How Civic Organizations Keep North Ridgeville Thriving

North Ridgeville is more than just a place to live — it’s a community built on connection and service. From volunteer-led initiatives to longstanding service clubs, the city is home to a wide variety of civic organizations that bring people together, strengthen neighborhood bonds and make a lasting impact. These groups work quietly yet powerfully behind the scenes — organizing events, lending helping hands and fostering a welcoming spirit that sets North Ridgeville apart.

In this feature, we’re proud to shine a light on the organizations and individuals who dedicate their time and talents to enriching our community. Whether you’re looking to get involved, support a cause close to your heart or simply learn more about the people making a difference, this is your invitation to discover the heartbeat of North Ridgeville.

North Ridgeville Lions Club

The North Ridgeville Lions Club has roared in support of local and international communities since receiving its charter in 1961.

“We are proud to be part of such a supportive and vibrant community,” says Angela Finney, president. “The citizens of North Ridgeville have consistently embraced our events and projects, helping them thrive year after year.”

Part of the global Lions Club nonprofit, which was originally focused on vision care and blindness prevention, the North Ridgeville chapter also rallies behind causes such as diabetes awareness, pediatric cancer support and hunger relief. 

In North Ridgeville’s schools, the club offers vision screenings, affordable eye exams and glasses, scholarships for seniors and mini grants for educators.

To keep those initiatives funded, the North Ridgeville Lions Club hosts the following events:

The North Ridgeville Lions Club has roared in support of local and international communities since receiving its charter in 1961.

“We are proud to be part of such a supportive and vibrant community,” says Angela Finney, president. “The citizens of North Ridgeville have consistently embraced our events and projects, helping them thrive year after year.”

Rotary Club of North Ridgeville

Part of the global Lions Club nonprofit, which was originally focused on vision care and blindness prevention, the North Ridgeville chapter also rallies behind causes such as diabetes awareness, pediatric cancer support and hunger relief.

In North Ridgeville’s schools, the club offers vision screenings, affordable eye exams and glasses, scholarships for seniors and mini grants for educators.

To keep those initiatives funded, the North Ridgeville Lions Club hosts the following events:

• January: Night At the Races

• March/April: Pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny

• May: Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony (in partnership with VFW Post 9871)

• August: Annual 5K Run/Walk for pediatric cancer research

• September: Drive-Thru Food Drive for Community Care

• December: Annual toy drive for families in need

But it doesn’t stop there. Year-round, used eyeglasses are collected and delivered to Student Volunteers of Optometric Services to Humanity at The Ohio State University. There, prescriptions are determined, and the glasses are sent to underdeveloped countries to restore sight for children and adults. northridgevillelions.org

Part of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville comprises community and business leaders whose mission revolves around resolving challenges in the local community and communities worldwide, says Cathy Kingsley, president.

“Being a member of the North Ridgeville Rotary means being able to support our community, making it a stronger and better place to live,” Kingsley says. “We offer our members opportunities to make a difference — to get involved.”

The Rotary Club has participated in service projects around the city, such as proffering student scholarships, preparing tote bags with essential supplies for unhoused individuals, supporting Connecting for Kids events at the library, supporting the annual Fishing Derby for the special needs students in North Ridgeville schools and more.

Events throughout the year include:

• March: Spring Fling

• March/April: Easter Egg Hunt

• October: Purse Bingo

Kingsley adds, “Along with these opportunities to serve, members also are able to regularly network, resulting in lifelong friendships and business connections.” northridgevillerotary.org

Kiwanis Club of North Ridgeville

With a motto of “changing the world, one child at a time, one community at a time,” the North

Ridgeville chapter of the Kiwanis Club is doing just that.

Founded in 2010, the club has headed the following efforts in North Ridgeville:

• Creating healthy after-school snack bags through Community Care

• Sponsoring service leadership programs such as Key Club for high schoolers, Builders Club for middle schoolers and K Kids for grade schoolers

• Putting on a reading program at the library where kids receive a free book

• Donating eight Amtrak bicycles to North Ridgeville Schools to support kids with special needs

“We were trying to look at the needs of the community and see what we could do to help the kids,” says Toni Krone, president of the Kiwanis Club of North Ridgeville.

Locking everything into place, the Key Club assists with the club’s annual spaghetti dinner by washing dishes and making meatballs. The annual fundraiser is held the first Saturday in March.

The club also fundraises at the Corn Festival and hosts an annual Doggy Contest, in which participants can enter dogs in an online competition. The top three dogs ride in the Corn Festival parade and receive a prize. k18026.site.kiwanis.org

North Ridgeville Corn Festival

First sown in 1975 as a way to celebrate America’s bicentennial the following year, the North Ridgeville Corn Festival has popped up every summer since.

Originally recognizing North Ridgeville as a corn-producing, farming community, the festival has grown from just 13 booths in 1975 to more than 100 in 2025, according to John Butkowski, president of the North Ridgeville Corn Festival, a nonprofit organization.

“Over the years, the reputation has grown as one of the best festivals in Ohio,” Butkowski says. “In fact, it was recently voted best festival by puLse Lorain County’s Magazine.”

