VCF History by Vanderburgh Community Foundation

Our History In 1992, a local group of civic-minded citizens formed the Vanderburgh Community Foundation.

Our Partnership With Lilly........................4 Early Funds................................................5 Examples of Our Many Funds....................7 VCF’s Impact in Our Community ............12

Their goal was to increase the county’s philanthropic base and encourage community-wide efforts to improve the local quality of life. Their mission was encouraged by an incentive funded by the Lilly Endowment, known as GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow).

Discretionary Grants................................14

The Lilly Endowment, a private foundation based in Indianapolis, was created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family with gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The foundation still adheres to the founders’ wishes to promote community development, education, and religion.

Women’s Fund .........................................34

The Lilly Endowment has been instrumental in establishing community foundations in Indiana. In 1990, the endowment launched the GIFT initiative, designed to develop community foundations to serve each of Indiana’s 92 counties. To help the organizations thrive in their infancy, Lilly agreed to match the dollars raised by a local foundation. (The program also has offered additional grants for special projects, strategic resource development, community assessment, and more.) The concept was new: Unlike private foundations, community foundations are designated as public charities by the Internal Revenue Service because they raise a significant portion of their resources from a broad cross-section of the community each year. They

Lilly Scholars ...........................................23 Community Scholarships..........................24 Spirit of Giving........................................32

Trustees............................................... 35

are independent organizations that receive money from a variety of sources including individuals, corporations, government agencies, and private foundations, and since the foundations are locally administered, they have a unique ability to address community needs. Before the Vanderburgh Community Foundation was formed, however, the founders decided an alliance of community foundations with a regional structure could provide greater benefits at lower cost to members. The Community Foundation Alliance, incorporated in March 1991, encouraged Southwest Indiana counties to form foundations, join the Alliance, and pool their back-office operations. Each county foundation would then appoint a local board of directors, make its own decisions on grantmaking, recruit donors, and teach the community about philanthropy.

1992

Vanderburgh County joins the Alliance

1992 2

Vanderburgh Community Foundation is formed

Jeff Bosse becomes Board of Trustees president

1992

Leadership Evansville Endowment Fund

The Posey County Community Foundation and Vanderburgh Community Foundation were the first to join the Alliance in 1992, followed by the Daviess, Perry, and Gibson county community foundations in 1993, the Spencer and Knox county community foundations in 1996, and the Warrick and Pike county community foundations in 1998. The Community Foundation Alliance was the vision of Sara Davies. Davies headed Leadership Evansville for 23 years and served as chair of the Alliance’s board of directors from its inception in 1991 until 1995. “So many organizations benefited from her dynamic view of the future,” says Marilyn Klenck, the Community Foundation Alliance’s first president and CEO. Klenck remembers an early board meeting when Davies predicted the Community Foundation Alliance would raise $10 million by the year 2000. Her statement was met with incredulous looks and comments that it couldn’t be done, but by 2000, the organization had amassed $20 million. As she helped guide the Alliance through its formative years, Davies created several funds of her own to show her support for community philanthropy. She also fought a nearly 10-year battle with breast cancer, and friends, family, and colleagues mourned her loss after she passed away in 2003. Davies’ firm belief in the Community Foundation Alliance helped the new idea take root and blossom, Klenck says: “She knew this would be something the communities would embrace. It would take time and dedication to build, but it would be here forever and continue to grow.” Today, the state of Indiana is the only state in which a community foundation serves every county. With the framework provided by Davies’ vision and the unprecedented grants from the Lilly Endowment, the

Sara B. Davies

“She knew this would be something the communities would embrace.” Vanderburgh Community Foundation has continued working within the Alliance to award grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students. The organization also leads initiatives, such as a Community Coalition Committee addressing the issue of generational poverty, and the Women’s Fund, which unites hundreds of women with a passion for making a difference in the lives of women and children. Presently, the Foundation manages over 100 funds and has distributed nearly $10,000,000 in grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, and other aid to our community.

1993

Hal. D. Burckhartt Memorial Scholarship Fund of University of Evansville

1993

Rebecca J. Dorr Advised Endowment Fund

1993

Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Fund

1993

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science Fund

Our Partnership with Lilly Thanks to the Lilly grants, the VCF has more resources to impact the community. In 1996, VCF received the first GIFT grant: $1 from Lilly for every $2 raised by the foundation with Lilly’s funding going into an unrestricted endowment.

