Tag Archives: community

2024 Showcase winners, Intentional Acts of Kindness and more!

On Jan. 11, members of the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce joined together for a Member Showcase and the Annual Meeting. This year, the staff of the LaGrange County Community Foundation won the 2024 Member Showcase!

Each year, Chamber invites members to showcase their organization or business prior to their Annual Meeting. The Community Foundation wanted to inspire kindness this year with their booth.

Decked out in pink and red hearts, the booth had information about their upcoming Intentional Acts of Kindness Calendar. In February, the Foundation will be participating in acts of kindness each day, and encouraging others to join in. You can join in on the Intentional Acts of Kindness Event Page!

LCCF is also excited about a new matching opportunity. The Caring Community Fund supports the greatest needs in LaGrange County, at any given time, making impact forever. The Foundation intends to apply for a $750,000 Matching Fund Grant from Lilly Endowment to support the Foundation’s unrestricted endowment, which will provide resources to present and future needs.

The Community Foundation is asking people and businesses like YOU to give to the Caring Community Fund.

For every $1 you give, the matching grant will give $2, giving the fund a total of $3! If you would like to give to this fund DONATE HERE, chose to give to a specific fund, then chose the Caring Community Fund.

LaGrange County Community Foundation awards $92,000 to area nonprofits

The LaGrange County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the fall Community Impact Grants cycle.

LaGrange County Soil & Water District Water Quality Monitoring

The Foundation recently awarded $92,000 in grants to eleven nonprofit organizations. The Community Impact Grants support nonprofits in six areas: arts and culture, health and human services, recreation, environment, community development and education.  

The Community Impact Grants are made possible by the generosity of donors who give to the unrestricted and field of interest funds at the Foundation.  

For over 30 years, the Community Foundation has remained committed to its mission of “inspiring and sustaining generosity, leadership and service in LaGrange County.”

“Through our grantmaking program we are able to ensure a lasting legacy for our funders who have made a long-term commitment to support positive growth of our nonprofit community in LaGrange County,” said Octavia Yoder, Executive Director. 

“We are honored to support many deserving nonprofit organizations who are improving the quality of life in LaGrange County and helping meet important and unmet community needs,” Yoder added. 

The 2023 fall Community Impact Grant recipients include: 

  • LaGrange County Department of Parks & Recreation, Tetrick property, $20,000; 
  • LaGrange County Soil & Water Conservation District, Long-term strategic water quality monitoring program in LaGrange County, $11,500; 
  • LaGrange Baseball League, Score board installation at Spreuer Park, $8,000; 
  • Coffee & Cream of South Milford, Coffee & Cream equipment, $12,500; 
  • Agape Child Care Ministry, Program materials, $2,500; 
  • Cancer Services of Northeastern Indiana, Client advocate program for LaGrange County, $2,500; 
  • Clothes & Food Basket of LaGrange County, Operating support, $15,000; 
  • Junior Achievement of LaGrange County, Junior Achievement Biztown Fieldtrips 2023-2024, $5,000; 
  • Boomerang Backpacks, 2023-2024 school year weekend feeding program at Westview and Prairie Heights schools, $10,000; 
  • Youth for Christ Northern Indiana, Westview Campus Life, $2,500; and
  • Kate’s Kart, Book Distribution at Parkview LaGrange, $2,500.

Each year, the Community Foundation seeks proposals for charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations provide services in LaGrange County. The Grants Advisory Committee reviews the submitted grant applications and makes recommendations to the Board of the Directors who approve the grant awards. To learn more, visit lccf.net/grants. 

Leaders Excited About Philanthropy 2023

Wednesday, November 15, National Philanthropy Day, our LIFE youth philanthropy members hosted the bi-annual LEAP Event, Leaders Excited About Philanthropy. Students from our 3 county public schools are encouraged to get involved in their community during this one-day conference on leadership and philanthropy. 

