PCCF announces spring 2019 grants

Catherine Hodge (right) of the Putnam County Youth Philanthropy Committee presents a check to South Putnam Interact members Moriah Coward and Summer Burris. The Youth Philanthropy grant will help the Interact club’s fundraising efforts to provide a lockable donation bin for the Human Society’s Rescued Treasures store.

Courtesy photo

The Putnam County Community Foundation awarded $61,900 in grants at the 2019 Spring Grant Awards Breakfast at Area 30 Career Center.

Jeff Blaydes, who chairs of the foundation’s grants committee, emphasized that it takes donors, the foundation and local nonprofit grantees together to make “A uniquely stronger community.”

“The Community Foundation can’t do anything without our nonprofits who strengthen Putnam County,” Blaydes said. “Today, we celebrate the work not of the Community Foundation, but of our nonprofits.”

Dean Gambill, PCCF director of community development, announced the awards from the foundation’s unrestricted funds. The grantees then explained their projects and the impact they can have on Putnam County.

“We are fortunate to have so many great nonprofits who seek to make things better in Putnam County,” said Gambill.

Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars received a 2019 Spring Endowment Builder Grant of $5,000.

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

Spring 2019 Community Grants were awarded to: Castlemakers, $9,600; Fillmore Elementary PTO, $2,500; Summer Enrichment Program, $2,500; Greencastle/ Putnam County Development Center, $20,000; North Putnam Community Service Group, $6,000; North Putnam High School, $5,000; and The Castle, $8,000.

Youth Philanthropy Grants were recognized totaling $3,300.00. These grants are for youth-led community service projects.

The 2019 Spring Youth Philanthropy Grant recipients are: Camp Friend - Seth Geiger Project, $500; Girls Scouts of Central Indiana - Grace Timm Project, $500; Greencastle High School - Henry Carter Project, $500; North Putnam Community Service Group, $500; Push for a Change - Project Cultivate, $300; South Putnam High School Interact - Rescued Treasures Project, $500; and Tzouanakis Intermediate School - Pollinators Garden, $500.

Sponsored by First National Bank, the breakfast was catered by Almost Home.