Duke donates to children's trust

Friday, April 24, 2009
Duke Energy presented the Mary Allison Children's Trust with a $1,000 donation recently. Holding the check are Mary Allison board members Ginger Scott, Lucy Wieland, Donna Houser, Judge Matt Headley, Joe Ferguson and Jim Jackson. Not pictured is board member Darren Hughes.

Duke Energy recently presented the Mary Allison Children's Trust with a $1,000 donation.

The Mary Allison Children's Home, also formerly known as the Greencastle Orphan Home, was established in 1912 with the intent of housing disadvantaged children. But with a declining number of Putnam County children and teenagers residing at the orphanage, the house was put up for sale in the mid-1980s.

The result of the real estate sale was the creation of the Mary Allison Children's Trust, a fund providing financial assistance toward health care, education and welfare of underprivileged children in Putnam County.

A sum of $1,000 is given annually to each of the nine Putnam County elementary schools. Teachers and counselors at each school determine how the money is spent on an immediate basis.

At times, some families need greater assistance, usually with medical concerns for their children. In these cases, both community residents and school officials contact the Mary Allison Children's Trust board, which reviews each case and decides on how to allocate funds.

"We rely on contributions from the community," said treasurer Ginger Scott. She estimated that the Mary Allison Children's Trust financially assists 10 children from each county elementary school each year, totaling 100 children who receive help each year.

Members of the Mary Allison Children's Trust board are Scott, Judge Matt Headley, Joe Ferguson, Lucy Wieland, Donna Houser, Darren Hughes and Jim Jackson.

Contributions to the Mary Allison Children's Trust can be mailed to Wabash Capital, 1003 Millpond Lane, Suite A, Greencastle, 46135. Donations should be mailed care of treasurer Ginger Scott.

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