Our 12 LIFE members along with their LIFE leader, Leanna Martin have been working since Spring 2023 to organize this event for high schoolers from Lakeland, Prairie Heights and Westview. This year’s event was held at Lakeland high school. The members chose the speakers, nonprofits in attendance, icebreakers, snacks and even found donations and sponsors for the event.

There were a lot of fun and education activities throughout our 4 hours together. Our time included lots of Icebreakers for the kids to get to know each other. They also organized a Community Nonprofit Fair in which volunteers/ employees from Agape Missions of LaGrange County, LaGrange County Community Foundation, Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center, LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity, and Reason 4 Hope attended. These nonprofits spoke to the kids and shared how they started, where they are located, what they do, and how a person could get involve or help the nonprofit. After the student listened to the nonprofit, they would get their Passports signed to enter for prizes. The prizes were donated from many of our awesome community members, nonprofits and business (see list below!).

We also had a great speaker, Coach Seth Maust from Five Star Life. He spoke to the kids on looking beyond themselves to see others, leaders volunteer first, as well as many other good philanthropic ideas. Octavia Yoder, Executive Director at LaGrange County Community Foundation also spoke to the students about philanthropy, working for a nonprofit and what jobs are available, notably in our area. There was also a small Community Service Project they were able to participate in.

Before they left, students were asked to take part in an end of event survey, in which 100% of the 45 students who participated, said that they would recommend LEAP to a friend.

Our LIFE members did an amazing job of working hard and running the event. But none of that would have been possible without the donations and sponsorships from our community. We want to thank the following individuals/ businesses/ nonprofits for helping the LEAP event be a success:

Donations: Crossroads United Way, E&S Sale, Elijah Haven, Farmers State Bank, Habitat for Humanity, LaGrange County CVB, LaGrange County REMC, Lassus Bros. Handy Dandy in Wolcottville and Yoder Popcorn. Financial Support: Cierra Young & Jessyca Castle, LaGrange Veterinarian Clinic, Shipshewana Trading Place, Tammi Haviland, The Riegseckers, Inc., Topeka Pharmacy and Wear Haus Designs.

Rainbow Years shines in new space

Rainbow Years Learning Ministry is a childcare and preschool program of Shore Church in Shipshewana.

We recently visited Portia Amstutz, director of Rainbow Years Learning Ministry in Shipshewana to see the progress on their $1 million renovation project. Rainbow Years is a ministry of Shore Church, providing year-round daycare and education to children from birth to age 11.

Rainbow Years renovated their space to add more childcare seats. At one point, their wait-list exceeded their capacity.

In June, Rainbow Years received a Community Impact Grant of $21,736 to purchase materials and equipment for its updated facility.

We were excited to see their new space!

Rainbow Years can currently take around 90 kids, ages birth to 11 years old. With the help of the grant, they were able furnish two new classrooms, giving each age level a class of their own. They not only were able to furnish the two new rooms, but they also replaced some old items throughout the facility.

One of the newly furnished classrooms available now for Rainbow Years.
New classroom furnished with the grant funds received.

The grant helped purchase new sleeping cots, glider rockers, furniture for the teacher’s work room and main office, refrigerator and microwave for the teachers, a washer and dryer unit, cribs, changing tables and toys. It also helped create an indoor “recess” area.

They also created a fun, comfortable space for school-age kids to meet before and after school, as well as in the summer.

When we asked Portia what is meaningful about her work; she said the impact they have on the children. She said it’s because the most critical time for learning is before age 5 – it’s an important job!

Cribs and a glider rocker are a few of the many items added to the infant room.

The Foundation is excited to partner with nonprofits like Rainbow Years to help improve the early education of the youngest children in our county.

Community Impact Grants help nonprofits to be more effective, efficient and self-sustaining. The Community Foundation looks to fund innovative or creative projects addressing community needs like Rainbow Years.

