Foundation welcomes new board members

GREENCASTLE -- Stu Fabe, Brad Hayes and Todd Lewis were elected to the Putnam County Community Foundation board of directors during the 25th annual foundation meeting Wednesday night. Their three-year term will begin Jan. 1, 2011.

"We welcome these distinguished community leaders to our board and look forward to having their talents and wisdom on hand," said Denise Sigworth, president of the community foundation. "Being a foundation board member is no small task and we thank them in advance for all of the time they will give. The community will certainly benefit from their participation over the next three years."

Stu Fabe is a full-time artist specializing in fine art gourds, which he and his partner Maria Helton create in their studio on their 36-acre farm near Greencastle. Fabe was named as a national finalist in the category of decorative fiber for the 2007 Niche Awards. His gourd art was also featured on the cover of the November 2008 issue of Sunshine Artist magazine.

Fabe is active in the community, serving as president-elect of the Friends of the Putnam County Public Library, a member of the Donor Development Committee of the foundation and a member of the Artist Co-op at the GC Galleria.

Prior to moving to Putnam County in 2005, Fabe served as a fundraising executive for several of Cincinnati's most prominent healthcare and cultural institutions, including the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Art Museum and Health Alliance of Cincinnati. He also served as president of the Ohio Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and as president of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council. He holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of Cincinnati in English literature and a Master of Science degree in corrections from Xavier University.

Brad Hayes is principal of Fillmore Elementary School, where he has served for the last 15 years, with three of those years doing double duty as the principal of Central Elementary. He is past president of Indiana Association of School Principals, past president of Mental Health Association of Putnam County and has served on the board of the Putnam County Youth Development Commission.

Hayes was born in Terre Haute and has been a Putnam County resident since the age of 3. He is a graduate of South Putnam High School, class of 1978. He received his bachelor's degree in education in 1982 from Indiana State University, a master's degree from DePauw University, along with an administrative degree from ISU. Hayes taught and coached in Greencastle Community Schools for six years and also worked for two years as the Greencastle Middle School assistant principal, while also serving as the profession growth coordinator.

Todd Lewis is chief operations officer for First National Bank in Cloverdale, where he has served for 17 years. Lewis' primary community activities are secretary of the Cloverdale Lions Club, treasurer of Rebuilding Together Owen/Putnam, a member of the Cloverdale High School Gold Star Counseling Advisory Council and a volunteer auditor of the Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars. His involvement with the community foundation includes serving on the Knoy Resource Center advisory board and the Lilly scholarship committee.

Lewis and his wife Katrina have been married for 25 years and have two daughters, Sarah and Jenna, who are both currently enrolled at Purdue University. Lewis holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and an associates degree in computer science from University of Indianapolis. His hobbies include reading, walking outdoors, attending Purdue football games or any event where the All-American Marching Band is performing and spending time with the family's yellow lab Lucy.

His personal philosophy is best described by one of the statements in the Lions Code of Ethics, "To be careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy."