Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association Fund

Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association Fund

TYPE OF FUND:  Designated                                    DATE ESTABLISHED:  July 1993 

PURPOSE:  To support the Ohio-West Virginia programs, including YMCA Camp Horseshoe, Youth in Government, and Model United Nations. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Upon request by the YMCA Board and upon the recommendation by the Grants Committee and approval by the full Board of Directors of  TCF.  All distributions are to the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA.

VARIANCE POWER:  If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.

FUNDING:  The initial $5000 to establish this fund came from the family and friends of the late Mavis Johnson King. A gift of $1530 from the estate of Faye Murphy of Greenfield, Ohio was also directed to support YMCA Camp Horseshoe.  And donations from others interested in supporting the work of the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA. 

BACKGROUND:  For more than 100 years, the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA has been at work helping prepare young people for responsible citizenship.  Through its many youth programs, the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA aims to help youth develop a lifelong commitment to service and the leadership skills needed to affect positive change in the community.

A longtime resident of Greenfield, Ohio, Mavis Johnson King (March 5, 1916 – July 29, 1993) served as the Food Service Director of YMCA Camp Horseshoe for 15 years.  The camp is located near St. George, in Tucker County.  On June 24, 1991, the YMCA of the United States of America recognized Mavis as An Outstanding Senior who makes a difference in the lives of others.  In presenting the recognition, YMCA Board President, Oliver Ocasek, called Mavis, “…an inspiration and a help to thousands of children and youth for her significant role in the success of YMCA Camp Horseshoe.”  Her life also reflected dignity and determination in an ongoing struggle with cancer.  For more than 24 years, Mavis fought with determination, attitude, work and faith.  Never complaining, she demonstrated that a life of service can transcend illness.

Mrs. King was born in Elliott County, Kentucky.  She was a graduate of Portsmouth High School and worked 20 years as a custodian at Greenfield Elementary School, prior to joining her son at Camp Horseshoe.  Her husband, Lee King, whom she married October 28, 1940, preceded her in death July 10, 1978.  They were the parents of two sons, David King, a resident of St. George and executive director of Ohio-West Virginia YMCA, and John King of Dublin, Ohio.