100 Women Who Care Putnam County support The Castle

Members of 100 Women Who Care: Putnam County Chapter braved cold and snowy weather recently to present their donations to Beth Benedix, founder of The Castle.

Julie Thompson, who chairs the 100 Women Who Care group, expressed her excitement. "One-Hundred Women Who Care has made an incredible impact in the community this past year," she said. "They have given more than $72,000 to Putnam County nonprofits."

Presenting a $8,500 check from 100 Women Who Care to representatives of The Castle are (front, from left) Toby Benedix, Saraellen Peters, Mary Williams, Cam Benedix, Emily Knuth, and (back, from left) Beth Benedix of The Castle, Julie Thompson, Sandi Rossok, Kate Knaul and Elaine Peck.

Benedix, a member of 100 Women Who Care, sold the women on her program at the Feb. 4 event at the Inn at DePauw. The Castle received $8,500 and will report back to 100 Women Who Care later in the year.

The other two Putnam County nonprofits nominated that evening were A Kinetic Change and the Putnam County Council on Aging (Senior Center).

Benedix said she was honored that The Castle was chosen by 100 Women Who Care, and that the money would be used to compensate staff and to purchase programs and materials that would allow them to develop more workshops.

The Castle's work is based upon research that demonstrates the positive impact of integrating the arts and project-based teaching methods in the classroom. These studies suggest that the kinds of skills fostered by arts-integration and project-based learning -- skills such as collaboration, creative problem-solving, integrating multiple skill sets, dealing with complexity and ambiguity -- are those skills needed by the modern workforce.

The Castle works with Putnam County teachers to create workshops that are high-quality, standards-based and deeply integrated into the existing curriculum.

Castle staff are professional educators who have used integrated practices in their own teaching. They work with teachers at partner schools to determine where teachers are in their curriculum and to get a better sense of the teachers' dreams and wishes for what The Castle can bring to their classrooms.

Staff then works with volunteers to develop and implement innovative, energetic, and creative workshops.

Volunteers have included scientists, farmers, artists, musicians, writers, and performers of all kinds, who bring their talents to the classroom, making the curriculum come alive.

Thompson encouraged women to spread the word and invite their friends and neighbors to join. "We want to have 100 Women again by the May meeting."

The 100 Women Who Care Steering Committee members are Julie Thompson (chairman), Kelli Croan, Kate Knaul, Emily Knuth, Suzanne Masten, Beva Miller, Caitlyn Milliman, Elaine Peck, Susan Price and Cheryl Selvey.

For more information or to join 100+ Women Who Care Putnam County, contact a Steering Committee member, visit www.pcfoundation.org, or contact Julie Thompson at 100womenwhocareputnamcounty@gmail.com or 739-8148.

Persons may also visit 100 Women Who Care Putnam County on Facebook.