Seventh grade philanthropy essay winner announced

Cloverdale Middle School student MacKenzie Stoltz is the grand prize winner of the Putnam County Community Foundation's 2014 Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Week Essay Contest.

Stoltz's prize-winning essay described her 4-H leader, Mona Smith, as being the philanthropist she admires most.

Stoltz, a student in Mrs. Mosley's class, explains that Smith is special because "rather than only donating her money and time, she finds it important to help and teach people how to use their gifts to make their community a better place to be."

In recognition of her accomplishment, New Providence Baptist Church Food Pantry, the charity of Stoltz's choice, will receive a $150 donation, and her school will receive a $500 grant.

Entries were accepted from seventh-grade students in all four of Putnam County's 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 Foundation, said Essay Contest judges evaluate essays with no knowledge of the identity of the schools or the students.

Seven finalists were chosen from the pool of essays.

Morgan Goss, another student from Mrs. Mosley's class at Cloverdale Middle School, was a finalist for her essay recognizing her older sister, Heather.

Goss believes Heather to be a great role model because of the volunteer work Heather has done for the Cloverdale High School Toy Drive, for local food pantries and for FFA. Goss chose Companion Dogs Plus to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.

Sarah Hiethaus, a student in Mrs. Funk's class at Greencastle Middle School, wrote an essay about Mary Mountz, a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Hiethaus admires Mountz's friendliness, and she is impressed with Mountz's work in starting the Non-Food Pantry at St. Andrew's. Hiethaus chose to designate her $50 prize to Friends of the Putnam County Public Library.

Annie Hershberger, another student in Mrs. Funk's GMS class, wrote an essay highlighting the philanthropic achievements of her father, Bob Hershberger. She reports that her father helps those who are less fortunate through the Community Technology Enhancement Program at DePauw and by serving as director of the Crown Street Community Center.

As a DePauw Spanish professor, Bob Hershberger helped start Spanish language classes at the Indiana Women's Prison and Ridpath Elementary School. Annie Hershberger chose the Putnam County Humane Society to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.

Morgan Dixon wrote an essay recognizing the many contributions of Jeff Raab, a former social studies teacher at South Putnam Middle School.

Dixon said Raab inspired her to care about the environment and to become involved in the community. She claims that he shows compassion and kindness to everyone. Dixon, a student in Ms. Boesch's class at South Putnam Jr. Sr. High School, chose the Putnam County Humane Society Animal Shelter to receive a Finalist Grant Award of $50.

Nicklaus Warren, another one of Ms. Boesch's students, wrote an essay describing his admiration for his grandmother, Wanda Keller. Warren explained that Keller served as an incredible foster parent and helped guide troubled kids away from destructive paths by providing them food, shelter, and a loving home.

Sadly, his grandmother passed away, but Warren stated that her legacy would live on in the hearts of the foster children whose lives she touched. Warren dedicated his Finalist Grant Award of $50 to Putnam County's Habitat for Humanity.

Grace Fry, a student in Mrs. Trent's class at North Putnam Middle School, also chose to write about her grandmother, Linda Merkel. Fry's grandmother is executive director of The Putnam County Youth Development Commission. Fry is inspired by the work Merkel does for this organization as well as her generosity to others and her service in both her church and other organizations.

Fry provided examples of how her grandmother teaches others the value of philanthropy. Fry donated her Finalist Grant Award of $50 to Putnam County Youth Development Commission in honor of her grandmother.

Allison Staples of Mrs. Trent's class wrote her essay about Nancy Holsapple and her many contributions, of both time and money, to her community.

Holsapple is involved with 100 Women Who Care, 4-H, and the Putnam County Fairgrounds, and she helps people through her work as a special education teacher. Staples chose to designate her Finalist Grant Award of $50 to S.P.O.T. (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today).

The Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Week Essay Contest is a program provided by the Putnam County Community Foundation.

Through the program, the Community Foundation hopes to recognize everyday philanthropists in Putnam County and to ensure that no child will graduate from high school without knowing the meaning of the word "philanthropy."

For additional information visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Elaine Peck at 653- 4978.