Deer Meadow Elementary library receives endowment

Elnora (left) and Aud Walton recently established the Sherri Walton Holley Endowment for the Deer Meadow Elementary School library in honor of their daughter, who taught in all three Greencastle elementary schools.

GREENCASTLE -- Education is very important to Aud and Elnora Walton.

Both their daughters, Sherri Walton Holley and Julie Carr, have been involved with Greencastle schools.

To honor one of their daughter's dedication to the Greencastle schools, the couple recently established the Sherri Walton Holley Endowment for Deer Meadow library through the Putnam County Community Foundation.

The endowment honors the memory of their daughter who passed away in 1998. Holley worked in all three Greencastle elementary school libraries. She left behind two children, Bryon and Samantha Holley, her sister Julie, a second grade teacher at Deer Meadow, and parents.

The Waltons sold farmland in order to establish the fund designed to help purchase books and other library materials for Deer Meadow.

"Establishing this endowment is very important to our family," said Elnora.

The endowment will provide much needed support for the elementary school.

"Financial uncertainty in the public school system endangers the progress and services we have come to expect from our public schools, " said Deer Meadow principal Gwen Morris. "We are so grateful to the Walton family for recognizing our need and being willing to help in such a meaningful way."

Elnora and Aud Walton met with Deer Meadow Principal Gwen Morris and Elaine Peck of the Putnam County Community Foundation in the school's library Friday, where a painting of their daughter Sherri Walton Holley reading to local children hangs.

A portrait of Holley reading to three children hangs in the school library. It was painted by Barbara Buckelew for the Waltons, who gave it to the library.

Elaine Peck, executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation, spoke about private schools and public colleges and universities that have long recognized the importance of obtaining support from alumni and others if they are to continue to advance and excel.

"I encourage others to take similar action to preserve and enhance county schools," she said.

Anyone may contribute to the endowment to support the Deer Meadow Library or memorialize Holley. Foundation staff are available to help donors make gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, real estate and other types of gifts to the endowment.

The foundation administers more than 180 funds for donors, supporting a variety of charitable purposes. To learn more about this new fund, how to make a contribution, or how to start a new fund, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Eric Wolfe or Peck at 653-4978.