COAL GROVE -Approximately 25 years ago, a group of Coal Grove residents, inspired by the good deeds of their neighbor, Jae Roush, decided to form a volunteer organization to make the Village of Coal Grove a better place to live.

"Jae Roush wanted to fix a park," Betterment Club president Sue Triplett explained. "And he donated his time and his work and got the village together and built a building."

From there, the Betterment Club has lived up to its name by raising money and donating to causes throughout the community.

The list of Betterment Club sponsorships is long and varied. In addition to constructing a park and community building, the Betterment Club provides equipment to the Coal Grove police and fire departments, funds a scholarship that sends a Dawson-Bryant graduate to Ohio University Southern, sponsors an annual Breakfast with Santa and heads up an annual Christmas lights project, just to name a few things.

All of this is paid for through a series of community events such as the recent spaghetti dinner and the annual Family Fun Days, which will be July 1-3 this year.

Triplett said magician Tommy Boy will make his debut at the annual event. There will also be shaved ice, for the first time.

On Sept. 11, the club will host a bluegrass festival. The headline acts are Sammy Adkins and the Sandy Hook Mountain Boys, from eastern Kentucky, and The New Grass Band with Ron Wilson, from Columbus.

Triplett, who is serving her second term as president, said the thing she is most proud of is the scholarship, now in its second year.

"It makes me feel good to know we're helping a student," Triplett said. "I wish we could do more."

Blondie Dean, who has been a member of the club since it began, said she is most proud of the park, with its bandstand, picnic shelters and playground.

"It gives people a place to go and do things," Dean said. "They can have dinner, fix something to eat, have birthday parties. …"

The club has 38 members. How does one join the Betterment Club? Triplett said it is simple - pay $1 and attend a meeting, which are the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the community building. She said the club is always looking for new members.