Talk of the Town - Whitley County

Article Submitted

Since it was established in 1991, the Whitley County Community Foundation has been the recipient of financial contributions from local donors who simply say “Use the money wherever it is needed the most.” These gifts make up the Community Foundation’s Greater Good Fund. While the original contributions are never spent, interest earned from the gifts can be used to make grants for worthy causes in our community. Each December, a Grants Committee made up volunteers from Churubusco, South Whitley, Tri Lakes, and Columbia City, meets to review applications and recommend funding to the Board of Directors. The following organizations were awarded grants this month:

• The Whitley County Literacy Council -- $11,180 to provide services to students working toward their GED.
• Right Relations, Inc. -- $8,000 to provide economically challenged parents in Whitley County going through divorce, the opportunity to attend Family Enrichment classes that stress the importance of putting children first.
• Interfaith Mission -- $5,000 toward costs of providing services to address the health and welfare of residents.
• Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana -- $5,000 to provide services such as a staff advocate, transportation to treatment, hospital equipment and nutritional supplement, and wigs to Whitley County residents battling cancer.
• Whitley County Humane Society -- $4,500 to purchase a computer software program that will assist them in tracking animals brought to and adopted from the shelter.
• Eel River Trail -- $3,000 toward the cost of establishing a trail head.
• Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana -- $3,000 for the Veggie Wagon program that regularly brings fresh produce to three local food pantries in Whitley County.
• Beds & Britches, Etc., - $2,000 toward the costs of providing clothing and supplies for new and expectant parents enrolled in their program which seeks to encourage positive parenting.
• The Potter’s Hand -- $2,000 for materials that will allow local volunteers to help local seniors make home repairs.
• The Center -- $2,000 for staff and board training expenses.
• Somebody Cares -- $1,500 to assist them in creating awareness of their local counseling service available to Whitley County residents in need.
• Whitley County Giving Circle for Women’s Health -- $1,000 toward the cost of providing a self-esteem workshop for local girls in grades 3-12 next spring.
• SCAN -- $1,000 for free workshops on topics related to abuse, neglect, bullying, internet safety and gun safety.

The grants awarded totaled $49,180 and come on the heels of the single largest grant ever made by the Community Foundation – a $100,000 grant was awarded to the Whitley County Council of Aging & Aged toward the cost of a new senior center last August.

“Whitley County is blessed to have so many generous individuals willing to direct their gifts to where the need is the greatest. These grants have been made as a result of their charitable donations,” stated Foundation Director September McConnell. “We look forward to being able to award another round of grants next May”, she continued.

The Foundation funds charitable projects in the areas of education, arts and culture, healthy and social services. The next grant deadline is May 1, 2008.  For additional information about grants, contact John Slavich, Program Director at the Community Foundation, 244-5224.