Ohio Association of Garden Clubs - The OAGC Foundation

The mission of the OAGC Foundation, Inc. is to promote the appreciation of nature and the environment in the State of Ohio by providing scholarships to horticulture students and grants supporting nature education, conservation and beautification.

The OAGC Foundation

The OAGC Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 public charity that was established in 1984 to help carry out educational and charitable activities of The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc. (OAGC). Contributors to the Foundation may designate the Fund they wish to support.

Monies are raised by donations from clubs, members and non-members, deferred gifts, memorial gifts, incremental gifts, special gifts, fundraisers, or becoming an OAGC Foundation Patron (through a contribution of $500). Donations over $25 are tax deductible. Donations must be sent to the OAGC Foundation Treasurer. Donations may be designated to support one of the following funds: Education Resource Fund, General Fund, Nature & Conservation Fund, Scholarship Fund, or Wahkeena Nature Preserve Fund. The OAGC Foundation also accepts donations to temporarily restricted funds as needs arise.

OAGC Foundation Patrons automatically become Life Members of OAGC Inc., are recognized at annual OAGC convention, recognized in the OAGC quarterly publication, The Garden Path, and receive a subscription to The Garden Path for life.

Education Resource Fund

The Foundation also provides funding through grants to support educational outreach through the Education Resource Fund. The funds through the Education Resource Fund must be used for educational efforts that are no cost to the recipients. Click HERE for a Grant Application.

General Fund

The OAGC Foundation’s General Fund supports state awards and the OAGC Foundation’s operating expenses. The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc. bestows special awards for worthy individuals or clubs at the annual convention. A donation of $2500 or more to the OAGC Foundation allows the donor to create a named award. The OAGC Foundation also provides for 20% of the cost of printing The Garden Path.

Nature And Conservation Fund

The Nature and Conservation Fund supports projects dedicated to the environment and all its natural resources. Grants for beautification projects, as well as, projects to promote native plants, vegetable gardens in food deserts, and pollinator gardens fall under this Fund. You may apply using the Grant application.

Scholarship Fund

The OAGC Foundation annually awards scholarships of an amount not less than $5000. The recipient must choose an accredited Ohio college or technical school beyond the high school level which offers courses leading to a career in the fields of horticulture, conservation, nature and beautification, landscape design, landscape contracting, commercial florist or floral arts. The applicant does not need to be a resident of the state of Ohio. The eligibility is determined solely by the scholastic ability and serious career intent of the applicant without regard to race, gender, age, creed and/or economic status. The deadline to submit the scholarship application form and all supporting documentation is March 15. The Scholarship Application Form and Instructions can be downloaded HERE.

2026 Scholarship Award Recipients

Alan Kronk from Medina, Region 14, is the recipient of the Naomi Shepard Incoming Freshman Scholarship. The scholarship will help Alan achieve his goal of becoming a landscape designer. He plans to attend Cuyahoga Community College while living at home.

The Dottie Bates Memorial Upperclassman Scholarship is awarded to Andrew Gray, a previous scholarship winner last year, too. Andrew attends the University of Mount Union, working toward a bachelor’s degree in Applied Bioscience. He hopes to use his enthusiasm for native plants to work for environmental restoration. Andrew Hales from’ Uniontown, OH, Region 14.

The Dr. Gary Anderson ATI Scholarship is a scholarship for a student attending The Ohio State University Agriculture Technical Institute. This year’s student is Anthony Sidle from Shreve, OH, Region 14. Anthony’s field of study is Greenhouse Management, with a goal of “contributing to a greener future”. He learned about the Foundation scholarships from an OAGC member.

Paige Gehert is the recipient of the Doris Schuster Horticulture Scholarship for 2026. Paige begins her college journey at The Ohio State University, pursuing a degree in Horticulture and Crop Science. She credits her agriculture ed classes for “igniting her passion” for the subjects. An OAGC judge gave Paige the information about the Foundation Scholarships. Her hometown is Yorkshire, OH, Region 3.

A Foundation Trustee Scholarship is awarded to Tyler Kunz. Alliance OH, Region 14. Tyler will pursue a Master's Degree in Soil Science at North Dakota State University. He recently received his undergraduate degree from Waynesburg University, where he achieved high honors. He is working toward a career focused on “collaboration with farmers to restore and conserve the soil that supports food production”.

