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Nearly $65K raised for Benevolent Care Fund and Resident Wish List

OCT 17 MEDIA RELEASE__Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio hosted its 4th annual gala event on October 9, 2025 at Ebenezer Mennonite Church. The fundraising event benefits the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio Benevolent Care Fund, which provides support to care for older adults who have outlived their resources. This year’s theme was “Aloha Nights,” and guests dressed in their favorite Hawaiian attire.

The local community showed their support for the elders who receive services and MHCO in a big way, with an attendance of just over 150 guests. The event raised nearly $65,000. While a majority of these funds will go toward the Benevolent Care Fund, $23,300 will be used to purchase items from our “Resident Wish List” to help make residents’ lives brighter. Items that will be purchased as a result of this generosity include a handicapped swing for the Willow Ridge community, a new table-top shuffleboard and floor curling game for the Maple Crest community, a Tover Tafel sensory machine for our elders at Mennonite Memorial Home, and beauty shop gift certificates for any of MHCO residents to use. 

Daren Lee, Chief Operating Officer, shared, “The Gala continues to be a humbling event for MHCO as our community of supporters gathers and shows their support through their gifts of time and financial giving. It is an affirmation of the commitment the community has to the missional work we carry out every day.  The funds raised from the Gala are helping further our work toward growing our Benevolent Care fund to help us provide care to Elders who have outlived their financial resources.  We are already looking forward to our next event which is only a year away!”  The 5th Annual MHCO Fall Gala is planned for Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The event was made possible by staff members, MHCO residents, sponsors, organizations and volunteers, including the list below and others who wish to remain anonymous.

Sponsors:

We would also like to thank our emcee for the evening, Greg Denecker.  Mr. Denecker kept the guests engaged and made the event fun and entertaining for all!  

And of course, we would like to thank all of those who attended the event, gave to our Resident Wish List and bid on auction items in support of our mission.  More pictures from this event can be found on our Facebook page.

Bluffton, Pandora and surrounding communities have continued to show their support and generosity to our mission for over 70 years.  MHCO’s Mission Statement is, “We are dedicated to being a Christ-centered community that promotes personal decision making and purposeful living for each older adult served.”   If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring or providing prizes for next year’s Gala, please contact Ryan Gathard at 937-683-6540 or at [email protected].