EATON — On Wednesday, Aug. 2, the Preble County Youth Foundation purchased 6.499 acres located at the corner of Washington Jackson Road and Preble Drive from the Eaton Church of the Nazarene.

The purchase allows the Foundation, along with its partner Kettering Health Network, to control most all of the land to the north of Washington Jackson Road for future development by Kettering Health Network, the Foundation and its partners, Preble County YMCA and Sinclair Community College.

The Foundation developed the Medical Center, the Preble County YMCA, and Sinclair Community College over the last 13 years. The Foundation’s mission is to invest in programs and facilities that give our kids and our community better opportunities and a better future.

In addition to its development of the campus on Washington Jackson Road, the Foundation has given over $80,000.00 in scholarships. Annually, the Foundation has been awarding to Preble County residents, along with Kettering Health Network, $25,000.00 per year to Kettering College and $5,000.00 per year to Sinclair Community College. The Foundation has established an endowment fund at Sinclair Community College to ensure future scholarships.

Partnering with the Preble County YMCA, the Foundation has helped provide teen nights at the YMCA, triathlons at Lake Lakengren and other youth activities.

The Foundation was established in 1993 and is a 501C3 private foundation governed by a board of local citizens. Current active members of the Executive Board are: W.G. Dues, Founder and Chairman, Floyd Geeding, President, Mike Simpson, Vice President, Ellen Crammer, Secretary, Donald Pollock, Treasurer, Rodney Kreitzer, John Herring, and Brad Unger. Current active members of the board are: Dawna John, Theresa Via, Erin Barnes, Sam Shortes, Charley Pennington, Jane Reeder, Mary Christman, Rodney Creech, Dave Kirsch, Gary Moore, Cindy Ashworth, Robin Judd, Cathy Clift, Barbara Cox, Doug Ulrich, Jr. and Dawn White.

The Foundation is looking forward to working with the city, the county and local organizations to develop potential uses that fulfill the mission of the Foundation, which is to invest in programs and facilities that give our kids and our community better opportunities and a better future.