Museum sets goal of $30,000 endowment

The Putnam County Community Foundation awarded the Putnam County Museum with a $10,000 matching grant to build its endowment by $30,000. Contributions and gifts made to the Putnam County Museum endowment will be matched, one dollar from the Community Foundation for every $2 given by the public, from now until Nov. 30, 2007 up to a cumulative dollar amount of $30,000.

The museum is a well-known cultural leader and tourist attraction in Putnam County. It offers programs and exhibits for adults and children, publishes a newsletter about local history, and invites members of the community to define what it means to live in Putnam County. Individuals and businesses have responded to the museum's requests for donations because the museum provides a common ground for local history. Since it opened in 2003, the museum has collected more than 1,600 artifacts, garnered 383 memberships, taught more than 1,000 students (kindergarten through college), mounted 12 exhibits, attracted almost 4,000 visitors, and enabled 6,100 enriching volunteer hours.

"The Putnam County Community Foundation is a tremendous resource, especially for fledgling organizations like the Putnam County Museum," said Chris Wurster, president of the Putnam County Museum. "We appreciate the support the Community Foundation provided the museum in our move to our new home, and this endowment-building challenge will help us go forward on a firm financial footing."

With an endowment at the Community Foundation, contributions are never spent, but are invested, and provide a charity with stable funding forever. "The Putnam County Museum endowment provides steady, sustainable funding from generous donors in the community who care about preserving local history and providing cultural opportunities," said Eric Wolfe, Community Deve-lopment Director for the Community Foundation. "This matching gift opportunity increases the impact of every contribution to the endowment."

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Putnam County Museum endowment and having gifts matched can send contributions to the Putnam County Community Foundation c/o Putnam County Museum 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.

The mission of the Putnam County Museum is to collect, preserve, and interpret the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of our county through education, exhibits and programs. The museum is located at 1105 N. Jackson St. in Greencastle. Anyone wanting more information should contact museum director Stacy Klingler at museum@co.putnam.in.us or 653-8149.