The Foundation
When Brian was accepted at Franciscan University, he was offered an academic, four year, partial scholarship but Brian asked if he could turn it down. He said, "Can't we let someone else have it? Someone who needs it more?" He wrote a letter to the University thanking them for the scholarship but asking them to give it to someone else.
In the spirit of Brian's generosity we have established the Brian Muha Memorial Scholarship Foundation for needy students.
Past Accomplishments of the Foundation
* Purchased the house at 165 McDowell, where Brian and Aaron were going to live for the summer. Now called Divine Mercy House, student priests live there as guests of the Foundation, keeping Brian, Aaron, their families, all supporters of the Foundation and all the people of the neighborhood in their daily prayers and Masses.
* Established the Brian Muha/Aaron Land Memorial Scholarship Fund at Franciscan University with an initial endowment of $30,000, raised at the first Brian Muha Memorial Golf Outing, July 22, 2000.
* Supported the "Go The Distance to Make a Difference" fund-raising effort spearheaded by Patty Lounder of Weirton, WV. Their elementary school penny drive, talent show and high school celebrity basketball game netted $2500 for the Scholarship Fund.
* Promoted speaking engagements for Rachel Muha and Chris Muha who have addressed adults and young people on various topics: Brian's Life and Death; Forgiveness; Dealth Penalty.
* Purchased $500 in school supplies for elementary school students in the LaBelle neighborhood in Steubenville, Ohio.
Future Plans
* Will buy and distribute school supplies and snack foods for the LaBelle (off campus, Franciscan University area) elementary and middle school students. We will distribute the items through the LaBelle Neighbors Who Care, a "block watch" community group started after Brian and Aaron died. ($500)
*Will buy school supplies for west side Columbus area students.
* Increase fund raising efforts in order to maintain Divine Mercy House, contribute to the Brian Muha Memorial Scholarship at St. Charles Preparatory School, and to establish after school/summer time tutoring and sports camps for inner city Steubenville/Weirton/Pittsburgh, Columbus and Cleveland area children.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Monetary Help
1. $120,000.00 raised to date for the endowed Brian Muha/Aaron Land Scholarship at Franciscan University.
2. Endowed scholarship to St. Charles Preparatory School, giving tuition assistance each year.
3. $12,000 donation to private home school cooperative.
4. $10,000 tuition assistance to Franciscan University student George Hopkins, now a graduate of the University.
5. $1000.00 donated to St. Thomas the Apostle School, in memory of Hazel Ganim. $500.00 to Deaconess Hospital (where Brian was born) for medical care for inner city child. $500.00 to All Saints School Fund, Steubenville. $500.00 to family of 12 in LaBelle area of Steubenville. $500.00 to Boys and Girls Club of Weirton, WV. Numerous donations to S.P.I.C.E. program at St. Catherine's School, Columbus. Donations to needy families in Columbus and Steubenville. Donation to family of 9, helping older boys attend Catholic summer camp. Donations to Holy Family Church Tuition Fund.
Goods and Services
1. School supplies and reading materials every year to LaBelle area children for summer reading program.
2. Repairs, upkeep, mortgage, utilities, etc. at Divine Mercy House, 165 McDowell, Steubenville.
3. Science kits, paints and school supplies to Steubenville area schools (supplies donated by St. Albert the Great School, Broadview Hts, and others).
4. Published and distributed tens of thousands of booklets entitled, "Love Stories for Children", "On Forgiveness" and "On the Death Penalty". Also, distributed thousands of Foundation brochures.
5. Hundreds of speaking engagements, reaching thousands of people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan.
6. Visits with young men and women in juvenile detention centers.
Projects on Columbus' West Side:
1. Distribute hundreds of school supplies to the children.
2. Christian based after school activity/tutoring center.
3. Paperwork and phone call assistance in securing needed city services for inner city residents.
Also:
We have started to publish, occasionally, a magazine called Vita Christiana which highlights Ohio's Christianity, past and present. Online version coming soon.
THE BRIAN MUHA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, INC.
VERSION OF…………………….............
Two adults and six children lived in this dilapidated house in Columbus, OH.
The landlord would do nothing to fix it. One of the children started coming to
The Run The Race Club, an after-school program founded by the Foundation. After seeing
how this family lived, we decided to do our own version of Extreme Home Makeover.
EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER!
This same family now lives here. This house is still in Columbus’ inner city but it is in much better shape. Not only were we able to buy the house, we were able to furnish it from top to bottom with new and used furniture and appliances, thanks to the generosity of Margo Medwid and St. Agatha’s St. Vincent De Paul Society; Lili and Andy Chalfant; Doug and Patty Green; Andy and Tiffany Canter; Greg and Tricia Speicher; David and Siham Saliba; Tom and ReNee Pelicano; Sheila Bello; Traci Ganim; Paul and Sheila Reiner; Rick and Diane Ganim; Chris Muha. Thank you!
