$111,625 in grants awarded at Community Foundation event

Friday, June 6, 2014
Representatives of the local organizations and projects presented more than $111,000 in Spring Grant Awards from the Putnam County Community Foundation celebrate Friday morning at the Area 30 Career Center Community Room.

A crowd of more than 70 people was greeted by the Putnam County Community Foundation Executive Director Elaine Peck Friday in celebration of the Foundation's 2014 Spring Grant Awards.

The breakfast, provided by Almost Home, was held in the Area 30 Career Center Community Room, where it was announced that $111,625 was being awarded from the Community Foundation's unrestricted, field-of-interest, and donor-advised endowments and funds.

The event was sponsored by Therese Cunningham State Farm Insurance and Old National Bank.

The semi-annual Grant Awards Breakfast was capped off by the announcement that the Community Foundation had reached a major milestone.

Board President Ellie Ypma announced that the Community Foundation had surpassed distributing $10 million in grants and scholarships since its inception in 1985.

Susan Price, who chairs the Community Foundation's Grants Committee, thanked donors to the unrestricted endowment, noting that it is due to their generosity that the Foundation is able to award Community Grants and Youth Philanthropy Grants.

Dean Gambill, Foundation director of community development, recognized individuals and organizations that have given unrestricted gifts to the Community Foundation which makes these grants possible

"This money doesn't grow on trees but it exists because many people had the foresight to invest in the future by starting unrestricted endowments," Gambill said. "Without these individuals and organizations, the Community Foundation would not be able to have the impact in the community that it does today."

Each year the Community Foundation awards grants in the spring and fall for charitable projects that improve the lives of Putnam County citizens. Two different types of grants were awarded: Community Grants and Youth Philanthropy Grants. Each has its own application and requirements.

Community Grants awarded totaled $107,840, and included several multi-year grant commitments made in previous years.

The spring 2014 Community Grants recipients are:

-- Cloverdale Community Schools, to provide early literacy preschool scholarships, $10,000.

-- Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, to replace outdated gear and self-contained breathing units, $10,000.

-- Humane Society of Putnam County, to provide microchips, microchip readers and training for local law enforcement, $6,840.

-- Area 30 Career Center, to purchase equipment and supplies for new WIRED program, $5,500.

-- Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, to support Back Sacks Weekend Food Program in Putnam County, $5,000.

-- Putnam County Family Support Services, to continue a dating violence prevention program in all Putnam high schools, $5,000.

-- Little Walnut Cemetery, to repair and straighten historic grave markers and install a perimeter fence, $4,000.

-- Special Olympics of Putnam County, to provide uniforms, training, lodging and transportation for Special Olympics athletes, $3,000.

-- Salvation Army, to support Putnam County emergency assistance program, $1,500.

In addition to the above new awards, the Foundation recognized and issued grant checks to organizations based upon commitments made in previous years:

-- Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, to support economic development efforts locally, $20,000.

-- Beyond Homeless, to provide emergency housing for homeless persons, $10,000.

-- Putnam County Rural Transit, to provide transportation to all county residents, $10,000.

-- Greencastle Civic League, to support the splash park project at Robe-Ann Park, $8,000.

-- Putnam County Public Library, to support the Imagination Library project, $3,000.

-- Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, to support the Bridges Out of Poverty program, $3,000.

-- Putnam County Youth Development FBO Castle Arts, for expansion of its arts and education pilot program, $3,000.

Youth Philanthropy Grants awarded totaled $3,785 with grants for youth-led community service projects. The spring 2014 Youth Philanthropy Grant recipients are:

-- Camp Friend, to install flagpoles as part of Sedrick Weinschenk Eagle Scout project, $500.

-- Greencastle High School, Putnam County Band Festival, $500.

-- Tzouanakis Intermediate School, to upgrade playground and outdoor classroom area, $500.

-- Fillmore Elementary School, to create geography map project, $500.

-- South Putnam FFA, to support FFA Summer Science Camp, $500.

-- Cloverdale Church of the Nazarene, to construct storage building as part of Ethan Baker Eagle Scout project, $500.

-- Greencastle Parks and Recreation, to purchase safety and sports equipment for SPARK summer program, $500.

-- Greencastle High School, to purchase recycling bins for athletic events, $285.

All eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for Community Foundation grants. For more information, persons may contact Gambill at 653-4978.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to administer funds, award grants and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life in Putnam County. The Foundation administers more than 250 funds for donors supporting a variety of charitable causes.

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