Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation

Doing Our Part to Build a Brighter Tomorrow

Murray & Murray in Sandusky proudly stays active in our communities by supporting local organizations that uplift people in need, especially children, youths, and teenagers. With this passion in our hearts, we established the Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation.

Mission Statement:

“We wish to enhance the quality of life in the Erie County Community, which has generously supported our family. It is our intent to address the needs of its citizens primarily focusing on youth-related issues.”

Organizations We Support

• Imagination Library: For many years, the Foundation has contributed to the Imagination Library in Erie County to encourage reading from the time children are born until they attend school.  The children receive a book each month which is age appropriate.  Ann Murray and Susan Murray were responsible for bringing the Imagination Library to Erie County.  After the local service group, Zonta, took over the administration of the Imagination Library, the Foundation continued to support the library. 
• Kinship: The Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation has supported the noble endeavors of Kinship for several years.  The organization helps families visit in a comfortable and safe setting.  Susan Murray currently serves on the Kinship Board.
• Giving Birthdays: The Foundation supports the nonprofit agency of Giving Birthdays.  This agency provides children in kinship or foster care in Erie County with a birthday celebration, including a birthday cake, birthday presents and party decorations. This program allows children to know that they are special and supports their caregivers
• Boys & Girls Club of Erie County: Through the Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation, our family has been actively involved with the community year-round, contributing financially and volunteering time with civic and charitable institutions in the area. The Charitable Foundation has supported and helps families from the Boys & Girls Club of Erie County, where our partners volunteered time tutoring and playing games with kids after school on several occasions. Tami Murray and Susan Murray each served as original Board members for the Boys & Girls Club of Erie County. Through organizations such as the Kindship and the Boys & Girls Club, Murray & Murray has established an ongoing commitment to supporting the local community.
• Erie County Economic Development Corporation: Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation has supported the RISE Incubator Program. The Regional Incubator for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship (RISE) program of the Erie County Economic Development Corporation offers free business development assistance to entrepreneurs and existing businesses in our area.
• Erie County Community Foundation: As a member of the Council of Foundations, the Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation participates regularly in group meetings to review community proposals and collaborate on joint initiatives. These initiatives include the Internship Program, which was developed to introduce college-aged area residents to local nonprofits. Margaret Murray is pleased to serve on the screening committee for this successful program.
• Firelands Habitat for Humanity: Peggy Murray and Ann Murray were founders of the Firelands Habitat for Humanity. Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation is proud to have funded and worked on an all-women’s build home on Hancock Street in Sandusky. The Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation also financially supported the consolidation of the Firelands Habitat for Humanity ReStore facility on U.S. 250. Partner Nolan Murray currently serves as the Treasurer for Firelands Habitat.  
• Sandusky State Theatre: The Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation periodically underwrites programs for children at the historic Sandusky State Theatre.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation has supported this organization for decades. Together with the other Board Members of County Cupboard, Peggy Murray established the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and chaired its capital campaign to build its initial foodbank on Baumhart Road in Lorain. Margaret Murray later joined the board and served six years, three of which as the President. Elizabeth Newman, sister of Dennis, Charles, Florence, and Margaret and daughter of Dennis and Peggy, later served on the board. When these programs were initiated, the Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation funded the Backpack Program and Kids Café at Boys and Girls Club. The foundation has also contributed to Second Harvest accounts for other Sandusky agencies, such as OH-Go and the Boys & Girls Club.

Scholarship Opportunities

The education of our children sets the foundation that they will stand upon as our future leaders. It is vitally important to Murray & Murray that we also help promote higher education however we can, including scholarship opportunities for local students. We sponsor an annual renewal scholarship for Sandusky High School Students and an annual scholarship for Firelands BGSU Students. The Foundation also supports the BGSU Firelands Student Parent Support Program to enable parents to continue their education.