Michelle Wightman
Karrie Wieber

The mission of the Wightman/Wieber Foundation is to perpetuate the memory of Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber, who tragically lost their lives in a car-train collision on February 19, 1989, by establishing a permanent, charitable foundation for the benefit of the Sandusky/Erie County Community and the safety of all public citizens.

The Foundation

Darlene and Karleen guided the vision of the Wightman Wieber Charitable Foundation and made crucial priorities that impact our contributions to the community.  As a Foundation, we work to support and build upon the existing nonprofits that are in Erie County and strive to encourage collaborations. Evidence from the organizations who receive funding from the Wightman Wieber Charitable Foundation encourage the ongoing, sustainable opportunity to serve and fund good causes.

Recipients of Wightman Wieber Grants 2000-2024

Abate Foundation

Ability Works  

Access to Recreation, Trust of Public Land 

A.C.O.R.N. Ministry

American Assn. Of University Women Sandusky Branch

American Red Cross-Firelands Chapter

American Red Cross of NC Ohio

American Red Cross – Lake Erie / Heartland Chapter

Anthony’s Villa Residential Care Services

Back to the Wild

Back to the Wild Wildlife Ambassador Feed

Bay Area Baseball

Bay Area Soccer League

Bayshore Counseling Services Inc.

Berlin Heights Baseball League

Berlin Heights Community Center

Berlin Heights Post 659 American Legion, Inc.

Berlin Parents Club-Berlin-Milan Local Schools 

Berlin-Milan Local School District

Berlin-Milan Youth Sports League 

Beulah Beach Corporation

Beulah Beach Camp and Retreat Beauty for Ashes Sponsorship

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County, Inc.

Boots to Grasses Therapeutic Horsemanship

Bowling Green State University- Firelands College

 Bowling Green State University – Firelands – Teaching and Learning Center

BGSU Foundation (Firelands) Allied Health & Sciences Expansion Project 

BGSU Foundation – George Mylander Scholarship 

Boy Scouts of America Heart of Ohio Council

Boy Scout Troop #24

Boys & Girls Club of Erie County, Inc.

Boys & Girls Club of Erie County, Kinzel Courts Project

Briar Middle School 

Bridges of Opportunity / Grace Episcopal Church

Campbell Community Center Breakfast Buddies

Cancer Services of Erie County

Care and Share, SECCF 

Care and Share of Erie Co.

Caryl Crane Youth Theatre

Center for Cultural Awareness, Inc.

Cinderella’s Closet

City of Huron – RR safety/ Berlin Rd

City of Huron – Huron Boat Basin

City of Huron Parks & Recreation Dept.

City of Sandusky

City of Sandusky City of Sandusky – Greenhouse

City of Sandusky – Provillion Project

City of Sandusky – Safety Town

City of Sandusky – Summer Playground Program

City of Sandusky and Sandusky Maritime Museum 

City of Sandusky Police Department

City of Sandusky Recreation Division

City of Vermilion Community Action Commission

City of Vermilion Fire Dept.

Crossroads / Volunteers of America

Edison Birthplace Association, Inc.

Edison Elementary School

EHOVE Adult Career Center

Erie Co. – Bike Erie Co

Erie Co. 4-H Camp, Inc.

Erie Co. Agricultural Association

Erie Co. Agricultural Society for the Erie County Fairgrounds Youth

Erie Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities

Erie Co. Care-a-Van

Erie Co. CASA Program

Erie Co. Chapter Ohio County & Independent

Erie Co. Childrens Services

Erie Co. Childrens Services and Sandusky Area YMCA

Erie Co. Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations & Juvenile

ECCF/Erie Co. Community Foundation

ECCF/Community Links Internship

ECCF/Bicentennial Commission

ECCF/Rise program of ECEDC  

ECCF/Rise program of ECEDC 

ECCF/Huron Playhouse

ECCF/Internship Initiative 

ECCF for Sandusky Imagination Library

ECCF/Kiwanis Club of Sandusky – Imagination Library

ECCF/Sandusky City Pavilion Area Planning 

ECCF/The State Theatre Project

ECCF/Nehemiah Center Roof Project

 Erie Co. Economic Development Corp.

Erie Co. Education Foundation

Erie Co. Emergency Management Agency

Erie Co. Family & Children First

Erie Co. Health Department

Erie Co. Health Department Safe Start Car Seat Initiative

Erie Co. Regional Planning

Erie Co. Senior Center (Auxiliary)(Metro Housing Authority)

Erie Co. Senior Center 

Erie Metro Parks

Erie Metro Live Steamers

Erie Metro Steamers Railroad – Tie and Rail Screw Replacement

Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority – Bayshore Towers

Erie Residential Living, Inc. – Enhancing Residents Lives

Erie County Sheriff’s Office

Erie County Sheriff’s Office – Guardian Angel Safety Device Project

Erie Shore Network, Inc.