Lilly grant amount: $1,158,345

2001 Taking Stock: Lilly offered up to $25,000 toward the cost of engaging in a formal self-assessment of the foundation. As a completion incentive, they offered $100,000 minus the cost of the assessment to be used for operations.

Total Lilly grant: $100,000

Also part of GIFT I, smaller grants were funds for regranting to local agencies on a $1-for-$1 matching basis.

Lilly grant amount: $98,000 It also included a 1/3 match on operating expenses.

Lilly grant amount: $61,652 1999 GIFT III: Up to $1,000,000 available on a $1-for$1 matching basis for endowment.

Lilly match: $750,000 2000 GIFT IV: Up to a total of $1,500,000 available on a $1-for-$1 matching basis.

2002 GIFT V: Unrestricted endowment matching grant on a $1-for-$1 matching basis. Also part of GIFT V, match of operating funds on a $2-for-$1 basis.

Total Lilly match: $13,962 2005 Sustaining Resource Development: Matching grant on a $1-for-$1 matching basis to support a three-year strategic plan for development and fundraising.

Lilly match: $243,150 2010 Community Foundation Internship Program: Grant to pay for internships for two years, plus cost of office furniture and equipment associated with interns.

Lilly grant: $19,600

Lilly match: $1,200,000 Also part of GIFT IV, operating funds were matched on a $3-for-$1 basis.

Lilly grant: $230,124

1993

1994

Public Library Friends Endowment Fund

Vanderburgh Community Foundation Administration Endowment Fund

1994

Friends of Vanderburgh County Fund

1995

Dan & Nancy Mitchell Fund

1995

Steve Parker becomes Board of Trustees president

Early Funds During the first five years of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, area residents demonstrated their belief in the fledgling organization by establishing funds for grants and scholarships. Their generosity showed in endowments such as those detailed below, which continue giving back to the community today.

Leadership Evansville Endowment Fund In 1992, the Leadership Evansville Endowment Fund became the Vanderburgh Community Foundation’s first fund. Sara Davies, the longtime executive director of Leadership Evansville and president of the Community Foundation Alliance board of directors, saw the need to establish an annual source of income that could not be depleted by shortterm needs. Through a Lilly Endowment matching grant program, the fund benefited Leadership Evansville and the community at large: For each dollar raised for Leadership Evansville, another dollar was added to the Vanderburgh Community Foundation’s unrestricted funds. These funds are used to make discretionary grants each year.

The Community Foundation Alliance’s first employee, Marilyn Klenck, looks forward Although Marilyn Klenck first came to Evansville in search of a teaching job, it was the field of philanthropy that won her over. She credits the late Sara Davies, former executive director of Leadership Evansville, for kindling her interest in nonprofit work. “I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, not somebody else’s pocketbook or the bottom line,” Klenck says. “I wanted to know, at the end of a workday, that my efforts had helped improve somebody else’s life.”

Lower Ohio Valley Construction Industry Fund The Lower Ohio Valley Construction Industry, a nowdefunct organization of local construction professionals, once ran an apprenticeship program that was funded through payroll deductions of employers and employees. As the program became more expensive, leaders looked to an endowment to provide funding. Although the apprenticeship program and the organization eventually ceased to exist, the group’s endowment still helps to further career development through scholarships. Eligible recipients are second- through fourth-year students at the University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville, Ivy Tech’s Evansville campus, or Purdue University who are pursuing careers that benefit the construction industry. Preference is given to students with a family legacy in the field.

Klenck became the Community Foundation Alliance’s first president and CEO in 1991. She says she’s enjoyed watching the Vanderburgh Community Foundation evolve, developing sophisticated ways of determining how to spend its discretionary dollars and launching community initiatives. Klenck retired at the end of 2010 after nearly two decades of service to the Community Foundation Alliance, and she has “every faith,” she says, that the organization will continue its tradition of excellence.

1996

VCF receives first GIFT grant from the Lilly Endowment

1996

Rease Henry McDaniel Memorial Scholarship Fund

Charlotte M. Richardt Endowment Fund #2

1996

Charlotte M. Richardt Endowment Fund

1996

John & Carol Bolger Fund

Early Funds Hal D. Burckhartt Scholarship Following the death of their son in a car accident, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson H. Burckhartt established the Hal D. Burckhartt Scholarship in 1993. Hal graduated from Evansville College (now the University of Evansville) in 1965 and attended law school at Indiana University under a scholarship. His namesake fund provides financial assistance to a UE senior majoring in history or political science and participating in campus organizations.

