Community Foundation awards $114,000-plus

The Board of Directors for the Putnam County Community Foundation has awarded $114,362.67 in grants to 26 community organizations in the spring 2007 grant cycle.

Each year the Community Foundation awards grants in two grant cycles to charitable organizations that seek to improve the lives of Putnam County citizens. The three different types of grants awarded by the Community Foundation are Community Grants, Endowment Builder Grants and Youth Philanthropy Grants.

The Community Grants totaled $48,916.67. The six grant priority areas set by the Community Foundation in this grant category are economic development, transportation, educational attainment and literacy, improving lives of senior citizens, non-profit capacity building, and combating obesity; though grant applications supporting other worthy causes are considered and often successfully funded, as well.

The Spring 2007 Community Grants recipients are:

* 4Community of Putnam County: $6,666.67 Ð- to support the educational attainment activities and programs of the Knoy Resource Center, which is open to all Putnam County citizens and located at Cloverdale High School.

* Care-Net Pregnancy Center of Putnam County: $2,000 -- to purchase "Earn While You Learn" curriculum to educate single or new mothers on how to be better parents and provide appropriate incentives to do so.

Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc.: $250 -- to support "Preserving Nature" exhibit of central Indiana art.

* City of Greencastle: $500.00 Ð to purchase new American flags for display along Veterans Memorial Highway.

* Cloverdale Civic League: $4,500 Ð to support phase one of a community park in Cloverdale, which includes landscaping, signage, renovation of restrooms to ADA standards, and work on the roads and parking areas.

* Cloverdale Community School Corporation: $3,400 Ð to support phase two of a Nature and Fitness Trail used by classrooms and Cloverdale residents, which will include installing outdoor tables, bridges and observation areas along the trail.

* Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Develop-ment Center: $16,2500 Ð a multi-year grant to support the operations and economic development activities of the Development Center.

* Hope Haven Horse Farm: $6,000 Ð to give access to special needs Putnam County youth to participate in therapeutic riding lessons, to train volunteers and staff, and to achieve NARHA center accreditation.

* Putnam County Museum: $1,600 Ð to purchase materials for youth and family activities during summer programs and exhibits.

* Rebuilding Together: $7500 Ð to purchase materials for volunteer-completed rehabilitation efforts for Putnam County homeowners.

* Roachdale Presbyter-ian Church: $2,000 Ð to purchase books that will be distributed to school-age children at public venues by a literacy team in northern Putnam County.

* United Way of Putnam County: $5,000. Ð a multi-year grant in support of the local United Way campaign to support health and human service organizations serving Putnam County citizens.

Organizations seeking Community Grants funding, first complete a simple preliminary grant application, and then may be invited by the grants committee to submit a full grant application. The Community Foundation's grants committee is a volunteer group composed of Putnam County citizens. Currently, the grants committee includes Beth Flint, Tom Graffis, Bob Hutchings, Keith Landry, Brent McColgin, Gwen Morris, Susan Price and Steve Setchell. The next deadline for preliminary grant applications is Aug. 1.

The Endowment Builder grants totaled $63, 500. These awards are matching grants to a charity's endowment, where the Community Foundation contributes one dollar for every two dollars contributed by the public over one year. Eligible organizations include any 501(c)(3) non-profit, church or unit of government, and must show the willingness and ability to build an endowment. An endowment enables an organization to be more financially stable and sustainable. The spring 2007 Endowment Builder Grant recipients are:

* Bethel Missionary Baptist Church: $2,500.

* Friends of the Putnam County Public Library: $2,500.

* People Pathways: $6,000.

* Putnam County Comprehensive Services: $25,000.00

* Putnam County Family Support Services: $2,500.

* Putnam County Habitat for Humanity: $5,000.

* Putnam County Public Library: $5,000.

* Putnam County Museum: $10,000.

* Reading Improve-ment Center: $2,500.

* United Way of Putnam County: $2,500.

Any organization wishing to apply for an Endowment Builder Grant should contact Eric Wolfe at 653-4978.

The next application deadline for Endowment Builder Grants is Sept. 1.

* Youth Philanthropy Grants totaled $1,946.00. These grants are for youth-led community service projects up to $500 each. A group of nine youth and four adults in Putnam County serve as the evaluators for these grant awards, and they have established six granting priority areas, which include increasing literacy and educational attainment for youth, extra-curricular activities for youth, teen crisis issues (i.e. drug/alcohol abuse, suicide, pregnancy, etc.), health and wellness, respect for community and tolerance of others, and environmental issues and community beautification. Spring 2007 Youth Philanthropy Grant recipients include:

* 100 Book Club at Central Elementary School: $500 Ð to purchase incentives for a reading program that pairs older youth mentors with elementary school youth and encourages them to read 100 books over the course of the school year.

* Cub Scouts Pack 99, Webelos Den: $456 Ð to purchase, build and install grills at the shelter houses in Robe-Ann Park.

* Cub Scouts Pack 99, Den 9: $490 Ð to purchase and plant trees at the site of the former Clearwater property at Robe-Ann Park in an effort to beautify that very visible spot in our town along State Road 231.

* Cub Scouts Pack 99: $500 Ð to purchase camp registrations and pay membership fees associated with scouting for youth who would otherwise not be able to afford this extra-curricular activity.

The Youth Philanthropy Committee members are Tyler Archer, Sue Murray, Ashlyn Archer, Brice Johnson, Sean Rhine, David Church, Shannon Egold, Laurie Robertson Hardwick, Jennifer Hubbard, Chris Krag, Gwen Morris, Darrel Thomas, and Courtney Williams. The next Youth Philanthropy Grants application deadline is Sept. 1.

For more information about the Community Foundation grants programs or to acquire a grant application, please contact Eric Wolfe at 765-653-4978 or visit www.pcfoundation.org.

The Putnam County Community Foundation administers more than 150 funds and has issued more than $1.5 million in grants, since inception. It is a public charity established in 1985 to serve donors, award grants, and conduct community development to enrich the quality of life in Putnam County.