MASON — The Mason County Community Foundation will host an Annual Grant Reception & Benefit on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009.

The event, sponsored by Peoples Bank, will kick-off at 6 p.m. at Riverside Golf Club in Mason. This year’s theme is appropriately titled “Building a Brighter Future through Teamwork”.

The benefit is held as a year-end celebration of the Foundation’s community activities and this year will feature guest speaker NFL Great, Mike Bartrum. In addition to Bartrum’s address, the 2009 Community Action and Fund for Youth Grant Awards will be presented to area non-profit groups. City National Bank is serving as a co- sponsor for 2009 Community Action Grant Round.

The foundation’s guest speaker, Mike Bartrum, was a long snapper and tight end in the National Football League for over 13 years. Bartrum now resides in Meigs County, Ohio with his wife, Jennifer, a physical therapist, and their four children Cody Michael, 10, Zachary Fenton, 9, Ty Austin, 5, and Taylor Catherine, 3. Since his retirement from the NFL, Bartrum has become extremely active in community service.

Bartrum attended Meigs High School in Pomeroy and then played college football at Marshall University. He was All-Southern Conference second team tight end in 1991 and first team All-SEC in 1992, as well as second team All-American on The Sports Network team that same season. His tight ends coach, Mark Gale, introduced him to the position of long snapper which propelled Bartrum into the National Football League. Bartrum played for the Kansas City Chiefs (1993), Green Bay Packers (1995) and the New England Patriots (1996-1999) before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles (2000). He was invaluable as the team’s long snapper, but also filled-in where needed. He handled kick-off duties in two games when David Akers was injured, which earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl after the 2005 season. In 2006, Bartrum also served as the emergency quarterback after an injury to Donovan McNabb.

Following a game with the Indianapolis Colts in November 2006, Bartrum suffered neck pain. An MRI showed some bulging in one disc as well as a disc which was “herniated centrally and lying against the spinal cord.” Bartrum was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season but announced his retirement in June 2007. Re-settled in Pomeroy, Bartrum has been instrumental as a community leader kick starting new programs including teaching at a Christian pre-school, organizing a youth flag football league in cooperation with the NFL, spearheading the charge to build a new football field and track facility at Meigs High School, and serving as a Meigs County Commissioner.

“We are happy to have Mike Bartrum address our community,” Sharon Stapleton, Peoples Bank Point Pleasant Main Street Office Manager, said. “The Mason Community Foundation is working to build community supporters and there is no one better to talk about the value of teamwork and the importance of supporting the community than Mike. He was a remarkable football player and now actively works as a community leader focusing on youth development. I encourage folks to join to us for the evening. I guarantee you will leave with a renewed sense of community pride.” Stapleton is also a volunteer with the Foundation.

The benefit is open to the public and serves as a fund raising event to build the Mason County Community Grant Fund, which funds the Foundation’s annual Community Action Grants Program. An auction of unique items donated by community supporters will be conducted at the end of the evening. “This is always a fun year-end event for the community and a great way for folks to learn more about the Community Foundation while supporting our community grant fund,”Jane Winters, Foundation Manager, said.

Individual tickets are on sale for $50 per person. Sponsorship tables are available for $1,000 for a table of eight and $550 for a half table of four. Tickets and table sponsorships can be purchased at the City National Bank by contacting Missi Scarberry at 304-674-1017 or through e-mail at melissa.scarberry@cityholding.com. You can also contact the Community Foundation by calling 304-372-8588 or through e-mail at jane.winters@pacfwv.com.

The Mason County Community Foundation was founded in 2004 by a group of interested Mason County citizens as an affiliate of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF). All funds held by the Mason County Community Foundation are dedicated to Mason County to support and build the quality of life for its residents.