Dan and Nancy Mitchell Fund Upon chairman and chief executive officer Dan Mitchell’s retirement in 1994, Old National Bank created an endowment through the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. Employees across the bank’s service territory contributed funds in honor of Dan and his wife, Nancy, who were unaware of the plan. The endowment was unveiled at Dan’s retirement party, and the Mitchells were given the power to recommend uses for the funds. Among the diverse organizations that have benefited are TTT Christian Youth Ministries, the University of Evansville, and Tales & Scales.

Igleheart-Foster Fund

it is given to a particular school’s instrumental or vocal music program or the EVSC’s music education efforts at large.

Rease Henry McDaniel Memorial Scholarship When Rease McDaniel began his freshman year at Harrison High School, his future seemed full of promise. The Evansville teen had earned Eagle Scout ranking, served on student council, and played in the marching band, and he was known for his sense of humor and outgoing personality. But that year, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Surgery and chemotherapy put the cancer into remission, and McDaniel graduated with his class in 1985 and enrolled at the University of Evansville. Soon, the cancer returned, and McDaniel was running out of treatment options. He knew he wouldn’t be able to use the money he’d saved for college from a paper route job, so he talked to his mother, Jenny Medcraft, about creating a scholarship fund that would help other Harrison students pursue higher education. McDaniel passed away in January 1986, and Medcraft established the scholarship fund in his memory. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to a graduating Harrison High School senior who has or has had cancer, a physical handicap, or a serious medical problem.

As Diane Foster Igleheart and her late husband, Jim, approached their 50th wedding anniversary, they requested that instead of giving gifts, friends and family donate funds in their honor for a new endowment the couple wanted to establish. The generosity of the Iglehearts and their loved ones has helped Outreach Ministries, a local organization on a mission to prevent hunger and homelessness and strengthen families.

Richard V. Hyatt Memorial Fund After longtime Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation choral director Richard V. Hyatt passed away, former students pooled their money to create a fund in his memory. Some of those donors still form the committee that determines how the money will be distributed each year, whether

1996

Lower Ohio Valley Construction Industry Fund

Richard V. Hyatt Memorial Fund

1996 6

Rease McDaniel

University of Southern Indiana Faculty Enhancement Fund

1996

United Way of Southwestern Indiana Fund

Examples of Our Many Funds 1998 Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet Endowment Fund In the late 1990s, Evansville philanthropists and music lovers Richard and Rita Eykamp teamed with Richard’s parents, George and Dorothy Eykamp, to contribute to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. EPO conductor Alfred Savia had envisioned a resident-based string quartet that would perform around the community, but the organization was unable to fund the ensemble. The Eykamps’ donation created the Evansville Philharmonic String Ensemble, now called the Eykamp String Quartet. The group was established through an irresistible offer from the Vanderburgh Community Foundation: If the Eykamps donated to the orchestra through the foundation, the Lilly Foundation would contribute matching funds. The family couldn’t pass up the offer, and the string quartet (composed of the orchestra’s principal string players) continues to bring chamber and orchestral music to local audiences.

Crescent-Cresline-Wabash Plastics Foundation Inc. Fund For generations, members of the Schroeder family — owners of Crescent, Cresline, and Wabash plastics companies — have been known for their generosity and passion for serving the community. Through their companies, the family has established a fund to support various causes, especially private higher education, which lacks the government funding that public schools receive. (The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at the University of Evansville bears the family name.) A few of the local organizations the Schroeders support are the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra; the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science; the Boy Scouts; United Way; and Keep Evansville Beautiful.

1996

Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra

Russ Mason Memorial Golf Scholarship The Russ Mason Memorial Golf Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Constance Mason in memory of her husband. This scholarship is awarded to a senior who resides in Vanderburgh County or attends an Evansville high school.

Gregory G. Meyer Charitable Fund This Evansville attorney established a fund to support his various charitable interests, choosing the Vanderburgh Community Foundation for its ability to make contributions long after his initial gift.

