Blazing a trail, People Pathways hopes for $24,000

The People Pathways running from Greencastle's East Side to the Town of Fillmore provides a safe venue for exercise. Two young trike riders got some help from their dad on a ride last year.

The Putnam County Community Foundation awarded People Pathways with an $8,000 matching grant to build its endowment by $24,000.

Contributions and gifts made to the People Pathways endowment will be matched, one dollar from the Community Foundation for every two dollars given by the public through Nov. 30, 2007 up to a cumulative dollar amount of $24,000.

People Pathways is a network of trails 6.1 miles long. It creates connectivity and accessibility allowing community members the option of using non-motorized transportation to parks, schools, businesses, and industries. The pathways offer safer venues to exercise and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. People Pathways in partnership with other local public and private entities promoted the county-wide Walking for Wellness Program. In addition, the People Pathways project forms public and private partnerships to generate funds and build "bridges" rather than walls to create a sense of belonging and community. Services provided by People Pathways remains even more relevant today as society looks for solutions to escalating health care concerns and rising gasoline costs. People Pathways is one component of taking action to address these concerns in the local community.

"The People Pathways Committee is grateful for the opportunity presented by the Putnam County Community Foundation Endowment Builder Program," said Joy Marley, People Pathways President. "The endowment will establish a funding mechanism to assist with the ongoing care, maintenance, and programming of People Pathways, now and into the future."

With an endowment at the Community Found-ation, contributions are never spent, but are invested and provide a charity with stable funding forever. "The People Pathways endowment provides steady, sustainable funding from generous donors in the community who care about the pathways, the environment and the healthy programming done by People Pathways," said Eric Wolfe, Community Development Director for the Community Found-ation. "This matching gift opportunity increases the impact of every contribution to the endowment."

Anyone wanting to contribute to the People Pathways endowment and having gifts matched can send contributions to the Putnam County Community Foundation, in care of People Pathways Endowment Fund, 2 S. Jackson St, Greencastle, 46135. Gifts other than cash, including realized planned gifts, will also be matched by the Community Foundation. Call for more information.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County for this and future generations. For questions, call 653-4978 or visit www.pcfoundation .org.

People Pathways is a volunteer group established in 1995 whose vision and goal is to enhance the quality-of-life of our community by helping to develop a network of multi-use trails to promote community connections, interaction, recreation, good health, and safety. Anyone wanting more information should contact Joy Marley at 653-6178.