"Helping People Improve Their Communities"
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The Western Indiana Community Foundation is a public charity, founded in 1990, conceived by a group of citizens whose desire is to use donated monies for the betterment of their communities. The Foundation shares the same dream as its forefathers: prosperity, expansion, and enhancement for its citizens. The Foundation has four separate and distinct affiliate funds serving their geographical areas, which consist of:| ~ Attica ~ Community Foundation |
~ Southeast Fountain ~ Community Foundation |
| ~ Covington ~ Community Foundation |
~ Vermillion County ~ Community Foundation |
HIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Caring community members have given charitable donations to grow our scholarship funds and make higher education ( 2- or 4- years) possible for many students. You can get information about scholarships here on our website or by giving us a call at: 765-793-0702 or 765-832-8665.
ECENT FOUNDATION NEWS:Vermillion County Community Foundation recently awarded $60,000 to in grants to benefit three local projects in the amount of $20,000 each. The recipients included the Town of Dana, Vermillion Trails Alliance, and the Cayuga Park Board.
According to Dale White, CEO of the Community Foundation, “Each of these grants were a part of our “Better When We Gather – Creative Placemaking Grantmaking Initiative.” Vermillion County has long been a community of makers: industrious people driven to build, create, and innovate – together. Thus, we wanted to build upon the maker mindset, so prevalent in our county, to activate or create public spaces that advance a more vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community.
In 2020, 35 individuals participated in group convening sessions and personal interviews. These county stakeholders learned a great deal about where we succeed and where we could do better. We also learned that the communities within our broader community are very willing to engage and that being better requires that we gather and work together.
Vermillion County’s ability to attract and retain talent is greatly increased by taking advantage of unique placemaking assets in our communities. Building upon both the spirit and findings from the community convening process, the Community Foundation sought proposals for creative placemaking projects that, through deliberate and thoughtful collaboration, will make us better together.”
The recipients of the grants from the Creative Placemaking Initiative included:
Vermillion Trails Alliance – $20,000: The Vermillion Trails Alliance (“VTA”) was launched in the spring of 2017 by a group of local citizens. VTA is the lead entity in Vermillion County when it comes to a non-motorized multi-purpose walking and biking trail system.
Grant monies will be used to develop a 900’ asphalt walking path around Trailhead Park which lies at the intersection of the rail bed and County Road 150 South, just south of Newport and north of the Parke-Vermillion Humane Society. A portion of the grant will also provide funding for signage welcoming visitors to the trail and outline the rules for its usage.
The Park currently accommodates a picnic shelter with wooden beams cut, dried, and installed by local volunteer labor. Also, in the park are 26 different species of trees which were planted by local volunteers.
Town of Dana – $20,000: The town was the recipient of a $10,000 grant in 2020 to assist the community in conducting an extensive feasibility study. The study indicated a strong desire for increased activities that focused on recreation, wellness, and healthy living for the children and adults of Dana.
Grant monies will be used to refurbish the fields at the Dana Ball Park located on the north end of the community. This will include a gravel parking lot, new scoreboard and safety bases, landscaping, as well as preparation to convert a storm drainage ditch into a ¾ to one-mile walking path that will surround the six-acre perimeter of the Dana ball fields.
The upgrades to the ballpark and the development of the walking path will allow all 700 Dana and Vermillion County residents a place to focus on wellness at a safe community gathering place during the late spring, summer, and early fall months.
Cayuga Park Board – $20,000: The 42-acre Cayuga Park is the largest park in Vermillion County and is home to the Vermillion County Fair. The amenities in the park are numerous including, a state-of-the-art grandstand, multi-purpose walking trail, a skateboarding ramp, basketball courts, a community building, baseball diamonds, and camping opportunities.
Grant monies will be used to update some of the existing and outdated playground equipment that was donated to the park from the former Eugene School and Cayuga Elementary School. The total cost to update the equipment in the three distinct playground areas is approximately $68,000. Nearly ½ of the money has already been raised for the project by local donors.
Fountain and Vermillion County are home to many wonderful people who have made a deep impact in the community.
Are you looking for a way to memorialize a loved one or friend who is no longer with us? Or perhaps you would like to honor a family member, friend, co-worker, or service provider who has a positive influence in your daily life? MEMORIAL & HONOR GIFTS are great ways to honor those who are or have been significant in your life or the life of your community. Your gift will go to the fund you specify, in the name of the one you’re honoring.
