For many kids, summer camp means swimming, boating, archery, and making lifelong memories with new friends. At Flying Horse Farms in Mount Gilead, those same camp traditions are made possible for children living with serious illnesses.
WNZR’s Eric Brown recently spoke with Liv Malmsten about the organization’s unique medical specialty camp and the impact it has on children and families.
Flying Horse Farms provides a traditional camp experience—complete with activities like swimming, boating, archery, and arts and crafts—while also ensuring campers are supported in a medically and emotionally safe environment. The goal is simple: give kids the chance to just be kids while still receiving the care they need.
A key part of that support is the camp’s on-site Wellness Center. The facility is staffed by medical and psychosocial professionals who help meet campers’ physical, emotional, and behavioral needs. With that level of care available, children can safely enjoy the full camp experience even while managing serious health conditions.
During the conversation, Malmsten explained that the camp carefully adapts activities so every child can participate. Whether it’s modifying equipment or adjusting how an activity is run, the staff works to ensure each camper can join in and experience the fun alongside their peers.
Looking ahead to the upcoming summer season, Flying Horse Farms is encouraging families to apply soon. The priority application deadline is March 16, although applications will still be accepted after that date as space allows.
The camp is also currently seeking adult volunteers who want to help support campers throughout the summer. Volunteers play an important role in creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for children and their families.
Click HERE to learn more about the camp, apply, or explore volunteer opportunities!
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Lisa Lloyd, Senior Program Director for The Knox County Foundation. Lisa shared the exciting news of recent grant awards. The Foundation Board of Directors has approved $1,087,800 in competitive grant funding to 16 nonprofit organizations. Among the awards are two $300,000 grants. The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities received $300,000 toward the New Hope Early Education Center Renovation. The Winter Sanctuary was also awarded $300,000 for a “Permanent Home” – a transformational, permanent facility for Knox County’s emergency shelter and homeless advocacy services.
Lisa also shared details about how the grant process works and how local non-profits can apply. She also announced the NEW Summer Youth Enrichment Grants. $36.300 in grants were awarded to ensure that all Knox County youth have opportunities to grow, connect, and thrive through summer and seasonal experiences.
Lisa also shared about other grants and scholarships that the Foundation awards each year and details about the application process.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture below.
Picture – Ann Marie Wiley, assistant director (left), and Joe Springer, executive director of The Winter Sanctuary, represent one of two organizations awarded $300,000 in competitive grants from the Knox County Foundation during its February grant cycle. (Photo courtesy of The Winter Sanctuary)
FULL PRESS RELEASE
Lisa Lloyd Senior Program Director Knox County Foundation 740-392-3270 Lisa@knoxcf.org
Knox County Foundation Awards Record $1.08 Million in Competitive Grants
Historic awards include two $300,000 grants and the launch of a new summer youth enrichment initiative
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (Feb. 27, 2026) — The Knox County Foundation Board of Directors approved $1,087,800 in competitive grant funding to 16 nonprofit organizations at its February 11, 2026, board meeting.
This year’s cycle saw a record number of applications and a total request amount of $1,937,279, reflecting both the growing needs and the continued momentum of organizations serving Knox County.
Among the awards are two $300,000 grants — tying for the largest competitive grants ever awarded by the Foundation.
The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities (KCBDD) received $300,000 toward the NewHope Early Education Center Renovation, a five-phase capital project designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and functionality at the KCBDD facility. The center houses Head Start and Educational Service Center classrooms and offices, supporting the delivery of education, therapy, and developmental services. The project will improve learning and program spaces, reduce safety hazards, increase access for underserved populations, and generate long-term cost savings that can be reinvested into programs that improve quality of life.
Steve Oster, superintendent of the KCBDD, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Knox County Foundation for this generous grant, which will have a tremendous impact on the NewHope Early Education Center and the community we serve. Upgrading our building with new windows, doors, fresh paint and modern heating controls ensures a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for children, adults, and families who rely on our programs. Investments like this allow us to continue providing high-quality education and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and children from birth through age five.”
The Winter Sanctuary was awarded $300,000 for “A Permanent Home,” a transformational initiative to secure a permanent facility for Knox County’s emergency shelter and homeless advocacy services. The property will allow for sleeping areas, staff workspace, and on-site advocacy services to operate under one roof. Renovations will also include dedicated space for unhoused families with children and will allow for the potential of year-round operations and expanded services in the future.
