Toledo, Ohio, April 21, 2023 — Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary, “Fifty Years of Funding Futures,” with a yearlong calendar of events and programs in 2023. On Saturday, April 29th, it will sponsor a day of family fun at the Black Swamp Homestead, 4825 Sugar Ridge Road, in Pemberville. The day will feature a community paint-by-number mural by Toledo native and New Orleans-based artist, Madison Roy. There will also be guided hikes through Bell Woods, live music by Chloe and the Steel Strings, family lawn games, food trucks and much more. 

In addition, Black Swamp has invited several of its partners to be present for an environmental fair. Those partners include:

● Wild Ones Oak Openings Region Chapter

● Wood County Park District

● Ohio Department of Natural Resources—H2Ohio Program

● Oak Openings Region Conservancy

“Greater Toledo Community Foundation is very focused on conservation as one of our funding priorities. We have been a partner with Black Swamp Conservancy for many years and we are happy to provide this day of family fun to the community,” said Keith Burwell, GTCF president.

“Greater Toledo Community Foundation has been a solid partner with Black Swamp Conservancy as we’ve grown over the years while working throughout northwest Ohio to preserve, enhance, and improve natural habitats and family farms for the benefit of current and future generations,” stated Rob Krain, executive director.

Of special interest for the day will be the community paint-by-number mural. Community members will be asked to help create a mural to commemorate the day. It will be designed by artist Madison Roy. For years, Roy was a permanent artist featured at The Gallery at The Davis Building in downtown Toledo. A highlight of her residency was working collaboratively with the other artists on a community mural for The Davis Building.

After relocating to New Orleans, Roy expanded upon her passion for designing and painting murals. This is reflected in her murals located throughout the city that burst with vibrant colors and expressive designs—truly capturing the energy of the city.

Since 2014, Roy has been a Fender Custom Shop artist. She works with Fender Masterbuilders, like Greg Fessler, to paint one-of-a-kind designs on their custom-built guitars.

She is donating much of her time and talent to this project. She stated, “I am excited to give back to the community that raised me and to support conservation in northwest Ohio. I value the work that Black Swamp Conservancy does to preserve the rural heritage, unique natural habitats, and streams of northwest Ohio, now and for future generations.”

For more information, go to 50yearsfortoledo.com.

About “Fifty Years of Funding Futures”

“Fifty Years of Funding Futures” is the 50th-anniversary campaign for Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF). Through its five decades of service, GTCF has been trusted to distribute more than $290 million in grants to Toledo area nonprofits and beyond. GTCF now administers more than 900 funds and $435 million in assets with the goal of creating a better community for generations to come.

Over the next nine months, GTFC’s “Fifty Years of Funding Futures” will deliver meaningful communications, events, and programs centering on honoring the past, celebrating the present and equipping future generations for continued community impact. For more information, visit 50yearsfortoledo.com.

About Greater Toledo Community Foundation

Greater Toledo Community Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization serving the Toledo region, including northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan with a particular emphasis on the greater Toledo area. Since 1973, Greater Toledo Community Foundation has worked with individuals, families and businesses, assisting them in making effective choices that match their philanthropic interests and needs while creating a better community for generations to come. For more information, visit toledocf.org/.

About Black Swamp Conservancy

Black Swamp Conservancy is a land trust dedicated to preserving and enhancing natural habitats and family farms in northwest Ohio for the benefit of current and future generations. The Conservancy does this to preserve the heritage, habitats and waters of northwest Ohio. Since its founding in 1993 the organization has permanently protected more than 21,500 acres of wetlands, woods and working lands across Northwest Ohio.