Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana announced continued support from the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust, which has made another investment in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programs serving children in Kosciusko County.
The trust is also a Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Big Celebration, the organization’s annual fundraising event taking place Sept. 29 at Warsaw Community Church.
The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust has been supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2014, making this a more than decade-long partnership focused on helping local children reach their full potential through meaningful relationships with caring adult mentors, according to a provided news release.
“Esther understood the importance of investing in children and in the future of our community,” said Tammy Smith, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana. “We are incredibly grateful that her vision continues through the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust. Her legacy is making a difference in the lives of children today, and we are honored to carry that forward through our mentoring programs.”
Pfleiderer dedicated 39 years to education in Warsaw Community Schools, impacting generations of local students. Her commitment to young people extended well beyond the classroom, the release states. She established the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust to support organizations throughout Kosciusko County, with a particular focus on benefiting local youth.
In 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters honored Pfleiderer posthumously with the Charles D. Smith Award, an honor recognizing passionate volunteerism, strong community leadership and a lifelong commitment to serving others. The award was especially fitting given Pfleiderer’s decades of service to local students and her ongoing commitment to strengthening the community through philanthropy.
“Esther was thinking of others when she created her charitable trust,” said Tom Tearney, trust officer with 1st Source Bank, which administers the trust. “She cared so deeply that she dedicated her life savings to improving this community. Her generosity will continue to help people for many generations to come.”
The trust’s continued support helps Big Brothers Big Sisters recruit and support mentors, create new matches and expand opportunities for children throughout Kosciusko County. Today, local children are still waiting for a caring adult to step into their lives as a mentor, including opportunities through the organization’s school-based Lunch Buddy program and community-based mentoring.
“The need continues to be great,” Smith said. “Every donation allows us to reach another child, support another mentor and create another relationship that can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”
The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust’s support of the 2026 Big Celebration will help raise the funds needed to serve more children in Kosciusko County. The event will celebrate the power of mentoring while giving community members an opportunity to invest in the future of local youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is grateful for the continued partnership of the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust and for the lasting legacy Esther created through a lifetime of educating, serving and investing in others, according to the release.
