The founders were present to celebrate the accomplishments of 2013, during which more than $140,000 was awarded in grants and scholarships – more than $24,000 of which was awarded Thursday evening during the reception through the SCCF’s annual unrestricted grant process. The named unrestricted funds that made the grants possible are: The Freedom Fund, the Ann R. and Orville Nichols Memorial Fund, the Schuyler Family Endowment Fund, the Stewart Lain Memorial Fund, the Starke County General Unrestricted Fund, and the Arlowa S. Vorm Memorial Fund.
The Community Foundation has announced three new funds so far this year: the Starke County Preschool Education Fund, the Robert ‘Boom Boom’ Baker Fund for Alternative Agriculture, and the Railroad Township-San Pierre Alumni Scholarship Foundation Fund.
Twenty-seven organizations applied for funding from the Community Foundation with requests of over $41,000. After review from a committee of Starke County residents and Community Foundation Service Committee members, grants were given to nine charitable organization who provide services to Starke County residents.
Since 1996 more than 2.7 million dollars have been provided to Starke County through the Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation supported community development and human services with grants to the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse for fencing repairs in the amount of $1,000, Community Services of Starke County’s Home Delivered Meal Program was awarded $3,000, Kids Closet Ministry was awarded $2,000 to purchase coats for children, and the Salvation Army was awarded $500 for emergency assistance to Starke County.
Education and youth programs were funded with grants to Center of Workforce Innovations for GED Programming in the amount of $500, Junior Achievement was awarded $500 to serve Starke County for their “Our Community” program, Psi Iota Xi for the 2014 Young Artist Conference received $1,000, Starke County Youth Club received $3,000, the PEERS Project for Knox Schools was awarded $500, Knox Community Schools for MIMO field trip received $500 and Oregon-Davis Schools received an award for field trips in the amount of $500.
Two Field of Interest Funds also supported programs that support education and youth in the community.
The Robert ‘Boom Boom’ Baker Alternative Ag Grant is for projects that encourage or support alternative agriculture within Starke County. The Starke County Youth Club received this $1,000 grant for “Planting the Seeds of a Brighter Tomorrow” programming.
Indiana History grants are given through the Maude Brown and Henry F. Schricker Endowment Fund. Knox Elementary 3-5 grade newspaper students will travel to the Center for History in South Bend and report on growing up in a log cabin and attending a one room school house.