Erie-Ottawa ADAMHS Board

Family Health Services of Erie Co

Father’s Heart Ministry

Firelands Habitat for Humanity

Firelands Habitat for Humanity – HVAC for a Habitat Home

Firelands Health

Firelands Positive People

Firelands Positive People Huron (annual Scholarships for 500 each) School Positive Living Award, Inc.

Firelands Public Safety Training Center

Firelands Regional Medical Center Community Outreach Dept.

Firelands Regional Medical Center Center for Women and Newborns

Firelands Symphony Orchestra

Firelands Symphony Orchestra – 2024 Outdoor Family Summer Pop Concert

Firelands Symphony Orchestra and School of the Arts

Fireland Symphony Orchestra – Etiquette Video

Flat Rock Homes

Friends of Erie Metroparks

Friends of Erie Metroparks – Education Mural for Roger Johnson Nature Center

Friends of the Sandusky Greenhouse, Inc.

Friends of Huron Public Library Huron Public Library – Media Lab

Friends of the Sandusky Underground Railroad Education Center Inc.

Furry Elementary School

Genesis By the Lake

Genesis Sober Living Community

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio for Girl Scout Troop #369

Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky Counties, Inc.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 

Grace’s Food Pantry / Grace Lutheran 

Grace United Methodist Church for Grace’s Kitchen

Great Lakes Visual & Performing Arts Acad.

Sandusky High School

Groton Township, Erie Co

Hancock Elementary

Harlequins, Inc.

Historic Lyme Village

Holy Angels Parish / Zion Lutheran Parish

Hope for Futures

Humane Society of Erie County

Huron Baseball Program Inc.

Huron City Schools

Huron City Schools-Counseling Dept.

Huron Lions Club

Huron Playhouse, Inc.

Huron Public Library

Juvenile Justice – Family Court/Juvenile Court

Job and Family Services

Kendra’s House

Karleen Wieber Memorial Scholarship

Kelleys Island Historical Association

Kelleys Island Park Board

KinShip Inc.

Kinship House

Kiwanis Club of Sandusky

Kiwanis Club of Sandusky – Imagination Library

Lake Erie Foundation

Leadership Enrichment and Development Sandusky, Inc.

Leadership Erie County

 Leadership Erie Co (Amvets Park)

Leadership Erie Co Inc. c/o City of Sandusky

Leadership Erie Co (Hoops & Loops: Playground and Salvation Army)

Leadership Erie Co 

Let’s Get Real, Inc.

Margaretta Boys Basketball

Margaretta 8th Grade Class 8th Grade Washington DC Trip

Margaretta Elementary Schools

Margaretta Elementary School 5th Grade Science Fund

Margaretta Middle School

Margaretta High School – School Dance Team

Margaretta High School Band

Margaretta High School Boy’s Basketball Program

Margaretta High School Music Dept.

Margaretta Jr. High School

Margaretta Local Schools – Achievement Hall of Fame

Margaretta Local Schools – Pole Vault Safety Landing System

Margaretta Local Schools – Student Safety Initiative

Margaretta Local Schools – Support for Swimmers

Margaretta Polar Bear Swim Club

Margaretta Township Fire Dept.

Men of Action Ministries

Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties

Michael’s House

Milan Historical Museum

Milan-Berlin Township Public Library

Museum of Carousel Art and History

Nehemiah Partners

New Day Family Resource Center

New Perspective Foundation

New Jerusalem Church

New Jerusalem Baptist Church Community Helping Hands

NOECA (Northern Ohio Educational Computer

North Coast Cancer Foundation

North Point Educational Service Center-Townsend Building

OhGo

OhGo Pantry Supplies

Ohio Historical Society 

Oxford Township

Perkins Athletic Booster Club, Inc. 

Perkins Local School District

Perkins Township

Perkins Township Imagination Playground Project

Perkins Township Police Dept.

Perkins Township – Strickfaden Park

Polar Bear Swim Club

Project Share

Project Share of Margaretta TownshipRenaissance House, Inc.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

 Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc.

Safe Harbour – Walk a Mile in her shoes

Salvation Army

Sandusky Adult Basis Education / Sandusky Career Center

Sandusky Area Health Education Center

Sandusky Area Maritime Association

Sandusky Area Maritime Museum

Sandusky Area YMCA

Sandusky Art Walk Merry-Go-Round Museum, Inc.

