Joe Long Foundation Inc.

05/16/2026

Way to go, Mason! He bowled a perfect game! What an accomplishment as a young athlete! 👏 We are proud of you! 🎉 Representing Morrow County, proudly! We love it!

04/24/2026

Our hearts are heavy as we join our neighboring community in mourning the loss of East Knox senior, Aidan Riggle.

While not from our county, Aidan was part of the same conference and athletic community that brings us all together. His strength, courage, and resilience in the face of cancer touched so many and will not be forgotten.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Riggle family, his teammates, friends, and the entire East Knox community. During such a difficult time, we are reminded of the importance of coming together, lifting one another up, and leading with compassion.

Praying for comfort, peace, and strength for all who loved him.

Today, our Bulldog community experienced a profound loss. One of our seniors, Aidan Riggle, passed away after bravely fighting cancer this year.

Aidan showed incredible courage, strength, and resilience, and his impact on those around him will not be forgotten.

We lift up the Riggle family, as well as Aidan’s friends, classmates, and teachers in our thoughts and prayers. During times like this, may we lean on one another and surround each other with kindness, love, and support.

04/20/2026

Some people just make a place feel better, and John Walker was one of those people.

It’s hard to put into words the kind of impact he had. He showed up for people, helped when it was needed, made you laugh, and never hesitated to share his faith. He had a way of making you feel comfortable and cared about, like you mattered.

He loved his family deeply and was proud of this community. You could see it in how he lived and how he treated others.

We’re keeping his wife, his kids, and everyone who loved him in our thoughts and prayers. He’s going to be missed by so many.

Celebrate the life of John Walker and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/15/2026

‼️ Today is the FINAL day to submit your entires for the Be Like Joe Scholarship! Don’t miss out on your chance to receive a $500 scholarship! 👏

✨ Just a reminder-
-there are no GPA requirements,
-further education is not required to receive it,
- you simply need to be a graduating senior athlete and attending one of the 5 Morrow County high schools!

-Submit a (at least) one minute video with a letter of recommendation (we know you kids can make tik toks longer than that 🤣) with how you have made a difference in your community.

-Joe Long Foundation

04/11/2026

🚨 WEDNESDAY IS THE DEADLINE!
Don’t miss out Seniors! Just a quick video on on how you have impacted your community, and you could receive a $500 scholarship! Mount Gilead High SchoolCardington-Lincoln Local Schools Northmor Local School District Highland High School-Marengo, Ohio Gilead Christian School

03/21/2026

We want to say a very sincere thank you to Kyle Mckenzie and Britta McKenzie for their incredibly meaningful donation to the Joe Long Foundation.

Kyle and Britta have always been more than friends to Joe. They have been like family to the Longs, sharing so many memories and years of friendship that mean so much to all of us.

Even though they now live in Florida, they continue to support what we’re doing in Joe’s name, and that truly means a lot. Their community is lucky to have them, just like we were.

Their kindness and support help us continue giving back to youth athletes and carrying on Joe’s legacy.

Thank you, Kyle and Britta, for being such an important part of Joe’s life and for continuing to stand with our foundation.

03/18/2026

🚨 Reminder: The “Be Like Joe” Scholarship deadline is coming up on April 15th!

We are getting close to the deadline for the “Be Like Joe” Scholarship and we would love to see more applications come in!

This $500 scholarship honors Joe Long’s legacy by recognizing student-athletes who are making a positive impact in their communities through kindness, leadership, and service.

To apply, students should submit a video sharing how they are making a difference. The video only needs to be at least one minute long, but longer videos are absolutely welcomed. We do not want to limit anyone’s creativity, so feel free to share your story in a way that feels meaningful to you.

This opportunity is open to 2026 graduating senior student-athletes in Morrow County (Cardington, Mount Gilead, Northmor, Highland, and Gilead Christian).

If you know a senior athlete who would be a great fit, please help us spread the word and encourage them to apply.

Questions/ or submissions can be sent to [email protected]

We can’t wait to hear these stories and celebrate the impact these students are making in their community!

03/12/2026

We would like to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to the Game Bash Charity Bingo community for their very generous donation to the Joe Long Foundation.

Game Bash Charity Bingo selects organizations at their events to support in the community, and we are truly honored to have been chosen as one of their charities. Their generosity will help us continue supporting youth athletes in our community by providing opportunities, encouragement, and resources through sports.

Thank you to everyone involved for believing in our mission and helping make a difference for the youth in our community. We are so grateful for your support!

03/09/2026

We are deeply grateful to Erin Carolin Kelty for her incredibly generous donation to the Joe Long Foundation. Erin was a very close friend of Joe’s, and her unwavering support has always been a shining example of the love and dedication that surrounded him.

Through her gift, Erin continues to honor Joe’s legacy, helping support youth athletes in our community, the cause he cared about most. She honors him in so many small, meaningful ways in her everyday life, and it never goes unnoticed. From wearing her “Be Like Joe” sweatshirt during big tasks for strength to carrying his spirit in everything she does, Erin truly keeps Joe’s memory alive.

From all of us at the Joe Long Foundation, thank you, Erin, for keeping Joe’s spirit alive and making a difference in the lives of young athletes.

02/27/2026

Our community is heartbroken as we remember Sophia Rose Chafin, a bright young life taken far too soon.

Sophia loved being active, especially playing softball, and she carried a dream far beyond her years. She wanted to become a professional horse trainer one day. That kind of dream requires courage, strength, discipline, and determination. Equestrian training is a true sport, and for someone so young to already envision herself pursuing something so ambitious speaks to the beautiful spirit she had.

As a community, we mourn alongside her family, friends, teammates, and classmates. May we continue to surround them with love, support, and prayers in the days ahead. ❤️🖤

https://www.gompffh.com/obituary/Sophia-Chafin?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQOyJJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehpNvf_SGW8Z_87DlclKM0IufC7mQINbp7aw8F9GpkTvxVrWKyNcsml9i0IY_aem_hh2ylEa_y0pVozKM5N3QXQ

Celebrate the life of Sophia Chafin and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.