Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
With the theme of “Connections,” the Kosciusko County Community Foundation held its 2026 celebration luncheon Tuesday at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion.
During the annual event, Hanna Fitzpatrick was recognized as the 2026 Heart Of Gold recipient by Community Foundation CEO Stephanie Overbey.
Before announcing Fitzpatrick as the awardee, Overbey said, “This is a really, really special time where we get to recognize someone who gives back to our community.”
She said the Heart of Gold committee reviewed many nominations recognizing individuals who went above and beyond to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
“This year’s Heart of Gold recipient is someone who consistently puts others first, serving with compassion, humility and a genuine love for her community,” Overbey said. “Her nominator says, over the past year, this woman has dedicated more than 380 hours of volunteer service to making Kosciusko County even a better place. Whether she is mentoring young women, supporting local nonprofits, volunteering at community events or stepping in to meet an unmet need, this woman leads by example and reminds us what it truly means to serve others.”
Through the Ruby Project, Fitzpatrick has tackled an unmet need few people feel comfortable talking about. She has helped provide feminine hygiene products with dignity and compassion to women and girls in need, Overbey said. She assembles and distributes discreet feminine hygiene bags as part of a greater initiative that provides thousands of hygiene products in communities across multiple states.
Fitzpatrick will have the opportunity, as part of her getting the Heart of Gold Award, to recommend a $3,000 Community Foundation grant to an area nonprofit of her choice, in her honor, Overbey said.
Earlier at the start of the celebration’s program, Community Foundation Vice President Kelsi Roth said their mission is to bring caring people together with charitable opportunities to inspire generosity and strengthen communities.
The Community Foundation accomplishes its mission by serving as the vehicle for donors’ charitable dreams, awarding grants to charitable projects and organizations and addressing community needs as a catalyst and convener.
“Today’s event celebrates connections that make a difference. Those connections can include a donor who wants to make a difference but isn’t quite sure where to start. Sometimes connections begin with an organization working to meet a need in our community. And sometimes connections begin when a student receives a scholarship that opens a door to a future they’ve been dreaming about. Our work helps connect generous donors with impactful nonprofits and people in need. And we certainly don’t do this connecting work alone,” she said.
She recognized the 20 individual volunteers who make up the Community Foundation’s board of directors; the three new board members of Tim Bender, Matt Boren and Mike Reed; past board members and those who served on a committee for the foundation; and the Community Foundation’s staff.
Overbey recognized the new slate of officers for the board and retiring board members. For 2027, Steve Yeager will serve as president; Roth, vice president; Cheryl Hastings, secretary; and Dan Stichter, treasurer.
Retiring board members recognized included Josh Gordon, Lisa Frazzetta-Manning and Scott Reust.
Yeager shared a few highlights from the Community Foundation’s fiscal year, which was July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
During the fiscal year, he said, 27 new funds were established by donors, gifts to the Community Foundation totaled over $8.5 million; grantmaking from all funds totaled over $5.2 million; there were over $980,000 in scholarships awarded to 226 students; and more than 200 volunteers helped the Community Foundation accomplish its mission.
“Each of these numbers represent a connection: a donor’s intention, a student’s opportunity, an organization’s ability to serve or a volunteer’s willingness to help. Together, those connections create the kind of impact that no one person or organization could accomplish alone,” Yeager said.
Program Officer Kendra Fisher shared highlights from KEYS, the Community Foundation’s youth philanthropy program. She introduced the KEYS members before Co-facilitators Callie Brown, Wawasee High School, and Lilliana Rak, Warsaw Community High School, spoke about KEYS achievements.
“The work we do in KEYS is only possible because of the support the Community Foundation has for us, along with our school districts and the Dekko Foundation,” Rak said, in part. “In this, we also want to thank the KEYS guides that make this program a success. These adult leaders volunteer their time to transport students to meetings each month and give of their talents to take part in mentoring the KEYS students. We appreciate that they give of their treasure, in their commitment to give to the KEYS endowment fund. We are thankful for you.”
She recognized Sherrill Hamman, Tippecanoe Valley Schools; Perry Kaleohano, Lakeland Christian Academy; Sarah Roberts, Warsaw Community Schools; and Jerid Stoffel, Wawasee Schools.
Heather Reichenbach, Community Foundation vice president of community engagement, spoke about various community funds at the foundation.
Closing out the celebration, Community Foundation Vice President of Programs Alex Hall said, in part, “As we begin to bring today’s celebration to a close, I hope one thing has become clear: The accomplishments we’ve celebrated today and the stories shared in the annual report at your seat are possible because of the connections we make together.”
