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Seventh-grade philanthropy essay winner announced
Jonathon DeHaan, a student in Caitlynn Bryan's class at South Putnam High School, is the grand prize winner of the Putnam County Community Foundation's 2013 Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest.
Jonathon's prize winning essay, "Philanthropy in a Nutshell," described his grandmother, Brenda McCullough, as being the philanthropist he admires most because of her wish to help mankind become smarter, wiser and stronger.
In recognition of his accomplishment, St. Jude Children's Hospital, the charity of his choice, will receive a $150 donation, and his school will receive a $500 grant.
Entries were accepted from seventh-grade students in all four county school corporations. Students were instructed to write a 500-word essay about "The Philanthropist I Know Personally and Admire the Most."
Each school district selected the two best essays and submitted them to the Putnam County Community Foundation. Elaine Peck, executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation, said judges evaluated the essays with no knowledge of the identity of the schools or the students.
Karen Nelson Heavin chaired the essay contest this year. Judges were Nancy Mendenhall (North Putnam), Louis Fontaine (Greencastle), Susan Stewart (South Putnam) and Vivian Whitaker (Cloverdale).
There were seven finalists.
Allen Plunkett was a finalist for his essay titled, "Caring for Others," which recognizes his father's coworker, Bobby Dillehay, who goes the extra mile to help people in El Salvador, people who are homeless and people who need jobs.
Plunkett reports that Dillehay does these things because he truly cares, not because he wants to look good to other people. He is also a student in Bryan's sev class at South Putnam, and he chose the Good News Mission to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50 because both the Mission and Dillehay serve homeless people.
Hannah Rady wrote an essay titled "Cindy Peterson," whom she admires for being a strong and loving person. Peterson works full time, serves in National Guard, volunteers at church and is the CEO of an education ministry called Reach.
Rady is a student in Katie Mosley's seventh-grade class at Cloverdale Middle School, and she chose Soul Harvest/Reach Ministries to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.
Bradley Johnson wrote an essay called "The Philanthropist I admire the Most," which describes the philanthropic achievements of his grandmother, Jeanine Mowery.
Johnson's grandmother created the HUG program at her church, which provided coats, hats and gloves to poor children in Greene County. The HUG program grew so much that it had to be moved and has become the Family Life Center in Bloomfield providing clothing, household items, food and many other items to families in need.
Johnson is also a student in Mosley's class at Cloverdale Middle School, and he chose the Food Pantry at Soul Harvest to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.
Lainey Willis wrote an essay called "My Favorite Philanthropist," which recognizes the many contributions of Holly Cook. Willis reports that Cook is always thinking of ways to improve the community.
Cook works hard to improve Roachdale Park, she is a Girl Scout leader, she helps organize many things in Roachdale, including running the famous Roach Race.
Willis is a student in Jana Brothers' seventh-grade class at North Putnam Middle School, and she chose Feed the Children to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50. Willis said she does not like to think about people wasting food while there are hungry children in the world and she can do something about it.
Alexis Benge wrote an essay called "My Philanthropist," which describes how much she admires Denise Pageant. Benge admires how Pageant donates household items, food and money to help others have happy, healthy lives. Pageant also rewards people who do good deeds.
Benge is also a student in Brothers' seventh-grade class at North Putnam Middle School, and she chose the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50 because she has a cousin with Mitochondrial Disease.
Seelye Stoffregen wrote an essay called "The Philanthropist Next Door," which describes the strengths and accomplishments of her neighbor, Kelsey Kauffman.
Stoffregen reports that Ms. Kauffman volunteers in prisons helping prisoners become educated, and that she is part of a national effort to help female prison inmates rear their own children. Kauffman has also worked at the state level to increase sentencing equality for drug-related offenses, and founded the Summer Enrichment Program for underprivileged children in Greencastle.
Stoffregen is a student in Suzanne Funk's seventh-grade class at Greencastle Middle School, and she chose Girl Scout Troop 358 to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50 because they help the town.
Ethan Tuggle wrote an essay called "My Philanthropist," which describes how proud he is of his father, Craig Tuggle.
Ethan reports that his father raised money for the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, which provided shelter for his Aunt Susan when one of her children was in the hospital. His father is a deacon at Greencastle Presbyterian Church and he helps with the SAWs program that builds ramps for handicapped people who are unable to get out of their home.
Tuggle is also a student in Funk's class at Greencastle Middle School, and he chose the Greencastle Presbyterian Church SAWS program to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.
The Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest is a program provided by the Putnam County Community Foundation.
Through the program, the Foundation hopes to recognize the everyday philanthropists in Putnam County and ensure that no child will graduate from high school without knowing the meaning of the word "philanthropy."
For additional information, persons may visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Elaine Peck at 653-4978.