Old Settlers Day Association Gives Back More Than $10,000 To Local Organizations

COLUMBIA CITY — The Old Settlers Day Association is giving back to the community, awarding more than $10,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations serving Columbia City and Whitley County.
Each year, a significant portion of the proceeds generated through the Old Settlers Day Festival is reinvested into organizations making a difference throughout the community. Over the many decades of the festival, the Old Settlers Day Association estimates it has given over $1 million to the community through grants, scholarships and other forms of support.
The 2026 Old Settlers Day Festival was held June 16–20 in downtown Columbia City. Following the festival, the Old Settlers Day Association met to distribute a portion of the proceeds generated from this year's event back into the community.
The 2026 grant recipients represent a variety of organizations including:
• T.R.O.Y. School
• Warriors Inc.
• Night to Shine
• The Forklift of The Warehouse Church
• Whitley County Family YMCA
• Junior Achievement serving Whitley County
• Boomerang Backpacks
• The Center for Whitley County Youth
• Whitley County Historical Museum
"We appreciate the hard work and dedication of each of these worthy organizations and the impact they continue to make in our community," said Jim Argerbright, 2026 Old Settlers Day Association president. "Old Settlers Day is about bringing our community together, and being able to take proceeds from the festival and put them back into organizations serving our neighbors is an important part of what we do."