Category Archives: Donors

Malzahn Family Fund Awards $182,000 to Perry-area Nonprofits

Community, Donors, Grants, Philanthropy

The trustees of the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation are pouring more financial support into the Noble County community, even in the face of a tough economic year. A total of $182,000 was recently awarded to nine Noble County nonprofits and civic organizations, and another $65,000 in scholarships is now available to Noble County graduating high school seniors.  

Students must submit applications online for the two Malzahn Family Fund scholarship opportunities no later than Mar. 1, 2021. Opportunities include an award up to $5,000 available to high school seniors graduating from Perry, Morrison, Frontier and Billings high schools who plan to enroll in undergraduate studies, and an award up to $3,000 available to graduates or high school seniors graduating from Perry, Morrison, Frontier and Billings high schools who attend or plan to attend a vocational technical school. Interested applicants can learn more at occf.academicworks.com and search by keyword: Noble.

Late Perry residents and Ditch Witch founders Ed and Mary Malzahn established the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 1992 to support their community in perpetuity. Since its establishment, the fund has awarded more than $4.3 million to Noble County nonprofits. In 2019, the family expanded their impact with two scholarship funds supporting students pursuing higher education.

“Not only were Ed and Mary known for their generosity, but they partnered with the community to create impact where it was truly needed,” said Oklahoma City Community Foundation president Nancy Anthony. “Through the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund, they found a way to continue to support Perry and the surrounding community for a long time.”

Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund grants were awarded to the following organizations:

  • Cherokee Strip Historical Society | $8,150 to support tree trimming services.
  • Christ Lutheran Church | $11,000 to purchase new playground equipment at the learning center.
  • City of Perry | $3,000 to support the Senior Citizen Center and $37,000 to enhance communication options within the Perry community through a partnership with Chisholm Broadband.
  • Noble County Family YMCA | $39,750 for the development of a collective impact model supporting childcare in Noble County.
  • Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation | $50,000 to support the addition of a splash pad at Lion’s Park.
  • Operation Blessing | $6,700 to purchase a new air conditioning unit.
  • Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation | $15,000 to purchase two new emergency room beds.
  • United Fund of Perry | $10,000 to support their annual fundraising drive.
  • Wheatheart Nutrition Project | $1,500 to support an entertainment and socialization program for Perry seniors.

The Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund invites Perry and Noble County education, civic and charitable organizations to apply for grants quarterly. Interested organizations should email malzahnfamilyfund@occf.org for answers to grant application questions.  

Learn More on How One Family Accomplished Their Charitable Giving Goals and Made a Greater Impact in the Oklahoma City Community with the Help of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation

Community, Donors
A man walking a black dog and a woman walking a white dog.

Kevin and Lisa Putt share a love of dogs of all shapes and sizes. Their passion for our furry friends inspired them to want to make a difference in the lives of unwanted dogs and cats. With the help of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and their financial advisor, the Putts arranged to leave a gift in their will to support Free to Live Animal Sanctuary.

Free to Live is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the state, providing a home for around 300 animals on the property. The only way Free to Live can stay remain operational is through donations from individuals in the community – like the Putts – who share their passion for dogs and cats.

The Putts have also left gifts in their will to establish scholarships at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to support students studying veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University.

By attending classes at the Community Foundation and working one-on-one with the team, the Putts were able to turn their passions into a lasting legacy.

“They took the time to question where we wanted out impact to be,” Lisa Putt said about her and Kevin’s experience working with the Community Foundation. “For us, that was incredibly important because we feel now our legacy is stronger than when we thought it would be in the beginning.”

“For people who want to leave their community better than they found it, but don’t feel like they may have enough to set something up on their own, the Community Foundation can help,” added Kevin. “They look at what the donor wants to accomplish, and they find a fund – or two or three funds – that meets what the donor wants to do. I think that is a huge benefit.”

If you would like more information on how you can accomplish your charitable goals and make a greater impact on your community, contact Joe Carter at (405) 235-5603.