MOUNT VERNON — From a great tragedy, often springs great hope. Helping others who are going through a trying time is the goal for the committee members of the Healing Hearts Memorial Fund. They know about tragedy first-hand.
HHMF was established by the family of Tina Herrmann and Kody Maynard after their lives, and the life of Stephanie Sprang, were taken last November by Matthew Hoffman.
“They just want to be able to help other people,” said Teresa Partlow, friend of the Herrmann family and organizer of a raffle being conducted to benefit the Healing Hearts Memorial Fund. “Tina was a really good friend. She was always there to listen and always willing to offer help when needed.”
The fund is a way for surviving members of the family to reach out to others who find themselves in a similar situation.
“This fund is to provide assistance to survivors and victims of violent crimes,” said Tina’s mother, Barb Herrmann.
“It’s fairly new,” said Barb. “We’re traveling around educating people about the memorial fund and what we want to do.”
Sarah Maynard, survivor of last year’s tragedies, is a spokesperson for the group and will be traveling to various festivals over the summer, promoting awareness and raising funds, Barb said.
Partlow’s 50-50 raffle is an effort to help provide enough money to start helping people.
“We’re in the early stages of raising funds,” said Amy Eyman, executive director of the Fairfield County Foundation, which is managing the Memorial Fund. “The fund is set up to spend only interest so that there will always be money there.”
Partlow was at Dale’s Cardinal Market in Danville last week selling raffle tickets. They can also be purchased at Memorial Park in Danville from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 2; at CES Credit Union in Mount Vernon from noon to 5 p.m., Friday, June 3; and during business hours at Dean’s Jewelry on Coshocton Avenue in Mount Vernon. Tickets are also planned to be on sale soon at the Pirate’s Cove on Coshocton Avenue. More dates and locations are hoped to be announced once more volunteers are contacted.
Ticket sales are expected to continue until mid-June with the drawing taking place later in June.
Partlow said she is doing what she can to honor her friend.
“I just want to help carry on their memory,” she said.
Committee members currently working on raising funds are Barb Herrmann; Kody’s father Larry Maynard; Barb’s brother, Bernard Fleming; her cousin, Carla Miller; and her niece, Kimberly Donley.
Anyone wishing to make donations to the Healing Hearts Memorial Fund can contact the Fairfield County Foundation at 740-654-8451.