Currently, Rainbow Years currently has about 18-20 spots open for childcare! In the next few weeks, they will be able to accept Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers for low-income families. This program will make their childcare even more affordable for more families.

You can learn more about their programs and availability at RainbowYears.org.

Portia Amstutz reading to some of the children at Rainbow Years Childcare Ministry.

Lilly Scholarship finalists selected

From left are the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship finalists Xai Leu, Jace Lang, Taylor Jerdon, Christien Noward and Braden Rogers.

Five LaGrange County high school seniors have been named finalists for the LaGrange County 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The prestigious award goes to an outstanding high school senior in LaGrange County.

The finalists include Taylor Jerdon (Lakeland High School), Jace Lang (Westview High School), Xai Leu (Lakeland High School), Christien Noward (Westview High School), and Braden Rogers (Westview High School).

The scholarship is awarded to one LaGrange County graduating senior who demonstrates service and leadership in their community, and a commitment to academic excellence. Among the finalists, one LaGrange County resident will be awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which will pay their full-tuition at any Indiana college or university, plus required fees. The recipient also will receive $900 per year for books and required equipment.

The Community Foundation received applications from all three high schools in LaGrange County. The  Community Foundation’s Lilly Scholarship Advisory Committee reviews and evaluates applications based on academics, community and school activities, work history, leadership and written essays. Identifying information about the student, such as name, school and gender, are removed during the application process. The finalists are then invited to a personal interview with the committee.

All finalists participated in a personal interview with the Foundation’s Lilly Scholarship Advisory Committee on October 17. The results of the interview round are combined with the application round to determine the 2024 nominees who will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of the LaGrange County recipient.

Announcement of the recipient will be made in December. The four remaining finalists will each receive the Lambright Leadership Scholarship – a $1,000 award, renewable for up to three years. The Lambright Leadership Scholarship was established by Kevin and Carrie Lambright of Shipshewana in 2013.

The scholarship program is offered each year by the LaGrange County Community Foundation, and other Indiana community foundations across the state to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

Spring 2023 Community Impact Grant recipients named

Organizations were presented with their grant at the 2023 Annual Event in June.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded $71,736 to four nonprofit organizations during its 2023 Spring Community Impact Grants cycle.  

The Community Impact Grants address community needs in Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Recreation, Environment, Community Development, and Education.

The 2023 Spring Community Impact Grant recipients include: 

Each year, the Community Foundation seeks proposals for charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations provide services in LaGrange County. The Grants Advisory Committee reviews the submitted grant applications and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors who approve the grant awards.  

The Community Impact Grants are made possible by the generosity of donors who give to the unrestricted and field of interest funds at the Foundation.   To learn more, visit HERE.

2023 Annual Celebration: A Success!

This year’s Annual Celebration took place on Monday, June 12. It was a combination of delicious food, great information from some nonprofits, some encouragement to “take that extra step” because “we were born for such a time as this” from guest speaker Jason Schackow, and a celebration of volunteerism.

We are thrilled to have so many people who want to volunteer for the Community Foundation, whether on our board, on a committee, or other. We can’t say thanks enough or give anything that would be enough to express our gratitude for their time.

We also named our Spring Community Impact Grant recipients as well. The following organizations will receive grant funds of $71,736:  

  • LaGrange County Arts will receive $5,000 for the second annual LaGrange County Arts Festival. The June 24 event will showcase artists specializing in theatrical, literary, visual and musical arts. 
  • St. Martin’s Healthcare will receive $25,000 for its mobile health clinic. The organization provides healthcare to uninsured and underinsured people in LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and DeKalb counties. Their mobile clinic will visit LaGrange County at least once a week to see patients.
  • Community Dental Clinic in Topeka will receive $20,000 to help purchase an oral scanner helping their organization provide more effective dental care. 
  • Rainbow Years Learning Ministry will receive $21,736 to help purchase materials, furniture, equipment, toys/activities for the childcare’s upgraded facilities. Rainbow Years Expansion Project will be adding 25 more childcare seats.

