling to serve others that motivates her.
“We have a very busy lifestyle, but I also know that things don’t get done unless there’s people to do them,” Green said. “It takes all hands on deck to make things happen.”
