100+ Men selects Dollars for Scholars for $12,600 grant

In naming Dollars for Scholars the recipient of its most recent grant, 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County presents a check for $12,600 to be split evenly among the scholarship groups representing the four schools. In attendance for the presentation are (front from left) Vivian Whitaker of Cloverdale Dollars for Scholars, Mary Zerkel and Joannie Knapp of North Putnam Dollars for Scholars, Karen Nelson Heavin representing South Putnam, Suzie Schneider and Terri McKee of the Greencastle Alumni Association, (back) Mike Harmless of 100+ Men, Dean Gambill of the Putnam County Community Foundation, Dave Murray and Chuck Schroeder of 100+ Men, Brandon Wells of the Community Foundation, Brian Gardner of South Putnam and Todd Lewis of both 100+ Men and Cloverdale Dollars for Scholars.

Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

Four local scholarship groups representing all four county schools became the latest quarterly local recipient recently of a grant from 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County.

The fourth-quarter check was $12,600, and will be split evenly between the organizations.

North Putnam Dollars for Scholars, Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars, Greencastle Alumni Association (soon to be affiliated with Dollars for Scholars) and a group working on organizing a South Putnam Dollars for Scholars will each receive a check for $3,150.

The local Dollars for Scholars groups provide scholarships and support for local students. Dollars for Scholars scholarships are protected from being offset at all accredited Indiana colleges and universities which helps offset expenses for the students and also potentially lowers their student debt.

At 10 institutions, the funds are actually matched up to $500 and for up to four years.

The groups also provide support to the students by hosting the annual college and career fair.

Putnam County’s 100+ Men Who Care is a group of local men who meet four times a year to award a big check to a Putnam County 501c3 charity.

“Since January 2016 this group has awarded more than $247,000 to 17 different Putnam County charities and nonprofit organizations,” Mike Harmless, chairman of 100+ Men, said.

The 100+ Men group also has created a Community Grants Endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation that provides money for the Foundation to utilize in its grant-making process.

Currently, there are 126 members in the 100+ Men group with room for more.

The 100+ Men of Putnam County is based on two principals: There were men who wanted to give back to the community but lacked the time to do fundraising or serve on boards, and the process needed to be fun and easy.

Any Putnam County man interested in helping local community by joining 100+ Men can visit the website www.100plusmen.com for general information as well as application forms (click on the “Join Us” icon) or check out its Facebook page, 100+ Men of Putnam County.