History
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In 1995 grant
money refurbished the old Bir Hotel building to house LaGrange County
Council on Aging. LCCF moved into offices on the third floor and
has occupied that area since. |
LaGrange County Community Foundation was founded in 1991 by a small group of county citizens with a vision for a community foundation.
By 1996, five years later, the foundation had accumulated total assets of nearly $865,000. The majority of the early donations were made by community business people who realized the long term value a community foundation would provide.
The five years from 1995-2000 were
years of growth at LCCF. Various
individuals joined to help accumulate
community matches necessary to
obtain funds offered by the Lilly
Endowment, Inc. Giving Indiana Funds
for Tomorrow (GIFT) programs.
By the end of 1999, foundation funds had grown to over $6,000,000. Growth slowed somewhat over the next seven years, but the total increase by another five million dollars to the present total of over $11,500,000. Of that amount $9,000,000 is in permanent endowments—meaning it is invested to provide income for community betterment long into the future.
In addition to inspiring and sustaining generosity among residents of LaGrange County, the foundation has begun to move forward in the role of leadership in developing services for people of the county.
A gazebo on the courthouse lawn, the Community Dental Clinic, the 4-H Community Building, a reflection/retreat center, Farver School Library, Topeka Little League Park, the pioneer homestead at David Rogers Park, and the Topeka Railroad Museum are among the projects that LCCF has helped make a reality.
Various childcare providers, Mentor Moms, Compassion Pregnancy Center, LaGrange County Clothes and Food Basket, Elijah Haven women’s shelter and 211 are just a few of the service organizations the foundation has supported.
Copyright © LaGrange County Community Foundation
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