As we close out 2025, the Josh Minton Foundation is deeply grateful for the community that continues to stand behind our mission:
supporting individuals and families impacted by cancer and military service through no-cost therapeutic retreat housing at the Minton Lodge.
The Minton Lodge: A place to breathe, reset, and reconnect
In 2025, the Minton Lodge continued to serve as a restorative space where guests can step away from appointments, stress, and day-to-day burdens
and simply focus on rest, time together, and healing.
2025 Impact at a Glance
- 17 therapeutic stays completed
- 38 applications received for therapeutic stays
Improving safety and accessibility: a new paved driveway
This year, we invested in a paved, asphalt driveway for the Minton Lodge—nearly 1/2 mile long.
The old gravel driveway was often dangerous and frequently washed out, especially during heavy rain. The new driveway
improves safety, accessibility, and peace of mind for every guest and volunteer who visits the Lodge.
Before: gravel driveway (replace with your photo) |
After: new asphalt driveway |
Caring for the land that supports the mission
We also continued investing in the long-term care of the property. This year, Bob & Sally were awarded a grant of
around $30,000 to remove invasive honeysuckle and address dead ash trees—helping protect and improve the land for the people we serve.
Property improvement: invasive plant removal
Our biggest fundraiser: 4th Annual Golf Benefit
Our largest fundraiser of the year was the 4th Annual Josh Minton Foundation Golf Benefit, held
Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Hillcrest Golf Club in Findlay, Ohio.
Thanks to our golfers, sponsors, donors, and volunteers, the 2025 Golf Benefit raised $24,636 to help further our mission of providing
no-cost therapeutic retreats at the Minton Lodge. The event also received local coverage leading into tournament weekend, helping broaden awareness of the Foundation’s work.
Golf Benefit highlight
Outreach: Meeting families and veterans where they are
A big part of our work is making sure veterans and families know support exists—and in 2025 we continued that outreach through community events, including:
- Summer Veterans Empowerment Fair and Family Picnic (Findlay)
- Hancock County Veterans Empowerment Fall Fair
Veteran experiences and opportunities
In 2025, we continued expanding opportunities designed to support veterans through meaningful experiences and time in nature, including:
- Veterans fishing charters (2 hosted in 2025)
- Deer hunting opportunities at the Minton Lodge
Additional totals for hunts/fishing experiences will be shared once final numbers are confirmed.
Veterans fishing charter
Community at the Lodge
The Minton Lodge also served as a gathering point for connection and support throughout the year, including:
- Welcoming about 35 bikers and friends to the Lodge for a Bikers for Christ event
- Hosting what many called the largest Rugby weekend ever—a special weekend of camaraderie and connection
- For the first time, several of Josh’s high school classmates volunteered for a weekend of wood cutting, helping prepare the Lodge and property for the seasons ahead
Honoring Josh’s legacy
Throughout the year, we continued to honor Josh’s legacy and acknowledge the emotional realities many families face:
- A meaningful Lodge moment in late 2025 included decorating together and installing a new shadow box made in Josh’s memory
- We shared awareness messages throughout the year, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Pancreatic & Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Month, along with reminders like National Grief Awareness Day—because support isn’t only practical, it’s emotional too
A year-end tradition: Army vs. Navy Squares
To close out the year, our Army vs. Navy Football Squares fundraiser brought the community together around a fun tradition that supports the mission—raising funds for the Foundation while also paying out winnings to participants.
Thank you for making this possible
Every golf registration, sponsorship, square purchase, shared post, donated item, and volunteer hour makes a real difference.
Thank you for helping keep the Minton Lodge available as a no-cost resource—and for carrying Josh’s legacy forward.