We were thrilled to celebrate our 10 nominees for the Heart of Gold Award. What a unique group of people, who all do a variety of volunteerism, and a beautiful example of what the people in this county can do. See more about their stories HERE.

The highlight of the evening was naming our 2023 Heart of Gold recipient. All of the nominees could be given the award, because in their own ways they do so much for those around them.

Amy Whited of LaGrange was chosen as our Heart of Gold Award recipient. Whited, an art teacher at Lakeland Intermediate School, was nominated for the award by her mentor and friend, Mary Woodworth. Whited credited her mentor for encouraging her to pursue a creative path.

Known to serve quietly in the background, Whited is involved in volunteer activities for youth – especially in art. She is a 25-year member of Tri Kappa Mu, a local women’s sorority focused on philanthropy, and helps organize the annual Tri Kappa Art Month. A board member of LaGrange Communities Youth Centers, she leads and instructs an annual summer art camp for elementary students. She volunteers with Camp Watcha Wanna Do and LaGrange Night to Shine. This past year, she was instrumental in helping support a new arts organization – LaGrange County Arts.

Overall the evening was a success!

Thank you to the following for all you did in helping us make the 2023 Annual Celebration a night to remember!

  • George’s Taco Shack for the dinner.
  • Shawna Rae’s for the cupcake spread.
  • Braden Rogers for the music.
  • MY Events LLC, Megan Yoder for the photo backdrop.
  • Kari Lipscomb for photography.
  • Farmstead Inn & Conference Center, Andrea Boval for the facility.
  • Mariah at SRMA for the tablecloths.
  • Judy at Country Garden Center for the table flower pots.
  • Isaac Rogers at Irog Media for the Heart of Gold Nominee video.
  • Lavern at Teaberry Wood Products for donating the engraved basket given to the Heart of Gold Award recipient.
  • Action Quick Print for the printed material.
  • Carrie at Extreme Graphics LLC for the volunteer T-shirts
  • Our panel of speakers: Jared Beasley from Community Health Clinic; Portia Amstutz from Rainbow Years Learning Ministry; and Kathy Dunafin from Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center.
  • Our guest speaker: Jason Schackow, Lakeland Jr/Sr High School principal.
  • Speakers and presenters for the evening: Octavia Yoder, Executive Director at the Foundation; Leanna Martin, Program Director for the Foundation; and Tony Bontrager, President, LCCF Board of Directors & Renea Boots, Vice President, LCCF Board of Directors.
  • Trevor Thain and Renea Boots, LCCF Board of Directors, for helping at the registration tables.
  • Tony & Lauren Bontrager and the staff’s husbands for helping with cleanup afterward.
  • The LaGrange County Community Foundation staff for all of the behind the scenes decisions that helped make this a great event.

Written by: Sarah Hostetler, Marketing & Community Engagement Manager

$90,000 in Community Scholarships awarded

The LaGrange County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Community Scholarship Program, which aims to support the educational aspirations of students in LaGrange County.

Through the program, the Community Foundation awarded $93,250 in community scholarships to 19 graduating seniors. The program includes 45 donor-created scholarship funds, each with their own unique criteria. Funds are created by individuals, families and businesses and are managed by the Community Foundation.

The scholarship program is open to graduating high school seniors who are pursuing higher education at an accredited university, college, or trade school. The scholarships support a variety of career paths such as education, agriculture, health, science, nursing, and more. Awards range from $500 to $3,000 per award; several scholarships are provided for four years.

“Each year we look forward to awarding our community scholarships to high school seniors. These scholarships recognize the accomplishments the students have achieved in the last four years,” said Executive Director Octavia Yoder.