“This grant from the Knox County Foundation will help secure a permanent home for Knox County’s emergency shelter, providing consistent, safe shelter for individuals and families during times of crisis. It represents an investment not only in our organization, but in the stability and well-being of our entire community. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s partnership and commitment to caring for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Joe Springer, executive director at the Winter Sanctuary.
2026 Competitive Grant Recipients:
Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities – NewHope Early Education Center Renovation (Three-Year Capital Improvement Plan), $300,000
The Winter Sanctuary – A Permanent Home for Knox County’s Unhoused, $300,000
Foundation for Knox Community Hospital – Grant Award to be Publicly Announced at a Later Date
Kokosing Gap Trail – Kokosing Gap Trail Repaving, $75,000
Knox County Park District – Access and Welcome Facilities at the Woodlands Park, $64,000
Centerburg Local Schools – New Baseball Field, $50,000
HopeNow Inc. – Replacement of Box Truck, $50,000
Mount Vernon Arts Consortium – Amplifying Arts and Entertainment 2026 (Economic Development Initiative), $22,500
Mount Vernon City School District – Yellow Jacket CORE Drive to Succeed, $12,500
Knox County Educational Service Center – Youth Enrichment Series (Year 3 of 3), $12,500
Area Development Foundation, Inc. – 2026 Knox Teacher Manufacturing Bootcamp, $10,000
Food for the Hungry – Annual Drive Day Campaign (Year 3 of 3), $5,000
“These record-level grant requests demonstrate both the strength of our nonprofit community and the significant needs within Knox County,” said Lisa Lloyd, senior program director of the Knox County Foundation. “We are proud to partner with these organizations to make meaningful, long-term investments in our community.”
Introducing Summer Youth Enrichment Grants
New this year, the Foundation launched Summer Youth Enrichment Grants, designed to reduce financial barriers that prevent children and teens from participating in meaningful summer and extracurricular programs. The initiative aims to ensure that all Knox County youth have opportunities to grow, connect, and thrive through summer and seasonal experiences.
Knox County Family and Children First Council – Intentional Funding Program, $10,000
The Gund at Kenyon College – Summer Camp Series for Middle Schoolers and Teens, $6,000
Donor Advised Fund Grants
In addition to competitive grants, the Board ratified $289,660 in grants to 44 organizations from 21 Donor Advised Funds. These grants, recommended by fund advisors between December 2 and February 10, support a wide range of charitable initiatives across the community.
The next competitive grant cycle will conclude April 15, 2026. An Expression of Intent form is due by March 15, 2026. This cycle will be for small grants only, for requests of $10,000 or less.
For more information about grant opportunities, visit www.knoxcf.org.
Knox County Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.
Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about the different types of Self-Care. Check out this list. You can find some tips for your daily life and some ways to answer YES to that question.
We often think of generosity as something that benefits other people—and it absolutely does—but what’s fascinating is what it does to us. Neuroscience shows that when we give, our brains release powerful “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These neurotransmitters boost happiness, reduce stress, and deepen our sense of connection. Even more compelling, acts of generosity activate the brain’s reward center, the ventral striatum—the same area that lights up when we experience pleasure ourselves. In other words, we’re actually wired to give. It’s no accident that generosity feels good; it’s part of our design.
From a biblical perspective, this makes perfect sense. Scripture reminds us in Acts of the Apostles 20:35 that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and passages like 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasize giving from a cheerful heart. Generosity isn’t about obligation—it’s about partnership with God. When we give intentionally and joyfully, we align ourselves with His design, strengthening trust, community, and spiritual fulfillment. Generosity transforms not only the lives of those we bless, but also our own hearts and minds in the process.
On the Morning Thing Wednesday, Marcy gave some of the Top 15 ways you can bless others including:
Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Give the Gift of Prayer
Give Unexpected Gifts
Offer a Helping Hand
Click HERE to read the full article from Dr. Michelle Bengston!
Let’s be honest — we all want to live better, happier lives. But sometimes the very habits we cling to are the ones quietly making us miserable.
According to Ana Vakos from A Conscious Rethink, if you constantly feel unhappy, it’s easy to start believing happiness just isn’t meant for you. But here’s the good news: that’s simply not true.
The key isn’t waking up tomorrow as a completely different, sunshine-and-rainbows type of person. Real change doesn’t happen overnight.