Saleta Evans Memorial Fund In 1878, an Evansville woman named Saleta Evans donated her family’s homestead, located at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets in Downtown Evansville, to a trust to promote the cause of temperance. She said the donation was in memory of the late General Robert M. Evans. What she didn’t say was that in 1861, her two sons (grandsons of General Evans) killed each other in a drunken fight during a dance. Trustees used the property to build a home for reform clubs and temperance organizations. By the late 1920s, the facility was dilapidated, and in 1930, trustees leased the property to the Public Library Board on the stipulation

1997

Igleheart-Foster Fund

Eugene & Marilyn Glick Fund for Boys and Girls Club of Evansville

1997

Ron Coleman becomes Board of Trustees president

1998

Russ Mason Memorial Golf Scholarship Fund

1997

Harriet & Leroy Anderson Fund

Examples of Our Many Funds that a new building must provide rent-free rooms for use by a temperance group. The resulting facility became Central Library. In the late 1990s, when the library outgrew its building, trustees sold the land and donated the proceeds to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. Evans’ legacy lives on through the VCF’s endowed fund that provides annual grants to programs addressing substance abuse.

1999 Mark Kniese Scholarship In 1977, four games into the University of Evansville’s men’s basketball season, a plane reached the Evansville airport on a foggy, dreary night, and the UE basketball team boarded for a game in Tennessee. Less than two minutes later, the plane crashed, and 29 people — including every team member — were dead. Also among those lost was Mark Kniese, one of the team’s three student managers. Kniese was a much-loved camp counselor at YMCA Camp Carson, and August Neal, who was also a counselor, remembers how children flocked to her co-worker. In 1999, she set up the Mark Kniese Scholarship Fund awarded to the Camp Carson counselor who most embodies Kniese’s spirit and values.

which will promote scholarship, service, and teaching of issues related to epilepsy and other disabilities.

Dorothy Rapp Music Scholarship Those who knew Dorothy Rapp, an Iowa native and music lover, said her sweet soprano sounded like the voice of an angel when she sang in the choir at First Baptist Church. The former University of Evansville vocal music professor spent her life sharing her passions for music and religion, and after she passed away, her husband Bob — also a singer and UE music professor — established a scholarship in her name. The Dorothy Rapp Music Scholarship is awarded to a student devoted to pursuing education, developing musical skills, and furthering church music.

Central High School Class of 1943 Evelyn Church Hatfield Award This scholarship was created by the Central High School Class of 1943 in honor of Evelyn Church Hatfield, their highly respected business teacher and class sponsor. Each year, this award is given to an outstanding business education senior at Central High School.

Epi-Hab Endowments Epilepsy causes more than just seizures. Individuals with the neurological disorder often experience social or learning problems. To serve Evansville-area residents with epilepsy, Epi-Hab donated $2 million to the Vanderburgh Community Foundation to be divided into two funds of $1 million each. Investment income will continue to fund programs at the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and the University of Southern Indiana. Easter Seals plans to operate a clinic for people with epilepsy — particularly those who have difficulty controlling seizures — regardless of their ability to pay. University of Southern Indiana will establish the USI Epi-Hab Center for Disability Studies,

1998

Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet Endowment Fund

1998

Saleta Evans Memorial Fund

Randall T. Shepard and Barbara Dicken

2000 Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Scholarship The Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Scholarship fund

1998

Buffalo Trace Council Boy Scouts of America Endowment Fund

1998

Clifford A. Kleymeyer Memorial Fund

1998

Alfred E. Roth Fund

was established by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard as an annual award for a senior at Harrison High School who demonstrates the greatest potential for leadership in public affairs and contributions to the community.

the Evansville Parks Foundation created an endowment fund to ensure further development and maintenance of the greenway. The planned 42-mile trail currently includes several scenic corridors and will encircle Vanderburgh County once completed.

Harrison High School Class of 1965 Scholarship

2001

The Harrison High School Class of 1965 Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by the Alumni Class of â&#x20AC;&#x2122;65. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard initiated the idea for the scholarship at one of the class reunions. The result was a scholarship for a Harrison student.

Jeremy Weil Memorial Art Scholarship The Jeremy Weil Memorial Art Scholarship was created by Mark and Deborah Weil in memory of their son, Jeremy. Jeremy Weil From an early age, Jeremy Weil excelled in art. His early drawings were cartoons. Jeremy used pastel charcoals and loved photography and pottery. He entered the University of Southern Indiana to study art. While visiting Florida with friends, Jeremy died in an accidental drowning. The scholarship is awarded to a Vanderburgh County high school senior who has completed a minimum of three years of high school art classes and plans to enroll in additional art training.

