Kosciusko County Community Foundation Celebrates Accomplishments
Kosciusko County Community Foundation Celebrates Accomplishments
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Staff Report-
Kosciusko County Community Foundation Celebrates AccomplishmentsThe Kosciusko County Community Foundation looked back at the 2021-22 fiscal year during the annual celebration on Wednesday.
From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, the Community Foundation noted these accomplishments:
• Due to the generosity of local donors, the Foundation awarded $3.9 million in charitable grants.
• Nearly $702,000 in scholarships were awarded to 184 local students for college, university or vocational training.
• Donors gave nearly $5.6 million and created 29 new funds at the Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation also helped facilitate FORWARD Kosciusko County, a comprehensive plan for the county and its towns.
“The plan helped our communities think through their needs and prioritize projects,” Stephanie Overbey, CEO at the Community Foundation, said during the presentation.
Overbey moved on to highlight work done in five priority areas.
“During this past year, we continued supporting grantees who are working in child care, early learning, workforce housing, talent attraction and retention, and workforce training,” Overbey said. These areas are of particular importance to the county, according to a news release from the Foundation. The Community Foundation will continue to identify and meet needs as they arise.
Next, high school students Zoe and Titus Taylor highlighted work done by the Foundation’s youth philanthropy program KEYS. Over the year, 20 KEYS members (ranging from eighth to 12th grade) completed 1,212 individual service hours ranging from tutoring to pet-sitting. The members partnered with local schools, visited past grantees and more. Through funding from the Dekko Foundation and their own endowment, KEYS awarded $26,633 in charitable grants.
Attendees also heard from a keynote panel featuring Sherry Searles, director of LaunchPad, and Tricia Gall, the town clerk of Milford. Both organizations are doing work in the Foundation’s strategic, priority areas, including child care and housing. They described their services and shared a few updates.
The event ended on a high note.
“We look forward to this next year, as we continue to serve the dreams of donors and strengthen our community,” said Kevin Deardorff, board president at the Community Foundation.
More information about the Community Foundation is available online at kcfoundation.org.
Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc. is a public charity whose mission is to bring caring people and charitable endeavors together to inspire generosity and strengthen communities. The Community Foundation grants about $3 million annually in the areas of education, health, arts and culture, recreation, civic projects, environment and human services.
Gifts made to the Community Foundation are tax-deductible.
For more information, visit www.KCFoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.
