This month’s Mercer Savings Bank Giving Mission recipient is The Light Foundation. The organization’s mission is to take youth out of their everyday environments and provide them with unique opportunities and meaningful programs that instill confidence, purpose, and motivation to succeed.
Learn more about the organization and find out how you can help support its mission.
Matt Light’s Story
Matt Light, a former New England Patriots player and three-time Super Bowl champion, hails from right here in Greenville, Ohio. Growing up in a rural farming community taught him the value of hard work, responsibility, and accountability.
Led by these values, Matt quickly became a star football player, first at Greenville High School and then at Purdue University, where he earned a scholarship. He played left tackle behind quarterback Drew Brees and later Tom Brady when the New England Patriots drafted him out of college.
Matt was a natural leader, serving as captain of his team on the field and as an NFLPA player rep in the league. He was also inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, becoming its 27th member.
Matt has received numerous awards for his charity work over the years. He and his wife Susie knew they wanted to find a way to help youth develop similar leadership values and give back to their community.
During Matt’s early days in the NFL, they decided to launch The Light Foundation in 2001 to give young people opportunities to experience the outdoors the way they had in their own lives.
The Light Foundation Mission
The Light Foundation offers hands-on learning opportunities to inspire youth to believe in themselves and their ability to be great leaders. “Our goal is to inspire kids to work hard, put their best foot forward, and strive to become champions in the game of life,” said Matt Light, The Light Foundation’s co-founder.
The Light Foundation teaches its participants to be R.E.A.L. in their daily lives:
- R – Responsible
- E – Ethical
- A – Accountable
- L – Leaders
The Darke County Scholarship Program & More
The Light Foundation presents several scholarships each year to recent Darke County high school graduates to help them further their education.
“Last year, we had four young folks that came in, and it felt good to see the excitement and hope on their faces,” said COO Troy Eden. “We couldn’t do what we do without Mercer Savings Bank and other organizations that donate to the foundation. We try to be a good steward of every single dollar.”
The Light Foundation offers several additional programs for area youth, and they open up many of their camps to youth across the country. Programs include:
- Camp Vohokase – camp in Greenville for young men from across the country to learn lifelong skills
- Timber Frame Leadership Camp – three-day overnight camp in Greenville for youth entering high school to build frames from standing trees
- Youth Wild Turkey Hunts – instructional seminar and mentored turkey hunt in Ohio and Rhode Island geared toward teens
- The LIGHT Project – a STEM-based reading and learning program that supports over 500 Ohio first-grade students each year and stands for literacy, inquiry, getting outside, having fun, and time spent with family
- Matt Light All-Conference Football Camp – a camp where Ohio football players entering second through eighth grades can improve their skills and knowledge of the game
Supporting The Light Foundation
The Light Foundation leans on donations to support and expand its mission. “The financial support is important,” said Troy. “We do various fundraisers throughout the year, selling merchandise. There are over 500 acres here at Chenoweth Trails that we have to maintain, and our team does an amazing job.”
Another exciting program is getting close to completion for The Light Foundation. “We’re going to have a grand opening on April 26 for what we’re calling Darke County’s largest tree house,” said Troy. “We are transforming the tree house into a nature center. Area children can also plant a pumpkin seed there and watch it grow into a pumpkin in a patch.”
Additional information about The Light Foundation can be found on their website and Facebook page, as noted below. You can contact the organization through email or phone if you have questions or would like to help support the organization.
Website: https://www.mattlight72.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightFoundation/
Email: troy@mattlight72.com
Phone: 937-316-6352
