Community Foundation makes Spring Grant awards

Friday, June 15, 2018
Grant winners and awards breakfast attendees celebrate the awarding of more than $90,000 in Spring Grant Awards at the Putnam County Community Foundation’s recent Spring Awards Breakfast at the Area 30 Career Center in Greencastle.
Courtesy photo

Putnam County Community Foundation board member Jeff Blaydes greeted an early morning crowd of 60 to celebrate the recent awarding of $90,316 in grants at the 2018 Spring Grant Awards Breakfast at the Area 30 Career Center in Greencastle.

Blaydes, chairman of the Community Foundation’s Grants Committee, thanked donors to unrestricted and field of interest endowments that make grant awards possible. He added that it takes more than donors to make a difference in Putnam County. It takes donors plus the Community Foundation plus local nonprofit grantees to make “a uniquely stronger community.”

Dean Gambill, director of Community Development, announced the awards from the Foundation’s unrestricted and field of interest funds. Gambill explained that three different types of grants are awarded -- Endowment Builder Grants, Community Grants and Youth Philanthropy Grants. Each has its own application and requirements.

Those in attendance heard from four organizations who received grants and learned about their projects.

Renea Cambron, president of Cloverdale Main Street, told about the projects the group puts on to enhance life in Cloverdale and how the Endowment Builder grant it received will help fund those activities and more in the future.

Shana Ritter, executive director of the Foundation for Autism Resources, informed the group how early intervention pays off greatly in the functionality of persons with autism and in reduced support costs in the future. The Foundation for Autism Resources has helped coordinate more than 2,000 hours of Applied Behavior Analysis training for at-risk children in Putnam County. The grant will be used to continue providing services for Putnam County children.

Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Executive Director Kristin Clary highlighted the work of the Development Center.

The partnership between the Community Foundation and Development Center has existed for more than two decades both financially and in focus. The organizations are also co-located along with the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce which increases communication between the organizations. Workforce development has become a large part of the work of the Development Center to make sure that Putnam County employers are able to find a strong labor pool.

Finally, the gathering heard about Project Cultivate, a project conceived and executed by Parker Black, a Greencastle High School student.

The Putnam County Youth Philanthropy Committee provided a grant to support the musical event at the Inn at DePauw featuring local musical acts. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to allow all GHS students to receive a hot lunch even if their lunch accounts have fallen into the red. The event raised $2,100.

Spring 2018 Community Grants were presented to:

-- Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars, $2,000.

-- Cloverdale Community Housing, $8,516.

-- DePauw University School of Music, $15,000.

-- Downs Syndrome Indiana Inc., $350.

-- Family Support Services of West Central Indiana, $5,000.

-- Foundation for Autism Resources, $3,500.

-- Gobin Memorial UMC, Transformers, $7,000.

-- Humane Society of Putnam County, $6,000.

-- Main Street Greencastle, $1,700.

-- PC Youth Development Commission, $2,000.

-- Phil the Need Inc., $2,500.

-- St. Andrew’s (PC Non-food Pantry), $4,000.

-- Roachdale/Franklin Township Public Library, $2,500.

-- Town of Cloverdale, $7,500.

Receiving a 2018 Spring Endowment Builder Grant was:

-- Cloverdale Main Street, $4,000.

To qualify for an Endowment Builder Grant an organization must establish or have an existing endowment with the Community Foundation and submit a fundraising plan to build the endowment. The Foundation matches one dollar for every two dollars the organization raises.

Six Youth Philanthropy Grants were recognized, totaling $2,750 for youth-led community service projects. The 2018 Spring Youth Philanthropy Grant recipients are:

-- Camp Friend/Anne Marie Williams project, $400.

-- Camp Friend/Hannah Williams project, $350.

-- GHS Champions Together, $500.

-- Push for a Change, Project Cultivate, $500.

-- Putnam 4-H Horse and Pony Club, $500.

-- Tzouanakis School Pollinators Garden, $500.

Additionally, one previously awarded multi-year grant was presented:

-- Greencastle/ Putnam County Development Center, $20,000.

First National Bank sponsored the breakfast, which was catered by Almost Home and served in the Community Room at Area 30.

For information about applying for an Endowment Builder Grant, a Community Grant or a Youth Philanthropy Grant, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Community Development Director Gambill at 653-4978.

The Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to administer funds, award grants and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County.

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