Construction is underway for the new Hamlet/Davis Township Volunteer Fire Station. The building will be located just east of the Starke County Fairgrounds on County Road 500 North in Hamlet. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last month. Continue reading
The Starke County Community Foundation has announced that nearly a quarter-million dollars ($247,630.00) was awarded in 2014 grants and scholarships. The total was revealed at last night’s “Impact Celebration” at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.
The Starke County Chamber of Commerce recently recognized community contributors with their inaugural “Above and Beyond Business Awards.” They will be given annually to businesses or organizations that do something special, like add a new program or go out of their way to support Starke County.
The SCILL Center was recognized for their high school auto tech and welding programs and adult welding program, all of which give Starke County residents training for lifelong employment opportunities.
The Starke County Youth Club was also honored with a plaque. Their after school, summer and basketball programs serve more than 600 Starke County youngsters annually and provide social and leadership skills as well as help with academics and test scores. Recently the SCYC added middle school programs at Knox and North Judson-San Pierre. Continue reading
Donors to the Starke County Community Foundation can double their support to the community funds. Lilly Endowment, Inc. has agreed to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000 for the next 18 months. Starke County Community Foundation Development Director Sarah Origer said no gift is too small.
“Our community funds are the funds that allow us to make our community grants every fall. These are the grants that go to support organizations like the Starke County Youth club and our library systems and the SCILL Center.” Continue reading
When the Davis Township Building Corporation met last night it was advised by the Starke County Community Foundation that the James Hardesty Endowment Fund would be providing $25,000 a year, for eight years, for the construction of the new firehouse and community building.
The Davis Township Advisory Board and Trustee, which met concurrently, were advised by Umbaugh Associates that the Hardesty eight-year annual gift will reduce the total amount of interest the corporation will have to pay for the bonding. Continue reading
Many local preschools still have openings for children to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten.
Full and partial scholarships are still available at several local preschools through the Starke County Community Foundation’s Preschool Scholarship Program. Preschools participating in the scholarship program that still have openings include Foundations Preschool and Little Lambs Preschool, both located in Knox plus adventure Island Preschool and St. Peter Lutheran Preschool in North Judson.
The Kindergarten Countdown program held at the Knox Elementary School in June was a success this year.
Twenty children received an early education before they enter Kindergarten this fall. Students who attend preschool often obtain better scores on tests, have better social skills and are more understanding of routines than those who do not attend a preschool program.
Starke United Fund grants will be given to 13 Starke County charitable organizations this year.
Approximately $12,000 was available for this grant cycle. The Starke United Fund’s Grant Committee received 26 grant applications with requested amounts totaling $69,000.
Scholarships totaling nearly $30,000 have been given to 24 students through the Starke County Community Foundation and more scholarships are up for grabs.
Five additional scholarships are currently available to high school graduates and to non-traditional students.
The Back Home Again in Indiana Scholarship is specifically for non-traditional students and gives college scholarships as well as supporting those who wish to further their education and/or training as a way of enhancing their employment skills.
A number of charitable organizations are on the receiving end of more than $40,000 in grants from the Starke County Community Foundation. The gifts are made possible through the foundation’s endowment fund, which is supported by gifts to the SCCF. The money is invested. Each year some of the interest goes back into the fund to help it grow, while some is given locally in the form of scholarships and grants. Continue reading
The Starke County Early Education Advisory Council invites families with young children to a preschool fair this evening from 5 until 7 at the community center in downtown Knox. More than 25 preschools and community organizations will have booths, and several will offer activities for children. Porter-Starke Director of Children’s Services Todd Willis says preschool is a good opportunity for children and parents to get used to being away from one another. He says one of the main causes of stress for young children is separating from their family, so getting them into an environment where they can learn to take turns and make peer relationships outside the family is extremely important.
“When I don’t learn as a young child how to resolve conflict with my peer, and I need to resort to throwing a temper tantrum or aggression, if those basic skills are not learned early, they follow the kid into adulthood. Really, the opportunity for a child in that 3 to 4 age learning that early is crucial,” Willis says. Continue reading
Starke County Preschool Project logoStarke County parents of young children are encouraged to attend tomorrow’s Starke County Preschool Fair at the community center in downtown Knox. The Starke County Early Education Advisory Council organized the event, which will take place from 5 until 7 p.m. CDT. More than 25 preschools and community organizations will have booths, and several will offer activities for children. Starke County Head Start Education Manager Dawn Wallen says sending your child to a quality preschool is an investment in their future. The kindergarten curriculum has become more rigorous since many of today’s parents and grandparents were in school. Wallen says students are expected to know and recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet and the sounds of letters. They should also be able to recognize numerals 1 through 20. Continue reading
A Preschool Fair is set for Tuesday, April 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the Community Center in Knox.
Sarah Origer, Director of Development at the Starke County Community Foundation encourages all residents to attend for this information session.
“We hope that all Starke County preschools will be present,” said Origer. “It will also be an opportunity for parents and grandparents and children to come out and learn about a lot of the other enriching opportunities that exist in Starke County. Libraries will be present, Community Services of Starke County will also be there along with Healthlinc. Your child’s health is also incredibly important. It’ll just be a great opportunity.”
The Starke County Community Foundation is offering a new award for organizations called the “Sustainability Award”.
Executive Director Sarah Origer says any organization can apply for this $5,000 endowment grant.
“It’s a simple, two-page application,” said Origer. “We just want to know about your organization, about your priorities, about your long-term goals, and long-term planning. The top candidates will be invited to come in for an in-person interview.”
The Starke County Community Foundation is offering more than 25 scholarship funds to local Starke County students, having awarded more than $27,000 to local scholars last year. The Community Foundation’s scholarship applications will be accepted online exclusively at nicf.org, allowing students to complete and submit applications electronically, upload attachments, and track the status of their submissions to the Community Foundation.
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 Starke County Community Foundation has announced a new endowment fund to help preschool students obtain the education they need before entering kindergarten.
The new Starke County Preschool Education Fund was established by Peggy Shidaker, the director of curriculum and instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation. The fund was created to honor her parents, Arthur and Carolyn Shidaker, and to support early childhood education in Starke County.
Director of Development Sarah Origer said it’s not too late to receive a preschool scholarship and encourages parents who need to send their child to preschool but are concerned about the cost to contact their local preschool for information on enrolling in the program. Participating preschools include Foundations Child Care, Little Lambs Preschool, Adventure Island Preschool, Oregon-Davis Preschool, Knox Elementary Preschools, and St. Peter Lutheran Preschool. Scholarships are available to 4-year-olds whose families show financial need.
The Starke County Community Foundation is moving into their fall granting cycle, and applications are now available for community support grants. This cycle allows the organization the flexibility of granting funds to a number of different groups and a variety of programs.
Grants are open to any charitable organization, and may be picked up at the Starke County Community Foundation office at any public library or online at www.nicf.org. Jay Albright, executive director of the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, told WKVI that the grants are intended for just about any non-profits in Starke County.