“We are grateful to the individuals, families and businesses who created these scholarship funds and have worked alongside the Community Foundation. We aspire to welcome new donors and fund more students as the program continues to grow. We are extremely appreciative of the community volunteers who take time to help read and evaluate scholarships. The process is quite an undertaking and is truly a community partnership of donors, volunteers, schools, and Community Foundation staff. It’s rewarding to help support the educational goals of students in our community,” Yoder added.

Recipients of the 2023 Community Scholarships, listed by schools, are as follows:

Lakeland High School scholarship recipients:

  • Allread-Rife Family Scholarship – Mallory Mynhier
  • Brian Evans Memorial Scholarship – Aurora Yoder
  • Bruce Brown Memorial Scholarship – Ezekiel Wachtman
  • Bulldog Spirit Scholarship – Jeremiah Combs
  • Chase Scott Memorial Football Scholarship – Owen Troyer
  • Holly Petersen Memorial Science Scholarship – Ezekiel Wachtman
  • HOPE Nursing Scholarship – Peyton Hartsough and Alivia Rasler
  • Joseph Willard Memorial Scholarship – Ezekiel Wachtman
  • Judy Gage-Keenan Scholarship – Alivia Rasler
  • Lakeland Scholarship – Ezekiel Wachtman
  • Melvin and Marjorie Bricker Memorial Scholarship – Mallory Mynhier
  • Olivia Bay Lemings Memorial Scholarship – Alivia Rasler
  • Paul and Marian Krebs Memorial Scholarship – Gabrielle Hartman
  • Ray and Ruth Culp Memorial Scholarship – Alivia Rasler
  • Terry Schmidt Memorial Basketball Scholarship – Ezekiel Wachtman
  • Schlemmer Scholarship – Jeremiah Comb
  • Virgil and Florence Hardin Memorial Scholarship – Alivia Rasler
  • Waddell Memorial Scholarship – Mallory Mynhier

Prairie Heights High School scholarship recipients:

  • Amanda Lou Crotts Memorial Scholarship – Abigail Myers
  • Beverly Todd Memorial Scholarship – Conner Keeslar
  • Craig D. and Ronda S. Neff Memorial Scholarship – Caylee James.
  • Ellsworth Fanning Memorial Scholarship – Caylee James
  • Kevin Lewis Purdue Agriculture Memorial Scholarship – Caylee James
  • J.O. Mory Company Scholarship – Alyssa Burger
  • LaGrange County Farm Bureau Co-op Scholarship – Caylee James
  • Ned Stump Memorial Scholarship – Conner Keeslar
  • Melvin and Marjorie Bricker Memorial Scholarship – Phillip Sheets
  • Mory Family Scholarship – Phillip Sheets
  • Perkins Family Scholarship – Trevyn Terry
  • Prairie Heights Student Council Scholarship – Abigail Myers
  • Prairie Heights High School Scholarship – Caylee James, Emma Wylie, Phillip Sheets and Trevyn Terry

Westview High School scholarship recipients:

  • Allread-Rife Family Scholarship – Paige Riegsecker
  • Craig D. and Ronda S. Neff Memorial Scholarship – Skye Growcock
  • Farmwald Scholarship – Ella Yoder
  • James F. Kalb Memorial Scholarship – Ella Yoder
  • Keith and Arline Davis Memorial Scholarship – Ella Yoder
  • Kerry Wilt-Spradlin Memorial Scholarship – Paige Riegsecker
  • LIFE Scholarship – Ella Yoder
  • Lyle Smith Scholarship – Ella Yoder
  • Morgan Hunter Memorial Scholarship – Skye Growcock
  • Rheinheimer Scholarship – Emily Stutzman and Skye Growcock

Congratulations to these young men and women!

LIFE youth program recap for the 2022-23 school year

LIFE is a youth philanthropy group supported by the LaGrange County Community Foundation. LIFE members gain experiences in community service and charitable giving. The students also provide oversight to youth grant making funds at the Community Foundation. 

During the 2022 – 2023 school year LIFE offered two grant cycles, awarding $19,676 to youth-serving organizations and school projects. We focused on after school programming and was able to award $4,000 in this area supporting LCYC after school photography program and Prairie Heights new e-sports program.

