Children's Trust continues tradition of giving

School administrators, counselors and Trust patrons from all the county schools were present to accept an annual $1,000 gift from the Mary Allison Children's Trust Wednesday afternoon. Money is used to help disadvantaged students at each elementary school. Pictured are, front from left, Kristie McClamroch of Bainbridge Elementary, board member Carol Emery, Deborah Hutcheson of Reelsville and Central elementaries, board member Lucy Wieland; middle, Brad Hayes of Fillmore Elementary, Christy Schmeckebier of Cloverdale Elementary, Gwen Morris of Deer Meadow Primary School, board member Ginger Scott, trust patron JoAnn Linn; third row, board member Mike Goss, trust patron Brent McColgin of Tri-County Bank & Trust, board member Joe Ferguson, trust patron Don Edwards of Wabash Capital, Dan TeGrotenhuis of Tzouanakis Intermediate, honorary board member Jim Poor and board member Jim Jackson. Courtesy photo

GREENCASTLE -- Deer Meadow Principle Gwen Morris brought tears to the eyes of those attending the annual Mary Allison Children's Trust luncheon Wednesday as she described a single parent who drove back and forth from Cloverdale with her three kids in a car that had tires so bald the metal showed through.

"It really was a safety issue for the children," said Morris, explaining how the school used some of the money it receives yearly from the Mary Allison Children's Trust to buy tires for the car.

"It really, really made a difference to that family," said Morris.

Since 1896, local Putnam County children have benefited from new eyeglasses, shoes, medicine and other needed items made possible through the Mary Allison Children Trust.

When the Mary Allison Children's Home was sold in the mid-1980s after serving disadvantaged children for many years, the trust was created. A sum of $1,000 is given annually to each of the nine Putnam County elementary schools. Teachers and counselors at each school determine how the money is spent on an immediate basis. The funds are unrestricted, meaning school officials can use them for any purpose, as long as it benefits the students.

On Wednesday, school representatives, Mary Allison Fund board members and contributors to the program came together for lunch at Area 30 and talked about the fund and its legacy.

JoAnn Linn and Tri County Bank & Trust Co. representative Brent McColgin, center front, join the ranks of Trust Patrons for the Mary Allison Children's Trust during the Annual Luncheon Trust Patrons/ School Luncheon held at Area 30 Ivy Gallery. On hand to say thank you are board members, Carol Emery, front left, Lucy Wieland, front right, back, Mike Goss, Joe Ferguson, Jim Poor, Ginger Scott and Jim Jackson. Courtesy photo

"We were able to fill an LP gas tank for a family who had no heat in their home," said Brad Hayes, Fillmore Elementary principal.

A Cloverdale school was able to provide safe housing for a family that had an emergency situation. South Putnam students without health insurance were able to see specialty physicians for serious health issues.

Over the years, students from all the schools were provided with items such as glasses, shoes and medicines as well as money to pay for field trips for those who didn't have funds.

"We don't have to fit a certain line item with this money," said Dan TeGrotenhuis, principal at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. "The heritage of this organization is to provide what's needed."

"Safe haven, safe travel, this makes me feel so good about this trust," concluded Board President Jim Jackson. "It makes it so much easier to raise funds."

Money is raised through contributions and an annual golf outing. Wabash Capital and First National Bank are the financial overseers of the trust. They sponsored the annual lunch, which brings together the distributors of the funds with contributors and board members to share experiences.

Over the years, board members of the trust estimate that it financially assists at least 10 children from each county elementary school each year, totaling 100 children each year.

Members of the Mary Allison Children's Trust board are Jim Jackson, Joe Ferguson, Carol Emery, Ginger Scott, Lucy Wieland, Darren Hughes, Mike Goss, Cliff Higgerson III, Matt Headley and Jim Poor.

Contributions to the Mary Allison Children's Trust can be mailed to P.O. Box 369 Greencastle, 46135. Donations should be mailed care of Treasurer Ginger Scott.