Jason Ogwyn of the Minden Foundation was the guest speaker at the noon Minden Lions Club on October12. Ogwyn has family ties in Ada Taylor that keep him close to Minden. After 18 years working in the hunting industry, Ogwyn now works in the oil industry.
Ogwyn has been on the board of the Minden Foundation for the past five years. Ogwyn noted a number of similarities between the Lions Club and the Minden Foundation.
“I think that to become a Lion you have to have that lionheart, that attitude of giving and willingness, that attitude to not only see an idea but to see it through. That’s a lot of how the Minden Foundation started,” said Ogwyn.
In 2004, a group of Minden businessmen and community leaders found themselves wanting to give back to the Minden community in some way that others couldn’t.
“They wanted to start something new, out of their own pockets and amongst their friends. They set out to not only find a way to raise funds but also how to distribute.
“It was just an idea to help someone that you really didn’t know.”
The mission of the Minden Foundation is to help support community members who have experienced sudden and catastrophic events. They offer some quick support to people who have experienced things like fires, flooding, or a loss of life. They also offer guidance to other sources of help that may be a better fit for that person’s needs.
The Minden Foundation uses an annual golf tournament as a major fundraiser. About five years ago, Ogwyn and his father decided to start a skeet shooting contest to help raise funds for the foundation. Over time, the event has grown considerably, last year bringing in $25,000. This year they have 38 teams signed up and 11 sponsors. The competition is open to men, women, and youth. This year there will be almost 30 participants under the age of 18.
“That’s what’s important: Keeping the community involvement, giving back to the participants that day, and giving back to the community that has done so much for us,” Ogwyn said.
The slots for this year’s Minden Foundation Shoot Out are filled, but the foundation is still selling raffle tickets and accepting donations. For more information, go to their website: MindenFoundation.org. Applications for help can also be found on this website.
The Lions Club hosts engaging speakers every Thursday at noon. Meetings take place at the American Legion Memorial Hall located at 119 Pine Street.