Our meetings were packed full of grant making decisions and LEAP planning. We broke into event committees to conquer and divide. LEAP is a one-day event for youth, grades 9 -12, from all three public high schools to learn about philanthropy, community service and leadership. We have guest speakers, breakout sessions, and some serious fun planned!

We began our community service projects in November with leaf pick up. We worked with LaGrange County Council and Aging to pick up leaves from local homes. In March we connected with LaGrange County Parks & Recreation to help them prepare for Maple Syrup Days. Cleaning, organizing, and setting up table and chairs for the event proved to be a very productive afternoon. 

Jamelle Godlewski from Lead and Impact shared about leadership and what type of leaders there are. Rustin Krapfl of Agape Missions of LaGrange County shared the six lessons in leadership. Both guest speakers provided great insight on necessary skills for leadership. 

And the last LIFE event took place at The Trading Post Outfitters. We completed one last community service project, trash pickup along the river.

As we plan for next school year, we hope to continue encouraging philanthropy in our community and peers.

Leanna Martin, Program Director | LIFE Navigator

Heart of Gold Nominees Named

The Heart of Gold Award honors everyday LaGrange County residents who go above and beyond and embrace the call to volunteer service. We are excited to announce that we received 10 nominations for the award during the month of April.

The 2023 Heart of Gold nominees include:

  • Alexis Grossman of Wolcottville. Alexis is the president of Tri Kappa Mu and a member of the LaGrange County 4-H Fair Board.
  • Alice Bremer of LaGrange. Alice runs the Boomerang Backpacks program at Prairie Heights Schools. She volunteers with the Mongo Lions Club and serves as a Leo Club sponsor.
  • Amy Whited of LaGrange. Amy has been a member of Tri Kappa Mu for the past 25 years and volunteers in several art programs. She volunteers with LaGrange County Arts, Night to Shine, and serves on the board of LaGrange Communities Youth Centers.
  • Heather Evenson of Wolcottville. Heather donates her time and is an active board member with LaGrange County Miracle Tree.
  • John Schmidt of LaGrange. John donates his time and energy to helping people in his neighborhood, and serves at his church, Brighton Chapel.
  • Keith James of Howe. Keith is an active board member of The Farm Place, helping raise funds and create awareness. He uses his photography to help promote LaGrange County. Keith, along with another individual, launched the Hometown Heroes banner project in LaGrange County, honoring military and first responders from LaGrange County. Keith is a LaGrange County Chamber board member. He also serves as an Elder at his church, Brighton Chapel.
  • Kevin Myers of LaGrange. Kevin serves on the LaGrange County 4-H Fair Board, LaGrange County Farm Bureau, and he is an active member on the board for the LaGrange County Council on Aging.
  • Mike Brudney of LaGrange. Mike donates his time to running the LaGrange Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, taking every Saturday night away from his family and his own interests to help people in LaGrange County.
  • Randy Merrifield of LaGrange. Randy is a mentor through the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) program, spending quality time with troubled kids, and getting them involved in activities to keep them out of trouble. He also volunteers with Agape Missions of LaGrange.
  • Samantha Davis-Kania of LaGrange. Samantha donates her time to LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity, serving on the board for the last 8 years. She also serves on the LaGrange United Methodist Church Outreach Committee.

In selecting the award recipient, the award committee considers nominees who share their time for the sake for others, render a service that changes lives, work to create positive change, inspire others to volunteer and more.

All nominees are eligible to make a $500 grant to the LaGrange County nonprofit of their choice in their name; the award recipient is eligible to make a $1,000 grant.

We will be announcing the recipient of the 2023 Heart of Gold Award at our Annual Celebration on Monday, June 12. The deadline to register for our celebration is Monday, May 29. If you are interested in attending, please go HERE.

Image by Irog Media