Money collected for good causes

A campaign to fund Boy Scouts’ activities in the Lincoln Trail District reached its $55,000 goal.

Ben Sheroan

After addressing the audience at the March 4 awards ceremony, Larry Mengel, right, accepts the Distinguished Citizen Award from Trinity Searcy, the dinner co-chairman and emcee.

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The bulk of the money was collected as part of the Distinguished Citizen award dinner March 4, according to organizer Bill Barron.

The committee raised roughly $32,000 in advance of the dinner and collected contributions and commitments for another $20,000 from attendees on hand at Grace Heartland Church for the program honoring Larry Mengel, former director of Hardin County’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Barron, who serves on the Hardin and LaRue County Friends of Scouting Committee, said Monday a final solicitation effort by volunteers pushed the total to the collection target.

Local residents also were involved in two other recent fundraising efforts.

• USA Cares collected more than $25,000 to benefit soldiers in need of assistance through its Stars & Strikes Bowlathon last weekend at Dix-E-Town Lanes. Participating were more than 80 teams representing local businesses, military families, church groups and other organizations. USA Cares, a national nonprofit founded in Radcliff, provides financial aid, advocacy and support for military families.
•  Kosair Children’s Hospital reports that a two-day drive last week collected $27,145 for the Louisville facility. The Miracle Marathon was staged by radio stations WQXE and WULF. In 2011, more than 3,000 children from Hardin County received care at the hospital, said Maggie Roetker, communications manager for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.