COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
CORNERSTONE A bi-annual newsletter of the Blue River Community Foundation Fall 2016 Volume 10 Issue 3
Ignite Shelby County Grant BRCF Still Making Sparks
During the Foundation’s annual meeting in June, the Multi-Generational Center was awarded the $150,000 Ignite Shelby County grant. In addition, BRCF is committed to working with all the organizations that submitted full applications. In the September Community Grants Cycle, several of these projects received significant funding for the first phases of their projects. Others are in planning phases and continue to move forward. • The Strand Theatre received $28,400 in the first two phases of expanding the stage and making it more accessible for performers with all modes of mobility. Following these improvements, the stage will be accessible for performers in wheelchairs, structural improvements will allow the theatre to prepare for future renovations, and there will be increased storage capacity.
What’s Inside:
Fund Spotlight
Arts & Culture Grants Scholarship Changes Welcome: New Staff Addition Season for Giving Thanks
• The Shelby Arts Alliance received a $30,000 capacity building grant to fund the Shelby County Arts Coordinator. BRCF will continue to work closely with this organization on sustainability and support for the position. • The Blue River Career Programs received a $30,000 grant for improvements to the building to accommodate the growing interest and demand for the Diesel Tech program. BRCP also recently received a $100,000 Rural Education Grant that will allow them to purchase equipment and a lift for the program. Diesel Technicians have been identified as one of Indiana’s “Hot Jobs” with high pay and high demand. • Morristown High School received $10,000 to fund a portion of the electronic display in the gym. Advertising will be a source of revenue for the high school.
• BRCF continues to work with the Shelby County Public Library and interested community leaders to support the outdoor plaza as a component of their larger renovations. • The Girls Inc/ Boys and Girls Club is nearing the end of their successful capital campaign for improvements at both facilities and some joint projects. BRCF is working with the organizations to move a special ‘wish list’ project forward. More details will be coming soon!
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FUND SPOTLIGHT:
SHELBY COUNTY INDIANA
The City of Shelbyville and Shelby County Racino Funds Endowments at BRCF
Shelby County, the City of Shelbyville, and other incorporated areas have a resource that has made many things possible since 2010: Racino revenues. These funds have been invested in a wide range of infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life projects by our local governments. Early on, both the City and County partnered with the Blue River Community Foundation to put aside a small percentage of those funds into endowments for the benefit of the non-profit community and to help sustain the work they do. The endowment funds are invested, and the earnings are available for granting. In the first few years, as the endowment fund grew, the City also allocated an additional $35,000 to grant. To date, the City has granted over $200,000 through a combination of earnings on the endowment and annual allocations through the BRCF partnership and grant process to more than 25 local organizations working to improve the community. The County Fund has been awarding grants from the endowment for two years for a total of almost $60,000 to 18 different organizations. Some highlights include the parking lot for school bus access at the Meltzer Woods Nature Preserve; Knox Boxes for elderly and disabled, so that emergency responders can provide help more quickly; renovating the gym floor at the Boys and Girls Club; and the Back Sacks weekend food program for elementary age children in need. These funds are a permanent resource that will benefit Shelby County residents forever.
Supporting the ARTS The Blue River Community Foundation provides funding for arts and cultural projects, programs, and organizations serving the Shelby County area to foster community engagement, professionalism, and long-term growth in Shelby County’s arts community. Currently, BRCF offers two competitive Arts/Culture grant cycles per year: Cycle I (May 1 deadline) and Cycle II (September 1 deadline). For more information, or to apply, please contact Lynne Ensminger, Program Officer, at 317.392.7955 or lensminger@blueriverfoundation.com.
The following organizations and groups were awarded grants in 2016 to support the Arts in Shelby County: •
Arts for Learning was granted $5,000 to work with Southwestern Elementary on a public 3-D art project for the community that will ultimately be installed somewhere close to the school.
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Coulston Elementary received a $1,250 grant to cover expenses for their annual musical production, Disney’s Aristocats. The funding will help pay for scripts, music, and other supplies needed for the performance.
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Hendricks Elementary received a grant for $1,200 to support their annual musical production, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. This grant will cover the cost of scripts, music, supplies for sets and costuming, as well as, purchase headset microphones.
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Loper Elementary received a $950 grant to help with the expenses of their annual musical production, Son of Pinocchio. The grant will pay for the performance rights, scripts, music, and other supplies for backdrops, props, and costuming.
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Morristown High School Band Boosters was awarded $2,665 to purchase a used concert tuba and case.
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Shelby Arts Alliance was granted $3,000 to fund nine different arts offerings during the 4-H Fair this past summer.
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Shelby County Players received a grant for $2,500 to help fund two different workshops: a Youth Actors Workshop and a Directors Workshop which will help train some other adults and hopefully young people in the art of directing. This training helps them work toward sustainability while also educating and engaging new and younger individuals into their organization.
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Shelby County Writers Group received a $1,200 grant to cover expenses for two, renowned authors to come and host workshops for locals interested in writing. The current group of about fourteen hopes these type of events will encourage more community participation.
