SIDNEEY — “Community Foundation of Shelby County endured a challenging 2020 and assisted donors in their efforts to keep the community strong,”reported Marian Spicer, executive director. “Most notably, local donors supported the 2020 Recovery Fund, established in a partnership with the Shelby County United Way to help to human service organizations that needed extra support to serve local residents as a result of the pandemic.”
The not-for-profit public foundation has 214 charitable funds totaling more than $37 million. Its role is to carry out the wishes of community members by administering charitable funds that provide grants and scholarships for purposes outlined by a fundís establishing donors. Grants may be distributed to any organization in the U.S., but most are given in the Shelby County area.
Several charitable funds were established last year.
• 2020 Recovery Fund
• Agape Distribution Fund
• Kurt and Connie Barhorst Fund
• John E. Coffield Fund
• Tom and Jana Potts Family Foundation
• Tom and Sandy Shoemaker Skills Scholarship Fund
• Seven Gift Accounts, short-term donor advised funds.
Gifts for these and other existing funds are welcome at any time and should be made payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County with the fund name noted on the memo line. Credit card gifts may be made to any charitable fund by clicking the ëDonateí button on the Foundationís website at commfoun.com.
The Community Foundationís Match Day was held on Dec. 1, known nationally as Giving Tuesday. Match Day was an effort to raise enthusiasm for giving by offering a dollar for dollar match of up to $5,000 to 18 local charities. Each charity exceeded the match amount and a total of $467,735 was raised and distributed. To participate, a charity needed to have an organization fund housed at the Community Foundation.
Scholarships for students pursuing skilled and technical training became a new effort of the Foundation. Nine $2,000 Skills Scholarships were awarded to high school seniors and adults seeking skills training. The Foundation also administers several scholarship funds for students pursuing a college education. More than $224,000 was awarded in 173 scholarships to high school seniors, current college students and adults.
A record 206 Community Foundation Partners gave to support the Foundationís community grants program. Because of their generosity, $37,470 will be offered to local organizations this spring.
During the initial weeks of the spring quarantine, most staff worked remotely. By early June, all staff members returned to the office for their regular work hours. Most meetings have been held virtually to keep board actions and committee information flowing.
The 2021 Community Foundation officers are Cindy Helman, chair; Mike Lochard, vice chair; Karen Fortman, secretary; and Dave Monnier, treasurer. Trustees are Kurt Barhorst, Janice Benanzer, Doug Borchers, Rudy Keister, Diane Reiss, Norm Smith and Amy Zorn. Staff members include Executive Director Marian Spicer; Donor Relations Director Jessica Fortkamp; Accounting Manager Jeanne Hoying, CPA; Accounting Administrator Sara Lammers and Scholarships and Grants Administrator Juli Smith.
In 2021, the Foundation will continue working with local residents wanting to give to charitable causes in the community. For more information, please contact Jessica Fortkamp at 937- 497-7800 or e-mail at [email protected].
