Benefactor establishes relief fund at foundation

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Putnam County Community Foundation recently announced that an anonymous benefactor has asked the foundation to establish a new fund for Putnam County citizens who are coping with extreme adversity.

The benefactor will match contributions to the fund, and has not set a limit at this time. A contribution from the employees of DePauw Dining Services was the first contribution received to the new fund and will be matched dollar for dollar by the benefactor.

"This is a fund our community has wanted for a long time," said Elaine Peck, executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation. "Over the years, I have received countless calls from people wanting to raise money to help a person or family in need; calls from people wanting to help a family who suffered a tragic accident; calls from people wanting to help someone with a disability; calls from people wanting to help families with their heating bills. Putnam County is a community that supports and gives generously to neighbors in need. The downturn in the economy makes the establishment of this fund very timely."

Peck stressed that individuals and families in need should continue to contact existing organizations in the community for direct assistance.

"The community foundation cannot provide assistance directly to individuals," she said.

Grants from the fund will support charitable organizations providing assistance to the needy in the community and will be determined by the board of directors of the community foundation.

"We have a lot of work to do as an organization and as a community to figure out the best way to implement the vision of this generous benefactor," said Peck. "We are looking for creative ideas and out-of-the-box thinkers to help us use this new resource to cope with the changing economic environment we find ourselves in."

Peck said contributions to the fund are needed, encouraged and will be matched. Contributions may be made payable to the Putnam County Community Foundation for the purpose of the Putnam County Relief Fund and mailed to 2 South Jackson Street, Greencastle, IN 46135.

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