Sandusky Artisans Cooperative

Sandusky Band Parents Organization

Sandusky Bay Area Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Sandusky Bay Rowing Assoc

Sandusky Bicentennial Commission – 

Sandusky Blue Streak Booster Club – Football Helmets 

Sandusky Blue Streak Booster Club 

Sandusky Boosters Club

Sandusky Career Center

Sandusky Central Catholic School

Sandusky Churches Adopt a School

Sandusky City Schools 

Sandusky City Schools

Sandusky City Schools – Aquatic Center 

Sandusky City Schools – Band

Sandusky City Schools – Elementary Athletic Association

Sandusky City Schools – Elementary Swim Team

Sandusky City Schools – High School Bowling Team

Sandusky City Schools – High School Choir Christmas concert in Toronto

Sandusky City Schools – High School Softball Team

Sandusky City Schools – Hancock School Parent Council

Sandusky City Schools – Intramural Basketball 

Sandusky City Schools – Middle School

Sandusky City Schools – Osborne Elementary

Sandusky City Schools – Annual Parent Summit

Sandusky City Schools – Preschool

Sandusky City Schools – Reading is the Write Stuff

Sandusky City Schools Board of Education

Sandusky City Schools – Lady Blue Volleyball Camp

Sandusky City Schools – Regional Center for Advanced Academic Studies

Sandusky City Schools – Varsity (Lady Blue 

Streak) Volleyball Professional Camp

Sandusky Community Celebrations Council

Sandusky Community Prescription Ministry

Sandusky Concert Association, Inc.

Sandusky Early Learning Center

Sandusky Elks Lodge #285 – Kids Fishing Derby

Sandusky Erie County Charitable

Sandusky Erie County Community Fund

Sandusky Fastpitch Association

Sandusky Fire Department

Sandusky Flag Corps

Sandusky High School Football Camp

Sandusky High School

Sandusky High School – Acapella Choir

Sandusky High School Bands

Sandusky High School Boys Basketball Assistance

Sandusky High School – Boys & Girls Tennis

Sandusky High School Cheerleading

Sandusky High School Cheerleading-Summer Camp & Team Warm Ups

Sandusky High School or Sandusky Blue Streak Football – Football Unity Camp

Sandusky High School – Girls Softball Team

Sandusky High School Gospel Choir 

Sandusky High School-Varsity Vollyball 

Sandusky High School Wrestling

Sandusky Library

Sandusky Library Literacy Program 

Sandusky Lions Club 

Sandusky Lions Club Fund for The Blind of Erie County

Sandusky Lions Club Fund for The Blind of Erie County & the Erie County Sheriff’s Dept.

Sandusky Middle School

Sandusky Middle School – Para-Pro Deaf

Sandusky Pride Festival

Sandusky Relay for Life 

Sandusky State Theater, Inc.

Second Harvest Food Bank of NC Ohio

Service Center

Serving Our Seniors

St. Mary’s School – Vermilion

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church

St. Peter Catholic School

St. Stephen Kiddie College Nursery

Stein Hospice Grief Support Services for Erie Co

TEAM Warriors

The Arc of Erie County

The Kelleys Island School Committee of Student Wellness

The Ohio Veterans Home VolunteerAdvisory Committee, Inc.

The Salvation Army

The Volunteers of America Helpmates

Tri-County SANE/SART

Vacationland Swim Club

Vermilion Port Authority

Victory Temple Soup Kitchen

Village of Berlin Heights

Visions of Tomorrow

Volunteer Center of Erie Co

Volunteers of America Greater Ohio 

Crossroads Shelter – Christmas Cheer

Volunteers of America Greater Ohio Crossroads Shelter – Crossroads Community Campaign

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Wightman-Wieber Kid Fest

Woman Half Way Home

Woodlands Elementary School, Music Dept. Instruments for Grades 3-5

Zion Lutheran Church

Local Impact

Hundreds of Erie County, Ohio, nonprofits have benefitted from Wightman Wieber grants since the Foundation’s inception in 2000. Significant grants have been made to the Pediatric Center and Center for Women and Newborns at Firelands Regional Medical Center; The Sandusky State Theatre; The Firelands Symphony Orchestra; The BGSU Firelands Foundation; all Erie County Schools; and Erie County food pantries.

Completed Wightman Wieber Grant Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 and September 1.

For more information, click here.

Thank you to the Wightman Wieber Foundation

Thank you for your generous donation to our art program! Having the supplies and tools for this class is very important, and we are grateful that you contribute to make that happen.

Margaretta Arts Students

Father’s Heart Summer Lunch Program 2019: 5 days and 360 free meals provided. This was only possible because of you!

Father's Heart Family Church

We wanted to thank you for granting our request for funds for the Safe Homes/Safe Families program. We see families in their homes every day, and discuss safety with them regularly. We can assure you these funds will be put to good use. Thank you!

Erie County Help Me Grow Early Intervention and Home Visiting

Completed Wightman Wieber Grant Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 and September 1 each year.

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