Grantees celebrate $52,151 in awards at Community Foundation breakfast

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Grantees celebrate $52,151 in awards at Community Foundation breakfast

An early morning crowd, greeted by Putnam County Community Foundation Executive Director Elaine Peck, celebrated the Community Foundation's 2015 Fall Grant Awards at a recent breakfast.

Dean Gambill, director of Community Development, announced that $51,151.27 was being awarded from the Community Foundation's unrestricted and field of interest endowments. That sum brings the Community Foundation's total grants from its unrestricted and field of interest funds to $244,682.79 for 2015.

Putnam County Community Foundation Board members and grant winners celebrate $51,151 in grants awarded at the recent Fall Grants Breakfast at Area 30 Career Center.

Gambill explained that three different types of grants are awarded -- Endowment Builder Grants, Community Grants and Youth Philanthropy Grants. Each has its own application and requirements.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from representatives of two organizations who received grants and learn about their projects.

Phil Gick gave an update for the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County and the Envision 2016 grant it received in January to restore the Civil War Monument in Forest Hill Cemetery and apply for historic districts in the smaller communities of Putnam County.

Allison Staples also spoke, showing Cancer Care Packets that Girl Scout Troop 2276 is putting together for patients undergoing cancer treatments at Putnam County Hospital.

With a grant from the Putnam County Youth Philanthropy Committee and help from area quilters, the scouts are making lap quilts and head wraps to be included along with snacks, magazines and game books in the packets.

Organizations receiving 2015 Fall Endowment Builder Grants are:

-- Cloverdale Dollars for Scholars, $2,000.

-- Greencastle Presbyterian Church, $2,000.

-- People Pathways, $2,000.

-- Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District, $1,000.

-- Reelsville/Washington Township VFD, $1,000.

To qualify for an Endowment Builder Grant an organization must establish or have an existing endowment with the Community Foundation and submit a fundraising plan to build the endowment. The Community Foundation matches one dollar for every two dollars the organization raises.

Community and Field of Interest Grants awarded were:

-- DePauw School of Music, $13,000 in support of Music on the Square.

-- Area 10 Agency- Rural Transit, $10,000 to replace aging, inefficient vehicle.

-- Cloverdale Community Housing, $5,000 to install 24 energy efficient windows in senior citizens housing units

-- Susie's Place Child Advocacy Center, $5,000 to provide child sex abuse prevention training for adults that serve, care for and work with youth in Putnam County.

-- Main Street Greencastle, $2,000 to stimulate economic growth by expanding First Fridays.

-- Care Net Pregnancy Center of Putnam County, $1,570 to expand parking at the Care Net offices.

-- Greencastle Arts Council, $1,260 to create a well-designed, interactive website to connect artists and the community.

-- Western Indiana Community Action Agency, $1,200 to install weather-resistant door at the RSVP Recycling Center.

-- Cloverdale Main Street, $1,000 to promote festivals in Cloverdale.

-- North Putnam Community Schools, $803.90 to provide tripods for digital photography class.

-- Greencastle Community Schools Tzouanakis, $700 to create "Sensory Buckets" for classrooms.

-- Roachdale Revitalization Cooperative Alliance, $600 to install meter box for use at community festivals.

-- DePauw University Counseling Services, $550 to provide online mental health screenings for DePauw students, staff and Putnam County residents.

Two Youth Philanthropy Grants were awarded totaling $750 for youth-led community service projects.

The 2015 Fall Youth Philanthropy Grant recipients are:

-- Cloverdale FFA, Support for Annual Toy Drive, $250.

-- Girl Scout Troop 2276, Create Cancer Care Packet for patients at Putnam County Hospital, $500.

At the outset of the breakfast, Peck acknowledged the two breakfast sponsors, Ascena Retail Group Inc. and Jameson Coffee. The breakfast, catered by Almost Home was held in the Community Room of Area 30 Career Center.

Susan Price, who chairs the Community Foundation's Grants Committee thanked donors to unrestricted and field of interest endowments that make grant awards possible.

Price acknowledged and thanked the work of long-term committee members who will be leaving the committee, Gwen Morris, Dr. Tom Graffis, Brent McColgin, Narda Cotton and Teena Bryant. Combined those individuals have nearly 70 years of service on the Grants Committee.

For information about applying for an Endowment Builder Grant, a Community Grant or a Youth Philanthropy Grant, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Dean Gambill, community development director, at 653-4978.

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

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