The Starke County Youth Club has been selected by a local farmer to receive a $2,500 donation.
SCYC Executive Director, Irene Szakonyi says the donation came from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, a program sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. “The way we got connected to them was a local farmer, Lippelt Farms, are interested in the work we do and support the work we do, and had the opportunity to apply for this funding that would benefit us,” she says. “So they thought of us first and directed the donation to us.”
She says the donation will help the Youth Club continue to serve Starke County children, “We provide opportunities for kids to develop their own academic and personal success. This funding is going to help our kids in our after-school programs have a safe and enriching place to go after school lets out, everything from homework help to cultural activities to community service and leadership. These dollars go directly to kids in our community.”
Szakonyi says the success of the Youth Club depends on members of the local community, like Lippelt Farms, “It really is only through the work of this entire community that the club is so strong and our kids get so much benefit. We’re really grateful to them for their forethought, for their generosity and in selecting the youth club. They really care about kids, and we’re just so appreciative of that.”
Each year, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program selects farmers across the country and then awards $2,500 to a nonprofit group of their choice.
