By Jacque Ryan
When I was around four years old, my mother moved my siblings and I from the busy hustle and bustle of Chicago, Illinois to the quaint and inviting community of Knox, Indiana.
As a preschooler, I attended Starke County Head Start, a place that not only taught me key skills that prepared me for future years of learning but also provided a financially feasible and safe spot for me to be while my mom was working.
As I got a little older, I channeled my rambunctious energy into plays that were put on by the Prairie Fire Theater. This theater production company incorporates students from 1st to 12th grade, giving every kid a chance to feel like the star of the show! I played the queen troll in Jack & Jill in the Bean Stalk, a white rabbit in Snow White, and had fun parts in a handful of other plays where I learned how to be a part of a team and build up my self-confidence.
While attending Knox High School, my English class took a field trip to my old home of Chicago, where my dad and his family are from. We were able to see one of the plays covered in class performed live on stage at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It was exciting for me to see the Chicago skyline and visit Navy Pier, as those were nostalgic sites for me. However, for some of my classmates, it was their first visit to the Windy City, a place they may not have visited if it were not for that field trip.
When I joined the Starke County Community Foundation as director of development in 2021, it was the organization’s 25th anniversary. Coming in during that milestone year gave me a chance to learn about the history of SCCF. I spent time deep diving into grants that were provided over the last two and half decades. To my surprise, all of the things listed above that I participated in as a child were made available or supported through grants from the SCCF. It warms my heart to know that many of the fun and fundamental opportunities I had access to have been provided to countless other children and families over the years. These are just a few examples of the more than $2.6 Million in grants that SCCF has provided through community funds since inception.
Some people call the Starke County Community Foundation our county’s best kept secret, since a lot of the work is done behind the scenes. However, this secret needs to get out! I think it’s important for people to understand the true impact of this vital organization. Not only has SCCF supported arts and cultural events, but year after year, food pantries, organizations that help provide clothes or Christmas presents to families in need, utility support programs, and a number of other human service providers have been boosted through the Community Foundation, thanks to the generosity of local donors.
SCCF has been a part of my story for longer than I realized and I’m so grateful to now have a chance to be a part of the mission as a staff member. Today, SCCF has an incredible opportunity to make an even greater impact. For every $1 donated to our community funds, the Lilly Endowment is providing a $2 match through the end of 2025.
I’m extremely appreciative to all the donors who have trusted SCCF to make a difference with their dollars, and I hope others will be inspired to do the same. Together, our donors are changing lives and strengthening Starke County for generations to come.
Written by:
Jacque Ryan, Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development
Author’s Note:
If this story was meaningful to you, I invite you to join my family in giving back through the Glimmer of Humor Community Fund at the Starke County Community Foundation. We created this fund to honor our story and support our community by helping local projects and programs that bring people together and brighten Starke County’s future.
Donation link: https://tinyurl.com/GlimmerofHumor
