Mark’s Charitable Work
What Makes Mark Tick
Caring about others and giving back to the community are values Mark Sigrist learned from his late parents, Gary and June Sigrist. His philosophy of service is best capsulized in one of his favorite quotes:
“The richness of a society isn’t measured in how wealthy you are but in how you take care of your most vulnerable.”
That's why he was named in 2021 as one of five finalists in the Columbus Dispatch's Everyday Heroes contest. Like so many of his Grove City neighbors, the newspaper recognized that Sigrist is a special person.
Sigrist is probably best known for founding in 2012 the annual Grove City Turkey Wattle. About 2,000 runners, bicyclists and disabled people – many of them dressed in colorful Thanksgiving costumes - participate in the annual event near the Pinnacle development. It raises about $25,000 a year for the Grove City Food Pantry.
Mark’s other charitable work includes:
Being a volunteer and fundraiser for the Grove City Buddy Ball League, a baseball program for the physically and developmentally challenged.
Chief recruiter for volunteer drivers who delivered food to the homes of the needy during the COVID pandemic.
A member of the board of Keep Grove City Beautiful, which sponsors various cleanup and environmental programs.
Chairman of the Zero-Waste cleanup committee of Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s community festival.
Founded an initiative to periodically sell T-shirts and sweatshirts that read “Thank You GCPD.” The shirts supporting our police were purchased at his cost for $3 and $10 respectively, usually near Christmas timing.