Philanthropist and retired McDonald’s owner Dana Weigle was honored for his contributions to Safety Village of Wayne County, Kiwanis Club of Richmond, and the community.
A celebration with several speakers took place in June at Safety Village on the Richmond State Hospital campus. About 40 people watched the program.
As part of the festivities, the main road in Safety Village was named Dana Weigle Drive, and Richmond Mayor Dave Snow read a proclamation declaring it as Dana Weigle Day.
The following day, Safety Village offered an open house to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Additional tributes for Weigle came from Rita Cyr, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton, Ohio; Mike Nottingham, a longtime friend; Mary Walker, executive director of Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau; Amy Dillon of Brewer Broadcasting; and Kiwanis members Pete Beaman and Rich Cody.
Weigle, who grew up in West Lafayette and graduated from Parsons College, joined the Lafayette Breakfast Kiwanis in 1964, the same year he married his wife, Jean.
Weigle then joined Kiwanis in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Speedway, Indiana, before moving to Richmond in 1974 and becoming part of the local club.
He was president of Richmond’s club in 1978, lieutenant governor of the Rose Division from 1982-83 and Indiana district governor from 1985-86, and helped build Safety Village in 2002.
Weigle was active in forming the Ronald McDonald House in Dayton and was the first to receive the house’s D.C. Weigle Award for Outstanding Volunteerism in 2012. He also earned the Sagamore of the Wabash from Indiana’s governor in 1986.
In addition to leadership at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, he’s a past chairman of Richmond Rose Festival and past president of Junior Achievement and Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. Weigle also helped start the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau in 1980.
Safety Kamp sign-ups
Safety Village of Wayne County at 498 N.W. 18th St. serves more than 2,000 children and adults per year through offerings such as Safety Kamp, trick-or-treat and fire prevention programs.
Its Safety Kamp for ages 5-7, offered in one-day sessions on July 15 and 22, offers instruction on signals and signs, safety topics such as water, bicycle, weapons and home fires, dealing with strangers and more.
The camp is $30 per child and scholarships are available. For more information or registration, call 765-935-1230 or visit safetyvillagewaynecounty.org.
A version of this article appeared in the July 5 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.