Youth Philanthropy Committee funds county youth-led projects

Thursday, May 1, 2014
Members of the Putnam County Youth Philanthropy Committee present a check to Greencastle High School student Hannah Gellman (third from right) for the purchase of recycling bins to use at future GHS athletic events. John Garner (right) teaches the Environmental Science class at GHS. Committee members taking part in the presentation are (from left) Taylor Secrest, Rebecca Moore, Mary Pearl Ivy, Gellman and Melody White.

The Youth Philanthropy Committee of the Putnam County Community Foundation has approved four grants in support of projects led by students in Putnam County.

The grants were made to projects for Greencastle High School's recycling program, the Putnam County Band Festival, an Eagle Scout Project at Camp Friend, and to rehab Tzouanakis Intermediate School's playground.

The committee is proud to be able to support these projects and the students in their endeavors to better their communities, Foundation officials said.

GHS student Hannah Gellman, along with the GHS environmental science class, plans to purchase recycling bins to set up around McAnally Center.

Their hope is to make the bins easily accessible at athletic events to prevent waste of recyclable materials and beautify the community. They plan to set up five movable bins and one permanent bin around the high school. The Youth Philanthropy Committee granted $285 to purchase the movable bins.

Meanwhile, Ethan Gill, representing band members from all of the county high schools, received a $500 grant to help fund the Putnam County Band Festival.

The festival is a time for the four county schools to unite and play music under the direction of a guest conductor, an experience that allows the musicians to put aside school rivalries and harmonize.

The bands plan to use their grant to purchase music and pay the guest conductor for this event. The band festival is staged annually in October.

Meanwhile, Camp Friend received a grant of $500 for GHS student Sedrick Weinschenk's Eagle Scout Project.

Weinschenk plans to replace two old flagpoles with three new flagpoles and also will construct benches, planter boxes and a storage cabinet at the camp. He hopes his project will allow people to have a more enriching camp experience.

The Tzouanakis Intermediate School student council received a $500 grant from the committee for playground improvements. Adam Hagen and Ethan Miaer made a presentation recognizing the safety hazards of their current playground and offered a plan to fix their amphitheater, bike racks and benches.

The student council will use this grant to make the playground safer and therefore more fun for the Tzouanakis students.

The Youth Philanthropy Committee, consisting of 12 youth and four adults, makes grants to charitable organizations for youth-led projects in Putnam County.

Youth with charitable projects in Putnam County are encouraged to apply to the committee. Applications and guidelines may be found on the Community Foundation website.

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

To obtain additional information about donating to the Youth Philanthropy Fund or creating your own endowment, persons may contact the office at 653-4978 or visit www.pcfoundation.org.

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