2026 Community Philanthropy Award: Ron Wruble
To commemorate HCCF's 30th anniversary and pay tribute to those who made this organization strong, the HCCF Board of Trustees introduced the Huron County Community Philanthropy Award. It celebrates the vision of our founders and the spirit of generosity found throughout the county.
The award annually honors a living individual or couple, a volunteer, board member, or donor, who has made a significant effort to grow our community through philanthropy in Huron County. When the Board created the nomination form, they outlined the characteristics a nominee should embody: commitment, leadership, impact, creativity, and collaboration. Nominations come from community members and are reviewed by an HCCF committee, which faced a difficult decisions this year.
The 2026 Community Philanthropy Award recipient is Ron Wruble.
Ron and Deb Wruble
Ron's nomination checked every box. His commitment to Huron County spans nearly five decades. Through public service, youth athletics, economic development, civic engagement, and countless volunteer efforts, he has quietly helped shape this community without ever seeking recognition for it.
That leadership shows up on the field as much as anywhere else. Ron began coaching youth sports in 1977. He took over as Harbor Beach High School boys basketball coach in 1994, and has served as defensive coordinator for the Pirates football team since 2001, investing in generations of young people and helping build character, teamwork, discipline, and confidence that extends far beyond athletics.
His impact reaches well past the sidelines, too. Alongside his day job as Harbor Beach City Manager, Ron served eighteen years as a Huron County Commissioner and twenty-four years on the Huron County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. His nomination even mentions him tending the city's flower beds on holiday weekends, making sure they looked their best for residents and visitors. During festivals and events, Ron was always behind the scenes, making sure everything was ready and every attendee had a positive experience.
Ron understands, better than most, that strong communities and counties are built through collaboration. He's worked alongside local governments, schools, businesses, civic organizations, volunteers, and nonprofit groups to leave a lasting impact on Harbor Beach and Huron County as a whole.
Ron is a servant leader who would rather not be recognized at all. As his nomination put it: "His generosity has been demonstrated through the extraordinary gift of his time, leadership, and unwavering commitment to serving others."
It was our honor to recognize Ron Wruble as the 2026 Huron County Community Foundation Community Philanthropy Award recipient.
Ron joins a growing list of honorees, the third recipient of this award, following 2024's Jackie Gainor and 2025's Melissa Deming. One feature of HCCF's new building will be a plaque listing each year's recipient, ensuring their legacy of generosity is part of the space for years to come.