Instead of chasing instant happiness, the first goal should be something much more realistic — just become less miserable. Find that neutral ground where you’re not thriving yet, but you’re no longer stuck in negativity either.
From there, you can build toward the life you actually want. One step at a time.
WNZR’s Eric Brown shared some of the list on Thursday during the Morning Thing including:
In a world filled with busy schedules and endless screens, meaningful family time often feels harder to create than it should be. But sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the simplest ideas.
Inspired by a list from Ordinary and Happy, families can turn ordinary evenings into something special with easy, creative activities at home—like movie nights, blanket forts, craft projects, storytelling games, baking together, mini competitions, virtual tours, and treasure hunts.
These ideas don’t require expensive supplies or elaborate planning—just presence, creativity, and a willingness to have fun together.
Whether it’s laughter in the kitchen, imagination in the living room, or shared stories around the table, small moments can become lifelong memories when families choose connection over distraction.
Click HERE to check out more from Ordinary and Happy’s website.
You know, nobody ever wakes up one morning and says, “Well, today I feel officially older.” It sneaks up on you. On the Morning Thing Thursday, WNZR’s Eric Brown talks about the fact he is getting older (He turns the BIG 5-0 this year) and how to embrace the fact its actually happening.
It’s the moment you stand up and make a noise without realizing it. Or when you hear a song on the radio and think, “That’s still new,” only to realize it came out 20 years ago.
Getting older doesn’t arrive with flashing lights or an announcement. It shows up quietly—in routines, in habits, in the way your calendar fills up faster than it used to.
And the strange thing is, inside, you don’t feel all that different. You still feel like you. The same thoughts, the same humor, the same dreams. But the mirror tells a slightly different story, and so does the calendar.
Aging sneaks up on you because life keeps moving while you’re busy living it. And maybe that’s not a flaw—it’s a gift. Because if we were constantly aware of time passing, we’d never enjoy the moments we’re in.
Sometimes the quiet arrival of age reminds us to pause, take stock, and be thankful we’ve been given the time to even notice it at all.
Click HERE for more information from Focus on the Family!
The Morning Thing talked about the Sanctity of Human Life on Friday. They shared some eye-opening facts and talked about a new ministry outreach from Starting Point Pregnancy & Family Resource Center. Marissa Stephens, Starting Point’s NEW Mobile Operations Coordinator shared the exciting news on how this new part of their ministry will reach our community. Click HERE to hear the full conversation, or click on the link below.
She shared the mission and services that the Mobile Unit will provide to residents. Starting Point is currently looking for volunteers – specifically stenographers or nurses anyone that can provide maintenance to the mobile vehicles. You can support this project at www.friendsofksp.com/give
Facts on Life (from Starting Point):
80% of women choose life after they see an ultrasound
A baby’s Heart starts beating at 5 weeks, often before a woman knows she’s pregnant! The heart beats about 54 million times between conception and birth!
In 2024 there was a total of 2,164,043 client visits to pro-life pregnancy centers, according to a report from Heartbeat International! Starting Point saw 2,033 client visits in 2024 and 2,277 in 2025!
A baby’s unique fingerprints form at 13 weeks
Strong Families are the foundation of a healthy communities. Starting Point served 287 individual clients. 40 of those clients were men seeking fatherhood and other support!
At 18 weeks in the womb, a baby can hear and identify their mom’s voice! (Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 21 weeks and 6 days!)
Also, check out the video below that gives you an overview of the NEW Mobile Unit Ministry with Starting Point. Exciting things are happening here in Knox County. Join the Fight for LIFE!
If your house is full of kids with extra energy and you’re feeling the pressure of a long holiday to-do list, you’re not alone.
The Christmas season can be joyful, but it can also be overwhelming when it feels like everything is on your shoulders.
That’s why iMOM.com suggests letting kids be part of the holiday prep. With simple, age-appropriate tasks, kids get to contribute, feel proud of their role, and help make Christmas meaningful — and parents get a little breathing room along the way.
Earlier on The Morning Thing Monday, we shared a list of holiday helper ideas broken down by age to make it easy to get everyone involved.
Today on the Morning Thing we got the chance to talk with many of our fellow staff members!
The Big Blue Crew shared what they are thankful for on this special holiday. We are thankful for YOU! Thanks for listening and supporting WNZR! Happy Thanksgiving!
Rise and Shine 