Category: Uncategorized

It is time for teams to rigorously train for—or at least register for—the second annual Warren County Rocks Scavenger Hunt being held on Sunday, April 28th! This fundraiser for the Warren Coalition sends teams scrambling to solve clues and hunting for five affirmation rocks, while completing hysterically fun challenges along the way to earn points towards the championship title for 2024!

This year, the Scavenger Hunt features two separate divisions: a Family Division, which will start at 1:00 pm, and an Adult Team Division, which will begin at 3:00 pm. A community showcase will be held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm with refreshments. Hundreds of dollars in prizes will be given away, with awards for the teams that finish the fastest, the ones that score the highest on the challenges, and the overall championship title in each division as well!

What’s the scavenger hunt like, you ask? Well, imagine puzzles of all kinds–a crossword, a cryptogram, a riddle–that you and your teammate(s)/family must solve. They lead you to a location where you search for special affirmation rocks. Once you find one, you then complete a challenge–throwing a pool noodle through a hula hoop, or playing a few rounds of Jenga as fast as you can, for example–which earns you points. When you’re done, you get your next puzzle, and on you go!

It is the type of event where there is something for EVERYONE! And you’ll go home with full bellies, t-shirts, and possibly some awesome prizes!

The event will be held at the Health & Human Services Complex at 465 W 15th St, Front Royal.

The entry fee is $100 per team, with a maximum of four people per Adult Division team and five people per Family Division Team. Each team member will receive a T-shirt. Teams are encouraged to register by April 4^th, but will not need to pay right away. Beginning on April 5^th, teams will receive a website link so they can fundraise online, if desired. While $100 is all that is needed to qualify for the Scavenger Hunt, teams are encouraged to continue raising funds. The team that raises the most money will receive a prize and earn additional points towards the overall championship title! Will Rocking for the Weekend maintain their title for the second year, or will another team knock them off the championship boulder this year?

Registrations will be accepted through April 15th.

To participate in the Scavenger Hunt, gather your team and register online at warrencoalition.org/wcrsh

Thank you to our sponsors: Berry Media Graphics, Skyline Insurance Agency, Lindsay Chevrolet, Play Favorites, and Melting Pot Pizza!

Warren Coalition is accepting virtual auditions from Warren County middle school and high school students now through April 1st. This is not just for singers! Musicians, magicians, comedians, dancers, spoken word…whatever your talent, this is the time to shine and share it with the community! To learn more about this opportunity, visit our event page.

If you already know all you need to know and just want to submit your video, you may do so here!

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Larry M. Funk Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to Children. This award was established by the Warren Coalition in 2022 to recognize an individual whose dedication and service to the children of Warren County have made a positive impact on them.

The award is open to anyone who serves children in any way. However, if it is their profession, the nominator will need to explain the ways in which they go above and beyond their normal job requirements. Nominators must explain the contributions made to the children and youth of Warren County, cite some specific examples, and list five outstanding qualities of the nominee.

Nominations can be made online at https://bit.ly/LarryFunkAward. (Note that the link is case-sensitive.) A panel will review the nomination packages, and the selected recipient will be presented with a plaque and $500 cash at the Warren Coalition’s Annual Membership Luncheon in late July. Nominations are due May 26, 2023.

The recipient of the first Larry M. Funk Award for Outstanding Service to Children in Warren County, awarded in 2022, was Roger Smelzer.

About Larry M. Funk

Larry M. Funk was a member of Warren Coalition for more than 20 years, serving in a number of positions to include Vice President and President during that time.  The Warren County Sheriff Department employed Larry for over 28 years, and 27 of those were as the D.A.R.E. instructor and Community Policing representative.  He received many awards and recognitions from community organizations such as Kiwanis, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Warren County Sheriff Department, Warren County Board of Supervisors, and American Legion Post 53, just to name a few. His many activities included presentations at events and distribution of educational materials for the youth of Warren County. This included many bike rodeos; Warren County Fair booths; Warren Memorial Hospital annual health fair; drug awareness displays; car shows; and car seat safety checks. He coordinated and organized the annual D.A.R.E. day, which was the culmination of a year of planning for the fifth graders of Warren County Public Schools as part of the D.A.R.E education during the school year.

At his church, Larry served as an elder, assistant Sunday school superintendent, and a youth Sunday school teacher. His family recalled that he would practice his presentations for hours until he got it just the way he wanted to present it.  He took great pride working with the children of the community.  Students and former adult students would frequently greet him with hugs whenever they would see him. Larry’s impact was great and long lasting.

Larry was married for 38 years; the proud father of two sons; and grandfather of five grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and especially teaching them. 

About Warren Coalition

Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001.  The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center.  Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.