About Us
We believe that the health and wellness of our community is directly dependent on developing opportunities, skills, relationships and values that young people need to be healthy, caring and responsible. Hudson Community First is comprised of a Youth Board, a Volunteer Board, and Advisory Board and the Executive Board.
Executive Board
Alisa Wright, President
Marietta Marquart, Vice President
Jim Yurak, Treasurer
Tim Clepper, Secretary
Lynn Krapf, Member
Jack Lieske, Emeritus Member
Our History
Hudson Community First was first conceived by the Hudson City School District in 1995.
The school administrators were observing a pattern of negative student behaviors involving drugs and alcohol. School leaders strove to combat the bad decisions being made by youth and enlisted the business community and organizational leaders to discuss what our community could do to support youth. The district's drug prevention officer researched the country for programs that addressed the issues the district was facing and what he found was the Search Institute in Minnesota.
There, educators had researched and developed 40 Developmental Assets that kids needed to possess in order to grow up healthy and happy and to thrive. Assets are skills, opportunities and self-perceptions that kids need to have. Research shows if kids have 31 of these assets, their outcome is positive and they thrive as young adults and make better life decisions.
Hudson Community First was formed and all staff was trained on the importance of the 40 Developmental Assets. In 2004, Hudson Community First was reignited as a community organization and with a grant from Hudson Community Foundation, co-directors Laura Gasbarro and Cheryl Rauch were hired.
Currently, Laura Jones and Jennifer Fisher serve as co-directors of this now vibrant community effort that promotes positive youth development. Today, working with 3 boards with over 250 members, Community First programs cover a variety of topics and support Hudson youth of all ages.
Youth Board
Thank you to all the students who have served as president over the Hudson Community First Youth Board!
2018-2019 Lauren Niewolak & Maggie Lehman
2019-2020 Sadie Mrakuzic
2020-2021 Sydney Jones
2021-2022 Emi Uijtewaal
2022-2023 Easton Rowell
2023-2024 Sophie Uijtewaal
2024-2025 Alaina Walker
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS
$5000
Michael and Marietta Marquart
Stonemont Financial Group
$2000
Steven and Patti Engelman
Tom and Jenel Maxwell
Miavana Incq
Paul and Sara Stibich
$1000
Primrose School
Marian Saxon
George and Leah Roth
$500
John and Jennifer Kabat
James Boex and Denise Gibson
Nellie and Bill Booth
$250
Donald and Shelly Chadwick
Matthew and Abbie Chandler
Jeff and Janie Lehman
Christopher and Laura Mikolay
Jim and Marybeth Miller
Christopher Naples
$100
Christopher and Elaine Yuhos
David and Deborah Basil
David and Jessica Dennsteadt
Robyn Kiel
Jim and Linda Orwig
John and Alison Quagliata
Kristin Reynolds
Eric and Laura Speakman
Printer's Devil
Christopher and Maria Tazzi
Bill and Jo Wooldredge
Pat and Tracy Zappone
Frank and Julie Griffiths
Gerald Hajarian
Richard and Trudy Painting
Ed and Mary Sogan
David and Barbara Warrington
Janice Arch
Mary Anne Bronza
Susan Christensen
Amber Harriff
Rebecca Kapur
Tricia Marchand
Leigh Martin
Cara Wright
THANK YOU TO YOUR TOAST 2026 SPONSORS
Patrons
Luis and Colleen Camacho
Joe and Anita Creehan
Scott and Judi Dalton
Amy Corrigall Jones
Joseph Daher and Tania Nemer
Drs. Jon C. and Karen R. Peterson
David and Kirstin Toth
Dan and Courtney Cahoon White
Jim and Carrie Will
CAPTRUST
Howard’s Jewelry Center
Hudson Community Living
Virtus9
Benefactors
Doug and Lynn Krapf
Emily and Jon-Michael Lemon
Mike and Marietta Marquart
Brad and Alisa Wright
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026-2027
ASSET SPONSORS
Dina and Greg Anzevino
Marilyn and Jeff Anzevino
Beau Bonner and Maggie Mooney
Sara and John Blankenship
Lisa and Brian Canterbury
Sue and Jay Carter
Amy and Tim Clepper
Kristina and Greg Dooley
Cynthia and James Field
Patty and Chris Gurreri
Michelle and Steve Hervey
Lisa and Matt Kaulig
Holly and Peter Murdough
Hudson Counseling And Wellness
Barb and Mike Pulte
Christine and Brian Queiser
Eve and Tom Sliwinski
Alisa and Brad Wright
Cara and Mike Wright
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO DONATED AUCTION ITEMS TO TOAST 2026
Jewelry Art Fine Jewelry
A Little After Nine
SUPPORT HUDSON YOUTH
Hudson Community First provides opportunities to make our community a place where young people thrive. We cannot do this without your support! This is all made possible through grants, private donations and our Annual Fund drive. Please consider a donation that will support programming for all Hudson students.
Because of you… Hudson is a 100 Best Community for Young People!
One-Time Donation
Support our ongoing programs
Recurring Giving
Provide sustained support for our mission.
SUPPORT HUDSON YOUTH
Hudson Community First provides opportunities to make our community a place where young people thrive. We cannot do this without your support! This is all made possible through grants, private donations and our Annual Fund drive. Please consider a donation that will support programming for all Hudson students.
Because of you… Hudson is a 100 Best Community for Young People!
One-Time Donation
Support our ongoing programs
Recurring Giving
Provide sustained support for our mission.
Get in touch with us, we're here to listen!
49 E. Main Street, Hudson, OH 44236
Mailing Address: PO Box 515, Hudson, OH 44236
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