ANSONIA – Ansonia American Legion Post held its annual Community Donation event Monday evening, giving out $22,960 to this year’s recipients.
Receiving these “gifts” were Ansonia Fire and Rescue, Ansonia Rescue, Rossburg Fire Department, Greenville Honor Guard, Greenville American Legion Boys Baseball, Boy Scout Troop 114, Girl Scout Troop 3077, Girls Scouts of Western Ohio, Ansonia High School Band, Ansonia Athletic Association, Ansonia Tiger Cubs, Shriners, Ansonia Academic Boosters, Ansonia School, Ansonia Athletic Department, Yearbook and Ansonia Parents Association.
Ansonia Legionnaires who participated in the presentations were Commander Jennifer Anthony, Adjutant Jim Kammer, First Vice Gary Midlam, Second Vice Russell Midlam, Ivan Christian, Bob Christian and Ken Preston.
Prior to the presentation and following the pizza party, the Tiger Cubs entertained the crowd with a dance routine.
Accepting on behalf of the Ansonia Fire was Chief Chris Widener; the Ansonia Rescue, President Crystal Horne; Rossburg Fire Department, Rob Widener; Boy Scouts Troop 114, leaders Dave Staver, Carl Post and Michael and Nick Thornhill.
Also introduced were those who have already been presented with their gifts: Ansonia High School band, band director Jessica Berry; Ansonia Academic Boosters, Kelly Dapore; and Shriners, Ken Preston.
Representing the Tiger Cubs were Grace Tobe, Gracelynn Caldwell, Nora Barnt, Josi Weiss, Layla Ryan, Harper Bubeck, Chloe Hickey, Ashlyn Smith, Avery Meadows, Claire Eubank, Sophia Hart, Addison Midlam, Bella Shilt, Brenna Hartzell and Emily Creager and their coaches, Eelyse Shilt and Kami Shinn Phlipot.
Girl Scout Troop 3077 members in attendance were: Leaders Stacy Gibson and Amber Robinson and girls, Katheryn Gibson, Carissa and Cassidy Robinson, Lexi Brunner, Claire Eubank, Hallie and Addison Midlam, Autumn Gessler, Chloe Hickey, Harper Bubeck, Brooklyn Hiatt, Arianna Hecker and Elizabeth Graf.
Members of the Girls Scouts of Western Ohio 3210 in attendance were Leaders Katie Mangen and Ashley Moody; Troop Assistant Stephanie Leeper; and girls, Betty Hildebrand, Katie Midlam, Kennedy Leeper, Mila Routt, Kelsie Midlam, Dezba Bean, Calleigh Leeper, Astrid Mangen, Atalie Moody, Aven Moody, Allison Horst and Millie Dunes. Unable to attend from the group were Troop Assistants Lindsey Schlarman, Caitlin Hiestand and Caitlyn Bailey and members Autum Anderson, Rachel Schlarman and Ariel Hiestand.
Representing the Ansonia School in the presentations were Superintendent PJ Burgett and Head Custodian Rob Grilliot. A Kubota four-wheeler ATV was purchased earlier.
Representing the Ansonia Athletic Department were football coaches Adam Hall and TJ Phlipot and track/hurdle coach Clint Neal, as well as athletes, Eyan Hackler, Ian Schmitmeyer, Levi Gasper, Exzavier Moody and Kayden Edwards. It was explained that the football team had already received its contributions of $25 per touchdown and $50 per touchdown post-season, to the varsity football team and coaches Adam Hall and T.J. Phlipot. Clint Neal received his gift Monday night for the hurdles that were needed for the WOH junior high track meet held at Ansonia.
Unable to attend the event were representatives from the Greenville Honor Guard and Greenville American Legion Boys Baseball as well as recipients for the Yearbook and Ansonia Parents Association contributions.
“The Legion hosts fish dinners, reuben nights, wing nights, and burrito dinners just to name a few,” the commander told the crowd. “All of these are open to the public and are held monthly. The revenue from these sales along with canteen sales, enable us to give that money back to the community in the form of donations as we are a non-profit entity. The more the community supports the Legion, the more we can give back to so many organizations.”
She added, “We added a new recipient- the Ansonia Tiger Cubs Dance Group, and we are thrilled with the way this helps children. After all, helping children is one of the main tenets of the Legion mission.”