The organization puts all the profits from the festival back into the community by, for example, donating to the fire and police departments, supporting Community Care and giving out scholarships.

This year, the festival added a few new components:

• A lighted drone show

• Amusement rides

• A larger car show

“Not many festivals make it to 50 years,” Butkowski says. “When we started the festival, we never dreamed it would be continuing on as it has, and it’s thanks to the volunteers who have spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to pull it off.” nrcornfest.org

North Ridgeville Garden Club

The North Ridgeville Garden Club took root in 1978 and has since flourished, spreading its seeds throughout the city — quite literally — in the gardens at Town Hall and various North Ridgeville Schools.

“Through the garden club, I’ve learned so much about gardening and made so many good friends,” says Brenda Lett, member.

In addition to maintaining various gardens throughout the city, the club decorates the library’s Christmas tree and creates a float for the North Ridgeville Corn Festival parade.

As part of its fundraising efforts, the group hosts a plant sale, held the third Saturday in May every year. Members dig up plants from their own yards and donate the profits back to the community through Community Care, the North Ridgeville Branch Library and Lorain County Metro Parks.

The club meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Sandy Ridge Nature Center. 440-365-8522

North Ridgeville Historical Society

The North Ridgeville Historical Society collects the threads of the past to bring the rich story of the city to life for all to explore.

“It’s an important part of the city’s image to know their history, know their background and have available all these stories and information about their past,” says Jeff Sigsworth, president. “Ridgeville Township was first settled in 1810, so we’ve got over 200 years of history.”

As part of its preservation and educational efforts, the society has restored a historic one-room school on Jaycox Road (open May-October) to show early school life in North Ridgeville’s history. The group also maintains the display case at the library, which highlights stories about the city’s past; collects class pictures from 1926 to now; and posts photos weekly on its Facebook page.

“We’re not a big group, but we do valuable work,” Sigsworth says.

The club participates annually in events throughout the city, such as the North Ridgeville Corn Festival, the citywide garage sale, Holiday on the Ridge and more.

northridgevillehistoricalsociety.com

North Ridgeville Heart & Sole

North Ridgeville Heart & Sole, founded in 2014, has its heart set on boosting physical, mental and social health across the city, according to Samantha Meluch, facilitator.

“Heart & Sole brings together people from different sectors, with unique knowledge, skill sets, tools and resources, so we can all try to come together to address complex issues in the community,” Meluch says.

The organization’s efforts include:

• A produce pickup program for six weeks, August through September; community members can reserve a 10- to 12-pound bag of locally grown fruits and vegetables for $12

• Infrastructure improvements such as line striping for the multipurpose trail along Center Ridge Road and an enhanced crosswalk to allow people to safely visit South Central Park, the senior center and library

• Opening Liberty Elementary and LCCC Ridge Campus on certain weekdays from October-April so people have a safe, warm place to walk

“Heart & Sole is truly all about making the healthy choice the easy choice,” Meluch says. nrheartandsole.com

North Ridgeville Veterans Memorial

While driving around town, Mark Steinbrunner realized North Ridgeville had no way to commemorate its veterans. So, in 2019, he decided to do something about it. “I wanted something where we can educate the public,” says Steinbrunner, chair of the organization and a veteran himself. 

Located at the corner of Avon Belden Road and Bainbridge Road, the Veterans Memorial includes a flag display, large stones that give information about every U.S. conflict since the Revolutionary War and a fountain with cascading water in the middle that honors the fallen.

QR codes — created with the help of North Ridgeville High School students based on information collected by the North Ridgeville Historical Society — allow visitors to learn more about the veterans of North Ridgeville. 

The organization also sells pavers to veterans or their family members. Those funds fuel future projects and maintenance of the site.

Looking ahead, the organization plans to add more QR codes throughout the site, including information on soldiers missing in action and prisoners of war. On Veterans Day, the organization will host a ceremony at the site to honor veterans.
nrvetsmemorial.com

Additional Organizations Around Town

American Legion 717: facebook.com/legion717

Girl Scouts: gsneo.org

Kiwanis Club of North Ridgeville: k18026.site.kiwanis.org

North Ridgeville Arts Council: ridgevilleartscouncil.wordpress.com

North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce/

Visitors Bureau: nrchamber.com

North Ridgeville Community Care: nrcommcare.org

North Ridgeville Community Garden: 440-864-2939

North Ridgeville Corn Festival Committee: nrcornfest.org

North Ridgeville Garden Club: 440-365-8522

North Ridgeville Heart & Sole: nrheartandsole.com

North Ridgeville Historical Society:

northridgevillehistoricalsociety.com

North Ridgeville Lions Club: northridgevillelions.org

North Ridgeville 4-H Club: facebook.com/RidgeKids4H

North Ridgeville Veterans Memorial: nrvetsmemorial.com

Olde Towne Hall Theatre: oththeatre.com

Rotary Club of North Ridgeville: northridgevillerotary.org

Scouting America: scouting.org

VFW Post 9871: vfw9871.org