Foundation announces Becky Brothers Service Scholarship

The Putnam County Community Foundation has announced that the family of Rebecca Jo "Becky" Brothers has established a scholarship endowment in her memory.

The first scholarship will be awarded this spring to a South Putnam High School graduate. The recipient will be identified by a committee established by the administrators of South Putnam Jr.-Sr. High School.

The Brothers family envisions the scholarship as recognizing the character of a special type of student.

"The ideal candidate will be a student who is caring, non-judgmental, and humble," the scholarship stipulates. "This is a person who treats everyone equally, leads by example, gets things done, and is a positive role model for other students."

The family intends to support scholarship recipients for up to four years of post-secondary education.

A beloved member of the community, Ms. Brothers passed away on Dec. 1, 2011. She dedicated 30 years of service to South Putnam High School, first as a teacher and coach, and the last 18 years as a guidance counselor.

She was a recipient of the Distinguished Hoosier Award, awarded by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on Nov. 19, 2011, the Bessie Rector Award, the Mental Health America Person of the Year Award, North Putnam Alumni of the Year, and the 2010 Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

In an essay written as a seventh-grader, South Putnam High School student Katie Hewitt noted, "Ms. Brothers' career choice is to be a guidance counselor at South Putnam High School, but she goes beyond that to help all students. Even having a tough year last year physically, she hasn't skipped a beat."

Hewitt's essay and her subject were impressive enough to win the Putnam County Community Foundation's 2010 National Philanthropy Week Essay Contest.

"She is selfless in her actions and does not look for attention," Hewitt wrote of Brothers.

"She wants to see us grow and become successful. I only dream, one day, to be like Ms. Brothers. I idolize and appreciate her philanthropic work."

Anyone may contribute to the Becky Brothers Service Scholarship Endowment or start a new endowment in his/her own name.

Contributions to the endowment may be made payable to the Putnam County Community Foundation with "Becky Brothers Scholarship" in the memo, and mailed to 2 S. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135 or online at www.pcfoundation.org.

Community Foundation staff members are available to help donors make gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, real estate and other types of gifts.

The Putnam County Foundation administers more than 225 funds and endowments for donors, supporting a variety of charitable purposes. To learn more about how to start a new fund, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact the office at 653-4978.