2004 Dr. Llewellyn Lieber Charitable Fund

Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage Maintenance Endowment Fund In 1998, a longtime dream of city leaders came to fruition: The first section of the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage, a pedestrian and bike trail, was completed. Outdoor sculptures were installed along the path, and trash and debris were cleared from Pigeon Creek. Two years later,

As a teacher, Dr. Llewellyn Lieber dedicated her long life to traveling around the world, educating American children Dr. Llewellyn Lieber living on military bases. At 93 years old, she decided to make arrangements to continue supporting nonprofit organizations she believed in. Through the Van-

1998

Musiciansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Club of Evansville/Margaret B. & Leo E. Heim Memorial Scholarship Fund

1998

H.C. Kleymeyer Memorial Fund by Clifford & Ruth Kleymeyer

1998

Thornton & Melba Patberg Fund

1998

John & Gerry Varner Scholarship Fund

1998

Peyronnin Construction Company Fund

Examples of Our Many Funds derburgh Community Foundation, Lieber’s fund benefits the local Red Cross, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Humane Society, public radio stations, and Habitat for Humanity.

2005 David A. Koehler Sr. Memorial Scholarship After graduating from the old Central High School, David Koehler Sr. returned to the school after earning a degree from the University of Evansville. Koehler taught government and social studies at his alma mater for 31 years, and his wife, Peggy, noted that teaching was more than a job to him: It was an opportunity to educate future leaders. After Koehler passed away in 1993, his family established a scholarship to honor his commitment to Central High School and dedication to service-oriented high school seniors. David A. Koehler Sr.

Friends of Mesker Park Zoo

Since the first animals — two circus lions and Kay the elephant — arrived in Evansville in the late 1920s, Mesker Park Zoo has been a community treasure. The Friends of Mesker Park Zoo created this fund to support projects at Mesker Park Zoo that otherwise were unfunded: public events, marketing campaigns, and any other project that improved the zoo and its value to Vanderburgh County.

Melba Jean Racener Scholarship From the beginning of her 80 years of life, Melba Jean Racener was known for her pioneering spirit. The Evansville woman was just 16 when she earned her pilot’s license, and when her father let her fly his plane alone for the first time, her mother fainted. Another of her accomplish-

1998

ments was leading the Racener Advertising Company for 40 years and serving as the first female president of the Advertising Club of Evansville. Through her will, she established a scholarship to support third-year college students majoring in advertising, marketing, communications, or a related field. The scholarship, awarded to a student from one of nine Southwest Indiana counties, may be renewed for the senior year if the student demonstrates continued success.

2006 Amy W. MacDonell-Randall T. Shepard Historic Preservation Lecture Fund To commemorate his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife, Amy, whom he met at an Evansville preservation lunch in 1983, Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard established a fund to ensure that the lectures that impacted their lives continue to benefit the community. The Amy W. MacDonell-Randall T. Shepard Historic Preservation Lecture Fund reimburses the travel expenses and/or honorarium of a speaker presenting an annual lecture in conjunction with National Historic Preservation Month, held each May.

1998

Charlotte & Leo Peyronnin Family Fund

1999

Reitz Home Museum Fund

1998

Melba Jean Racener

Public Education Foundation of Evansville, Inc. Fund

Mark Kniese Scholarship Fund

1998

Rotary Foundation of Evansville Fund

2007

Thomas F. Walls Youth Hockey Scholarship Fund

Cassin-David Educational Endowment Fund In 2008, Mary and Steve David established the CassinDavid Educational Endowment Fund to provide scholarships to students with a grade point average of 3.4 or less (on a 4.0 scale). The upstanding content of their character demonstrates their ability to receive the scholarship: Vanderburgh County students are selected on their demonstrated moral character and integrity, willingness to overcome obstacles, and volunteerism.

Evansville African American Museum Endowment After actor Ron Glass spoke at the 2007 Spirit of Giving event, the board of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation granted $10,000 to the Evansville African American Museum in honor of Glass. The Evansville native, best known for his role on TV sitcom Barney Miller, said he was “thankful for the opportunity to be instrumental in adding the Evansville African American Museum to your extensive roster of beneficiaries.” The grant began an endowment that supports and sustains the museum, which opened in 2007.

