Darke County HOPE Foundation History

History of the HOPE Foundation

With the goal of establishing a community foundation, Dr. Marlin
Thompson, in 1985, led the charge for establishing the HOPE Foundation
of Darke County while serving as Superintendent of the Darke Co. Office
of Education (now the Darke Co. Educational Service Center - ESC). He
along with Bill Dull, CPA, a long time HOPE trustee and Versailles attorney,
Mike McClurg, incorporated in 1986 what has become an over one million dollar local foundation. Their plan and the Foundation's continuing goal was to improve the quality of life in Darke County by helping donors meet their charitable objectives and helping nonprofit organizations to provide the services and programs so essential to our community.

Dr. Thompson said,"I felt there were a lot of good people in Darke County who might want to leave a gift to the community." With funds established by individuals for community needs or scholarships, that continues to be proven true! He met with members of the Van Wert Community Foundation for assistance in getting started. H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) has 20 board of trustee members. Two of those original trustees, Dick Baker, who continues to serve on the HOPE Board, and Jim Bixler, the HOPE Foundation former Treasurer, were simultaneously serving on the Darke County ESC Board. They strongly supported Dr. Thompson in his efforts, provided a place for the then newly formed HOPE board to meet, and offered secretarial services as needed. The trustees continue to meet there on a quarterly basis. While Dr. Thompson retired in 1992, he continues to serve as a HOPE trustee and chairperson of the Scholarship Committee.

The first gift came in 1990 from Greenville National Bank. The Foundation's resources come from gifts made by individuals, families, businesses and charitable organizations. Normally only income is disbursed, providing a continuing source of funding to benefit education, social services, the arts, civic affairs, hospitals and health, and conservation.