Granville, Ohio, is a close-knit community of just over 6,000 people. At its heart is the Granville Angels Foundation, created by the Rees and Renner families in honor of their children, John and Sophia, who live with Angelman syndrome. Through this foundation, the community rallies to raise awareness, support, and critical funds for Angelman syndrome.
In 2022, the two families brought the community together and hosted their first Cornhole for a Cause fundraising event!
More Than Just a Cornhole Tournament
Cornhole for a Cause is a family-friendly event that brings together the entire community, including the peers of John, Sophia, and their siblings. What started as a simple idea has quickly become an anticipated yearly tradition that people in Granville look forward to.
“We fundraise for John, Sophia, and everyone living with Angelman syndrome, with the hope that one day they will have access to treatments that ease the daily challenges they face.”
In just three years, Cornhole for a Cause has raised more than $60,000 to support FAST’s Angelman syndrome research. The Granville Angels choose to support FAST because our comprehensive research pipeline explores every promising path toward a cure and helps move potential treatments from early discovery through the preclinical and translational stages.
An Event that Brings Together a Community
Hosting a fundraising takes a village. From gathering donations, managing the tournament, and coordinating food and drinks to organizing kids’ activities and keeping the energy high, the event is truly a community effort.
“Hosting an event is always a challenge, especially while balancing so many other responsibilities. But through our fundraising and advocacy efforts, our community has come to know and love Sophia and John. This event is a celebration that brings us all together. The love and support we felt during the fundraiser were truly unmatched."
The entire team at FAST is deeply grateful to the Granville Angels, the entire Granville, OH community, as well as the supporters from around the United States that came to support this incredible event.
Together, you are fueling research that brings us closer to meaningful treatments.