HOWLAND — Family, friends and the public gathered this past weekend to recognize a Howland man for his many accomplishments and to also raise funds to provide scholarships to honor his memory.

The Ross Griffin Memorial Foundation hosted a fundraiser Sunday at the SLOAS Airfield with various activities honoring Ross Griffin.

More than 2,000 tickets were sold for the Ross Griffin Memorial Bash event despite heavy rainfall.

Griffin was a Howland High School graduate and a senior attending Ohio University when he lost his life to suicide at age 22 in February.

“The community has come together in an effort to create triumph over tragedy with the foundation.” said Steve Lewis, an organizer of the event and foundation.

Lewis said the purpose of the foundation is to provide funding to local students who seek higher education opportunities in Ohio and provide funding to help centers that provide counseling and other services to troubled youth who may be in danger to themselves and or their community.

The Ross Griffin Memorial Bash will be an annual fundraiser with raffle prizes and other giveaways.

Lewis said funds raised will help local seniors attend Ohio-based universities with the first recipients to be members of the Class of 2019.

At the event providing information was Trumbull Mental Health and Recovery Board, Hope Recovery and Help Network.

Lewis said a committee will sit down and decide how the money will be distributed to different organizations.

“Even though winners did not have to be here, many people showed up despite the rain. The outpouring of support overwhelmed us,” he said.

A special display was set up honoring Griffin, who played football and was Howland’s homecoming king. He was the son of son of William and Kimberly Griffin.

Gabriella Angelo of Warren said she knew Griffin as a classmate in school and college.

“He was a friend to many people,” she said as she looked at the photo display.

Howland resident Tom Wright said “It is a wonderful event and great way to memorialize him. The scholarships will help people in the future,” he said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com