Kennedy Auker is from Mount Vernon, OH, Region 7. We are pleased to award a Foundation Trustee Scholarship to Kennedy, her second scholarship. She will continue her studies at ATI, working toward an associate’s degree in Agriculture Communication with a final goal of developing a landscape business and ultimately taking over her family’s farm. Attending ATI has allowed Kennedy to develop a firm foundation on which she can achieve her goals.

A list of previous year scholarship award recipients came be viewed HERE.

Wahkeena State Nature Preserve Fund

Wahkeena Nature Preserve is located six miles south of Lancaster, Ohio in Fairfield County and is owned by the Ohio Historical Connection and managed by the Fairfield County Historical Parks. In 1930, Dr. Frank Warner bought a rundown hill farm and presented it to his new bride Carmen Hambleton Warner, who turned it into an oasis of beauty and named it Wahkeena. Carmen, an OAGC member, was actively interested in nature and conservation and established OAGC’s annual Nature Study Camp (renamed Nature Study Retreat). An agreement was drawn up between the Ohio Historical Society (OHS) as per Mrs. Warner’s will and OAGC. This agreement with OHS allowed for donations collected for Wahkeena by OAGC to be given to OHS. OHS would invest and administer the OAGC Wahkeena Fund for use for educational purposes.

Recently, a new agreement was arranged for site management between the Ohio History Connection (formerly known as OHS), the Fairfield County Historical Parks and the OAGC Foundation. The preserve is open to the general public. An on-site curator is available to answer questions and give tours.

The Sarah Budnick Memorial Transportation Fund (also known as Sarah's Kids) was created following the passing of OAGC state past president Sarah Budnick to help fund school field trips to Wahkeena. Additionally, contributions can be made to the Wahkeena Bird and Animal Feed Fund, used for wild birds, and resident reptiles and educational birds.

The Nature Study Retreat Junior Camper Scholarships

This fund was established in 2009. Any junior (under the age of 18) attending Nature Study Retreat for the first time may apply for scholarship assistance by contacting the state OAGC Nature Study Retreat chair who will forward the request to the OAGC Foundation Development Director.

Student Flower Show Judge Grant

This grant was established in 2018. Any individual completing the training provided by The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc. (OAGC) to become an OAGC accredited flower show judge may apply for this grant. After successfully passing all schools and their student judging, the new judge may submit the grant application to be reimbursed for the registration fee for up to six of the schools. The application must be submitted to the OAGC Foundation Development Director within 6 months of receiving the OAGC Flower Show Judge Accreditation. The grant application form can be found HERE.

Foundation Patrons

N: updated 4/24/2026

Jill Bader

Joy Baumgard

Janet Bolin

Carl Budnick

Anna Cardenas

Peggy Case

Catherine Chatfield

Brenda Covert

Shelia Curtis

Sherrill Day

Julie Divelbiss

Patricia Drummond

Jeanne Durkalski

Irmalee Gamp

Carole Gast

June Gebhardt

Deborah Graham

Jo Ann Graham

Doris Hager

Jan Harmon

Judy Harmon

Jane Ann Heilman

Paula Huffman

Tia Huston

Susan "Susie" Jenning

Barbara Lennen

Jackie Lewis

Karen Mann

Nancy Marthey

Rachelle Matz

Elizabeth McDaniel

Mary Lee Minor

Barb Moore

Margaret Murrey

Beverly Norman

Michele Oliver

Vicky Puster

Geri Rea

Patricia Rodgers

Jessica Rohr

Anita Roller

Babs Sabick

Barbara Sheets

Clint Shepard

Tom Shisler

Susan Thomas

Charlene Thornhill

Judy Van Dyk

Sharon Ware

Pat Wells

Sonia Wolfe

Rosa Wollenhaupt

Maureen Wootton

Board Of Trustees

The OAGC Foundation Board of Trustees is composed of the Executive Officers of The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc. and up to six past state OAGC board members. In addition to the OAGC Executive Officers, other OAGC Foundation Trustees are: