Government Funded Religion - Lifewise Academy Ansonia, Ohio
The local government of Ansonia, Ohio, donated land to Lifewise Academy to facilitate the removal of students from the public school, during the school day.
Lifewise Academy - Ansonia, Ohio, had the grand opening of its new building on February 28, 2026. Lifewise has been planning to receive land for a new Lifewise Academy building since October 2024.
The sale was completed on August 11, 2025. The Village Administrator originally said the Village would be transferring the property to the Darke County Economic Development organization. But it appears they gave to diretly to Lifewise Academy and did not require any payment.
The Village has violated state law by funding a released-time religious instruction program.
(5) No public funds are expended and no public school personnel are involved in providing the religious instruction.
Every. Single. Attorney. Will say that donated property, materials, supplies, etc, are funds. The Village of Ansonia expended funds to support a released-time religious instruction program.
The Village will argue that they did not donate the land to Lifewise Academy; they donated it to the Ansonia Foundation. While this is technically correct, the Ansoia Foundation is Lifewise Academy under a different name. Lifewise has a corporate policy stating that it does not own property. They require Lifewise programs create a separate entity.
A new non-profit was created to own the building for Lifewise. The State of Ohio Articles of Incorporation for the foundation show that 2 of the 3 signing members of the foundation are also a part of Lifewise Academy.
The majority of the Ansonia Foundation's members are board members or employees of Lifewise Academy. The grand opening was advertised as the ribbon-cutting for the new Lifewise Academy building. The Lifewise students lined up holding the ribbon as it was cut. The building is for Lifewise Academy. This is a religious ministry supported by public funds.
On the Lifewise Ansonia podcast, the director discussed how the building could be used by businesses in the area. Although she had to backtrack that statement because they can’t have anyone using it during the day when classes are being held. It would be available on weekends and evenings for events. This is used as the argument that it is a community-driven project.
The community will pay Lifewise to rent a building that was, in part, paid for with public funds. The rental income will fund the Lifewise mission to remove students from public schools during the school day. Taxpayer funds helped to create a religious entity that will generate revenue to support another religious entity. The general public will not see any return on this. Those individuals who participate in and support Lifewise are excited. But the government is helping to fund a religious entity.
The land, compared to the total size of the project, is small. And Lifewise Academy should pay for it.