March Grant Cycle Awards $21,000

March 31, 2009

For Immediate Release

The Steuben County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the following awards from the Spirit of Community Fund during the March cycle:                                                                                                                                    

Steuben County Cancer Association- $3,500 to assist local families with financial and emotional support in addition to prescription drugs, transportation and educational materials that support the whole family, not just the member affected by cancer.                                                                                                                                           

Junior Achievement of Steuben County- $2,000 to implement the JA Our Community program.  This gives second grade students at Fremont, South Milford, Pleasant Lake, Carlin Park and Hendry Park elementary schools an opportunity to discover and appreciate responsibilities of citizens and opportunities available in their economic community.                                                                                                                                                           

Four County Transitional Living- $10,000 to purchase new beds and bedding for use at the recovery house for men who are trying to overcome addiction and transition from being community-dependent to community contributors.                                                                                                                                             

Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House- $3,500 which will help provide shelter, meals, laundry facilities and peaceful refuge for families of critically ill or injured children and adults during their stay at Lutheran Hospital. 

Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana- $1,000 to provide resources, education and support to individuals from Steuben County who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Steuben County 4-H Fair Board- $500 to be a Sponsor of the annual 4-H Fair.

Fremont Chamber of Commerce- $500 to be a Main Stage Sponsor of the annual MusicFest celebration.

Angola Industrial Growth Fund Distributes $3,200

February 20, 2009                                              Contact: Sharon Stroh, President & CEO

For Immediate Release                                260.665.6656 or sstroh@steubenfoundation.org

Angola, IN-  The Steuben County Community Foundation recently awarded $3,200 to the City of Angola to help with the clean up effort at the current Univertical site on Weatherhead Dr.

This grant was made possible by the Angola Industrial Growth Fund, which was created in March of 2005, and whose purpose is to support activities that promote industrial development and enhancement within the jurisdiction of the City of Angola.

“This is a perfect fit for the use of these funds.  And while we realize that the amount may not have enough zeros on the end to complete the cleanup, it certainly shows support from the donors who created this fund.  We hope it will demonstrate commitment to the community that this is a quality project and one that deserves our attention.” says Sharon Stroh, Foundation President and CEO.

The Community Foundation joins property owner Chuck Walker, City of Angola and Steuben County officials in supporting a proposed environmental remediation at the former Dana-Weatherhead plant. 

Community Foundation in Postion to Attract $100,000

November 20, 2008                                                                     Contact: Sharon Stroh, President & CEO

For Immediate Release                                                      260.665.6656 or sstroh@steubenfoundation.org

Angola, IN- When the Steuben County Community Foundation (SCCF) launched its $600,000 capital campaign in February of this year, no one knew it would turn into such a difficult year financially.  Even so, the foundation has raised $327,893 in cash and pledges.  And recently, the Dekko Foundation announced its pledge to cap off the campaign by giving the last $100,000.  “Knowing Dekko supports what we do and understands the impact we make in this community is a real motivating factor.  It’s been hard work (fundraising) under these conditions, yet everyone has been receptive to our proposal.  Eventually, we know we will reach that goal” says Oren Skinner, SCCF Development Officer.

This is the first time since 1992 that the Foundation has asked the community to support it through direct donations.   Donors usually make their contributions in the form of permanent funds, whose income is used for grantmaking back to Steuben County.  “That’s our job- helping donors build financial assets that the community can use for years to come.  Consider it like you would your 401 (k), except that the Foundation doesn’t actually retire, it just changes beneficiaries with each coming generation.  There are always going to be new issues to address” Skinner adds.

While organized philanthropy is still a fairly new concept in many rural communities across the nation, an initiative to help develop community foundations in Indiana began in 1990 by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. (LEI).  Known as the GIFT program (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow), it challenged each of the 92 counties to start the process of building financial capital that could be used immediately, and well into the future.  What began as a fledgling charity here in Angola, it now holds assets of around $15 million.  The concept is simple- don’t ever spend the principal, only use the earnings to make grants back to the community.  And that is how the words “grantmaker” and “grantwriting” became commonplace in Steuben County.

Consider that the Community Foundation is now this county’s largest grantmaker.  In the fiscal year 2007, SCCF awarded $1.2 million to Steuben County students, programs and charitable organizations; over $59,000 in scholarship assistance, $304,000 in competitive grants to RISE, Community Harvest Food Bank and Project Help food pantries, NE Indiana Public Radio,  Junior Achievement, Community Anti-Violence Alliance (CAVA), Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Vermont Settlement Festival, Music Fest, Angola American Legion, Hamilton Downtown Improvement Team, and the Humane Shelter to name a few, and another $499,000 from donors to designated agencies such as the United Way, Council on Aging, Literacy Coalition, Pokagon State Park, libraries, churches, cemeteries, and more.  In addition, Forever Improving Steuben County Together (FIST), the Foundation’s youth pod, donates $15,000 each year to promote programs and organizations that fulfill the social and educational needs of young people in Steuben County. 

“The impact of this foundation shows up in the way we work with donors to develop financial resources as a permanent investment in their communities.  It shows up in the way we act as responsive and timely grantmakers, offering six cycles each year compared to others who only do this quarterly.  And, I think it shows every time we develop opportunities for our local non-profits to become stronger, more effective agencies” says Sharon Stroh, SCCF CEO.

“We realize these are difficult times, but history shows us that individuals are still the strongest donors when it comes to addressing community needs.  Steuben County has shown time and again how generous it can be.  We’re grateful to those who have already made a contribution, and hope that others can find a way to help too.  And let’s not forget about the $100,000!” adds Stroh.