The following individuals have recently passed away and the families have designated that donations in their memory go to the Community Foundation. We honor the following individuals (click on the name for more details): Edward C. Grubb, Sharon Sue Craft, Henry Meadows, Janice Vietti, Edward “Ed” George, Carl Swinford, Lola Simmerman, Charles ‘Dale’ Clawson, Helen Hoffman, Martha Drake, Sandy Tuggle, Paul Kent, Harry Hoagland, Ron Howard, Charles Swingle, Barbara Clark, Steven C. Dice, Florence B. Fultz, Max N. Hoffman, Lulu Belle (Trott) Woodrow, JoAnn Murray, Erwin (Ernie) Johannes, Art Clawson, Jeff Youngblood, Fred Paxton, Mary Bowles, Janet Clark, C. David Curts, Caleb Duncan, Patricia Head, Jack Macy, Edna Jordan, James Kochell, Neva Tillotson, Delores Hicks, Carl Hicks, Daniel McGrady, Max Keller, Freeman “Bugs” Lanum, Georgeanna Ford, Bill Deck, Helen F. Shelby, Elizabeth “Lib” Barnhart, Charline Allen, Jeffry Ingalsbe, John Woodrow, Carol Gooding, Richard “Dick” Shelby, Betty Shull, Marvel Dunham, Mary K. Young, Marcia Cooper, Carol V. Myers, James “Jim” McCormick, Rosemarie Haas, Marilyn Gebbink, Jean (Frances) Blickenstaff, Robert “Bob” Branam, Larry Carlson, John Cotten, Sr., Mirriam (Newmark) Fogel, Helen Freas, Heidi (Shambach) Johnson, Joan Rennick, Vicki (Collins) Stevens, and Arley White.
All memorial and honor gifts are acknowledged to the person or people you designate so that the loved one’s family, or the person you are honoring, is aware of the gift. Or you can make an anonymous gift if you desire to do so. The amount of the gift is, of course, confidential and only you will receive a gift acknowledgement for tax purposes. It’s very easy to give a memorial or honor gift – just CLICK HERE to get started.
Nearly 235 students in Fountain and Vermillion County are the recipients of over $325,000 in scholarship awards to be used for their academic pursuits in 2021-2022. Check this site often for new scholarship opportunities and other updates.
Twenty-one (21) new endowment funds have recently been established to benefits area communities and high school students. For more details click on the link to learn more about each fund.
The new funds include: Anna & Les Zimmerman Fund, Charles Todd Wagoner Scholarship Fund, Mariah (Martin) Zabriskie & Sean Zabriskie Scholarship Fund, William & Nellie Hendrix Scholarship Fund, Carl Swinford Memorial Scholarship Fund, Ellis Family Scholarship Fund, Dr. Robert & Sue Ewbank Scholarship Fund, Yale & Orthanna Yager Scholarship Fund, Carol Shew Nursing Scholarship Fund, Christy DeSutter Cancer Fund, Kay Shoaf Scholarship Fund, Randall G. Shoaf Scholarship Fund, Robert & Lucreita (Verrill) Shoaf Scholarship Fund, Patricia Scherer Leath Education Scholarship Fund, William, Johanna & Mario Wilson Charitable Community Fund, Darrell & Edith Dennis Community Fund, Daniel & Renee McGrady Family Fund, CDH Scholarship Fund, Wallace-Minnette Community Fund, George Norman Family Fund, Mark & Cindy Mason Community Fund, and the Michael & Mary Margaret Rhees Community Fund.
To learn how you can establish a fund to benefit your community contact Dale at (765) 793-0702 or by email at dwhite@wicf-inc.org.
Congratulations to recent grant recipients:
Eugene Station Community Garden ($4,400), Attica Fire Department ($5,649,), Helt Fire & Rescue ($15,000), Town of Dana ($10,000), Friends of the Fountain County Fairgrounds ($30,000), Perrysville Fire Department ($3,000), Hillsboro Police Department ($2,000), Clinton Little League ($3,000), Attica Early Learning Center ($9,000), Covington Girls Softball League ($8,000), Fountain County Sheriff’s Dept. ($5,000), Servants at Work ($3,000), NICHES Land Trust ($2,133), City of Covington ($6,500), City of Attica ($6,000), Mellott Volunteer Fire Dept. ($9,000), South Vermillion High School ($500), Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Dept. ($3,000), Attica High School – Student Council ($1,000), North Vermillion High School ($500), Fountain Central High School ($2,500), Covington Christian School ($5,415), Attica Jr./Sr. High School ($4,800), North Vermillion High School Music Program ($1,000). More →
The Community Foundation office will be closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25. Office hours will resume on Monday, December 28 at 8:00 AM.
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