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Good Samaritan Fund supports food distributions
The Good Samaritan Project, a collaboration of LaGrange County Community Foundation and United Fund of LaGrange County, will provide nearly $50,000 to support several major food pantries and kitchens throughout LaGrange County. The awards are the result of a successful fundraising and grant writing effort by the two organizations in partnership with Indiana Association of United Ways 4 Community grant opportunity. The awards will help provide basic needs for families hard hit by recession and unemployment.
LIne up of LaGrange County people waiting for food distribution fromCommunity Harvest Food Wagon at Parkview LaGrange.
Local donors,encouraged by a“challenge” gift from LaGrange County Community Foundation, raised $24,872 to meet the 1 to 1 match necessary to obtain the 4 Community grant award. Major donors responding to the community foundation challenge included the Olive B. Cole Foundation, Shipshewana Retail Merchants, Howe Military School, Parkview LaGrange Hospital, LIFE youth philanthropy group, Mrs. Jewell Wolfe, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Miller and other individuals.
The awards will support LaGrange County Clothes and Food Basket, Lima-Scott Food Pantry, Topeka Ministerial Association, LaGrange Ministerial Association, LaGrange County Council on Aging, Berea Missionary Church, and Community Harvest Farm Wagon. In June 2009 these organizations distributed over 32,000 meals to those in need in our community. To date this effort has been largely funded through local donations and volunteer efforts which have been strained by dramatic increases in demand since the first of the year.
Award amounts were determined by a volunteer committee representing key community stake holder organizations as specified by the 4 Community 2 grant requirements. The nutritional quality of food distributed and numbers served were carefully considered during this process. Special consideration was give by the committee to distribution efforts regularly providing complete and nutritious meals. The United Fund will serve as fiscal agent for distributions.
Contributions of any amount continue to be encouraged and appreciated for the Good Samaritan Project. To make a tax-deductible donation to the project, write a check to LaGrange County Community Foundation at 109 E. Central Ave., Ste. 3, LaGrange, IN 46761. Please write “Good Samaritan Fund” on the memo line.
Grant to plan battle against shortages of food/shelter/clothing
The good news amidst ongoing global economic woes and staggering unemployment in LaGrange County is that Indiana Association of United Ways approved a 4community planning grant to assist a coalition of local nonprofits in developing a countywide plan to assist those most impacted. United Fund of LaGrange County (UFLC) and LaGrange County Community Foundation (LCCF) are leading the effort to provide hope and assistance to individuals and families.
As knowledge of the grant opportunity became available, the United Fund and community foundation boards immediately granted local matching funds and committed staff time for the application process. Administration of the planning process and implementation of the plan will be provided by United Fund Executive Director Angie Kresse with technical assistance from LCCF.
Representatives of local nonprofits will make up an advisory committee. A series of focus groups will seek input from the community, and encourage the more than 2500 workers impacted by plant closings, layoffs and decreased hours to have a voice in the process. Planning grant funds will support the 211 referral system which links individuals with needs and the agencies within the coalition that can help.
When planning is completed, a 4community implementation grant requiring a 1:1 local match will be applied for. A pass through (non-endowed) Good Samaritan Fund to support Health and Human Services has been established at the community foundation as a platform for collecting match money and for distributing funds to non-profits who will directly serve the community during the implementation phase of the effort. Parkview Hospital provided the initial donation and gifts have been received from Cole Foundation, Howe Military School and LIFE Youth Pod. There is the possibility of a 2:1 match opportunity (up to $11,000) for donations to the fund, thereby increasing the impact donors could make in providing basic needs of food, shelter and clothing for out of work neighbors. Call the United Fund or the community foundation for details.
Indianapolis based Lily Foundation provided funding for Indiana Association of United Ways to administer the 4community program to encourage collaboration among community nonprofits in dealing with local challenges, and the recent relocation of United Fund of LaGrange County to share LaGrange County Community Foundation office space has made the partnership easier to achieve. The two organizations are aggressively searching for funding from a variety of sources, including a request submitted for a Major Moves grant.
LCCF announces Lilly Endowment Community Scholars
Two LaGrange County graduating seniors, Rachel Grossman, Lakeland High School, and Erica Gilliland, Prairie Heights High School, have been named recipients of four-year, full tuition scholarships as the LaGrange County Community Foundation 2009 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Each will receive full tuition at the Indiana college of her choice and an $800 per year stipend for required books and equipment.
Rachel Grossman, Lakeland High School Valedictorian, plans to attend Purdue University entering the School of Engineering. Her goals for the future may include the study of food processing engineering and later enrollment in medical school.
She believes that receiving the scholarship will positively affect her college career. “I won’t need to worry about working,” she said, “I can just focus on getting good grades.”
Grossman earned a 4.23 grade point average during her four years at Lakeland High School while participating in basketball, softball and cross country. She is a member of National Honor Society and the student council. In addition she has volunteered at her church and for Habitat for Humanity and worked with her father on the farm where she enjoys driving tractors.
Grossman is the daughter of Mark and Deborah Grossman of Wolcottville.
Erica Gilliland, Prairie Heights High School Valedictorian, will attend Butler University and study mathematics and pre-law. She will pursue an internship in pre-law as an undergraduate to determine if she will actually seek a law degree.
Gilliland learned she would receive the scholarship when she returned to Prairie Heights High School from a class she attends at Trine University during first period of the day. “This is a big relief,” she said. “The school I am choosing is expensive and it is my goal to graduate from college free from debt.”
She has been active in the youth group at her church, 4-H, and the Prairie Heights Leo Club, and has served for the past two years on the LaGrange Extension Board.
Gilliland has maintained a 4.27 grade point average. She is a National Honor Society member, was on the All A Honor Roll from 2001-2008, won the Miss LaGrange County crown in 2008, and had her junior position paper published in Teen Ink National Literary Magazine.
Her parents are Bradley and Michel Gilliland of Wolcottville.
Grossman and Gilliland were selected as scholarship nominees based on their SAT scores. They received the highest scores of the 11 qualified applicants.The entire process was approved by Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI).
LCCF Supports Twenty-first Century Scholarship Program
In partnership with county schools, LaGrange County Community Foundation is providing detailed information on the 21st Century Scholars Program which will assure a college education at qualified Indiana colleges for students currently in sixth, seventh and eighth grades who are U. S. citizens or eligible non citizens and qualify for free or reduced lunch
The information was made available at parent-teacher conferences at Westview, Prairie Heights, and Lakeland Middle Schools.
Students wishing to join the 21st Century Scholars Program and their parents must sign an agreement that they will graduate from high school and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average, not illegally use controlled substances, not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not commit any delinquent acts, and apply to college and for any available federal and state aid.
Parents of qualified students can receive further information at the schools or by calling the foundation office at 463-4363.
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