Scholarship Changes
Fall: Change is in the air, but for some Shelby County residents, it is not only the season that brings change. Over five hundred Shelby
County high school seniors are making plans for their next steps toward adulthood and independence. This is the exciting season of college visits and applications, and making choices that will set a life-long path. Naturally, each path is unique, but there are more opportunities than ever for help along the way, and especially for getting started. Additionally, many of the deadlines and criteria have changed this year. Help is available, but students must be proactive. The Blue River Community Foundation awards over one hundred scholarships each year from over eighty funds, totaling over $450,000, which includes the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. In addition to the well-known Lilly Scholarship, BRCF awards several other very large scholarships, which, in many cases, are renewable for four years. Scholarships are available specifically for graduates of each of the five high schools in Shelby County; for students attending a particular college or university; or pursuing a particular degree or major like nursing, education, engineering, or agriculture. Several scholarships are specifically available to current college students or adults returning to college to pursue or finish a degree. This year, some deadlines and processes have changed. First, the Federal Government is opening the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) earlier, on October 1st. Students and their parents will use the previous year’s tax returns. Since most now e-file their taxes, this application is much easier and quicker than in years past. All students, even if you do not anticipate taking out loans, should complete the FAFSA; you may receive more in scholarship aid than you would expect. This chart provides a quick summary of the changes in tax year information required and filing timelines: IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND COLLEGE FROM
YOU WILL SUBMIT THIS FAFSA
YOU CAN SUBMIT THE FAFSA FROM
USING INCOME & TAX INFORMATION FROM
July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019
2017-18 2018-19
October 1, 2016-June 30, 2018 October 1, 2017-June 30, 2019
2015 2016
Due to these earlier deadlines, the new BRCF scholarship application will open on November 1st, and be due January 15th. Internally, BRCF has implemented new policies that will serve our community well. The application process will be “blinded”, that is, the review committee will not see the names of the students or any other identifying information as they read and score the applications. Other parts of the application and process have also been streamlined and updated. These earlier timelines, including the September 1st Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application deadline mean that from now on, high school juniors should be planning and preparing for college and scholarships. In fact, Julie Alvis, BRCF’s Youth and Education Program Officer, will be presenting scholarship information to the class of 2018 this spring as well as offering scholarship application workshops this summer. Shelby County students headed to college have some other great opportunities, in addition to BRCF scholarships. First and foremost, the Advantage Shelby County program, made possible by the City of Shelbyville and Shelby County, and administered by Ivy Tech provides two years of tuition assistance in one of four tracks, career advising, and mentoring. New this year, the State of Indiana Commission for Higher Education has a competitive scholarship called the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship that provides $7500 per year for four years for education majors. One Shelby County student will receive this scholarship. If as a middle school student, you signed up for the 21st Century Scholars program, take note: This program is undergoing significant changes and tuition assistance will no longer be guaranteed at the levels it was the past. If you are the parent of a middle school student, still enroll in the program, but do not count on 21st Century scholarship funds being available or being eligible when the time comes. Your school counselors will have more information as those changes are put in place, which do begin with this year’s senior class. Our best advice: Start early and pay attention to deadlines! The Blue River Community Foundation has many additional resources on our website, in addition to the portal for the scholarship application. For more information about our scholarship opportunities, please contact Julie at jalvis@blueriverfoundation.com or call us at 317.392.7955.
Welcome: New Staff Addition Pleas join us in welcoming Cindy Tomlinson to the BRCF staff. Cindy started on September 1st as the Foundation’s new Administrative Assistant. She is a Northwest Shelby County native. Cindy’s resume includes a position as a teacher’s assistant at Triton Central Elementary and working in health care in administration suppot. She is married and the mother of two adult daughters.
Blue River Community Foundation 54 W. Broadway, Suite 1, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176 Telephone 317.392.7955; Facsimile 317.392.4545 brf@blueriverfoundation.com www.blueriverfoundation.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SCHOLARSHIPS 2017-2018 A Resource Guide for Students Blue River Community Foundation Can help make educational goals possible!
The BRCF Scholarship book for 2017 is now available. You can pick up a copy in our office or view it on our website www.blueriverfoundation.com.
The
Season for Giving Thanks
All of what we are able to accomplish at the Blue River Community Foundation is made possible by generous donors who care about the community. Fortunately, there are financial tools and tax benefits as well for those who give to make our community better. For example:
• The 2016 growth in the stock market might make the gift of appreciated stock a smart option. Donors can deduct the market value of the stock and avoid paying capital gains on the growth in value.
• Individuals over the age of 70 ½ can take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover. This tool is especially beneficial if you do not itemize deductions. Donors can “roll over” their required minimum distribution to their favorite charity and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution.
We also offer a special gift alternative during the holidays. You can acknowledge the special people in your life by supporting a cause that is important to them. For each $25 gift, or greater, the Foundation will send a personalized holiday greeting to those you wish to recognize this upcoming holiday season. The package will include a greeting card and a pewter ornament. This opportunity is a convenient option to meet charitable goals and share a holiday greeting. Please contact us to learn more about causes you can support in this way.