In 1993, a 6-year-old Thomas Walls began playing hockey, a sport he grew to love. The Evansville boy joined a local travel program and helped start Evansville’s high school hockey league in 2002. At Walls’ final state Thomas F. Walls tournament in 2005, the North High School student received the Indiana High School Hockey Association Academic All-State Award, honoring his excellence in the classroom and on the ice. Voted “most photogenic” by high school classmates, Walls was an incoming junior and mechanical engineering student at Purdue University when he died in August 2007. To honor his memory, Walls’ family, friends, teammates, and many community members contributed to a scholarship fund through the Vanderburgh Community Foundation.

Student Financial Aid Association

2008 Robert T. “Bub” Jochum Scholarship “Bub” Jochum, a Reitz High School graduate and sports enthusiast, was born on an Indian reservation on the North Dakota/Canada border, but after being adopted by an Evansville couple as an infant, he called the West Side home. Jochum was known for his compassion for children and animals, and his namesake scholarship is awarded to a student who pursues a career path as an educator, social worker, mental health professional, sports leader, or any occupation that serves children.

Thorton and Melba Patburg established the Student Financial Aid Association with their endowment. The association awards a scholarship to a non-freshman student who has shown his or her commitment to making the University of Evansville home. The scholarship is for a student not otherwise qualified for financial aid such as a recently married couple or a student with a parent recently laid-off.

1999

Dorothy Rapp Music Scholarship

1999

Central High School Class of 1943 Evelyn Church Hatfield Award

Sharon Hafer becomes Board of Trustees president

1999

Reached $1,000,000 in assets

1999

EPIHAB Rehabilitation Center Fund

VCF’s Impact in Our Community To the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, “community” means more than geographic boundaries. It’s a collective identity, a shared sense of goals and concerns, and a desire to strengthen the community by ensuring the well-being of all citizens. That belief drives the Vanderburgh Community Foundation’s grantmaking in the areas of arts and culture, community development, education, the environment, health, human services, recreation, and youth development. Following are a few stories that demonstrate the positive change the VCF has created in our community.

Dream Center Scott (not his real name), an Evans Middle School student, was headed for trouble. One of seven children, Scott had lived without utilities and sufficient food. As a reaction to stress at home, he was constantly in trouble and struggled with serious anger issues. His grades and attendance at school reflected his behavior. Since Scott has been involved with the Dream Center, a ministry program, his attitude has shifted. His grades have earned him honor roll standing for three consecutive semesters, and his behavior has improved. He’s one of hundreds of children who have sought guidance from the Dream Center, which received funding from the Vanderburgh Community Foundation.

Aurora, Inc. When Marshall and Jessica Smith (not their real names) lost their jobs at a factory, they soon lost their home, and the family — with seven children and another on the way — moved into a local homeless shelter in June 2004. Soon, the homeless outreach team (HOT) of Aurora, Inc. con-

1999

Boom Squad The Boom Squad’s thundering drumbeats often echo through high-profile local events, but the organization is more than a drum line. It’s a program for at-risk youth, focused on preventing delinquency, inspiring academic success, and developing strong families. Director Verdelski Miller says the school dropout rate for African-American students in Vanderburgh County is the highest in the state, and in order to perform, Boom Squad members must stay in school and behave well. Recognizing the group’s high return on investment — kids who become successful adults — the Women’s Fund and the Vander-

1999

VCF receives Lilly GIFT III grant

1999

Bess C. & Elmer W. Halwes Memorial Scholarship Fund

1999

nected with the Smiths and helped them apply for housing, food stamps, and other ways of meeting their basic needs. Two years later, the family’s ordeal improved: They moved into a four-bedroom townhouse, and Marshall found a steady job while Jessica stayed home to care for the children. They credit their improved situation to their case manager at Aurora, an organization funded by the Vanderburgh Community Foundation.

EPIHAB USI Disabilities Studies Fund

Evansville ARC Endowment Fund

1999

Gordon R. & Helen M. McKinney String Program Fund

burgh Community Foundation gave given thousands to the Boom Squad since 2008.

their physical health. To help victims of trauma find healing by confronting emotions, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Lampion Center. The nonprofit purchased state-of-the-art equipment for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which allows a patient to recall stored memories. The ability to identify situations that trigger intense, painful outbursts is crucial, experts say, in helping the patient move forward.

Council on Aging Handyman Program Approximately four of every 10 nursing home placements result from falls. The Vanderburgh County Council on Aging’s Handyman Program, funded by the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, addresses this statistic by installing hand rails, grab bars, handicapped toilets, and other assist devices that help elderly individuals live safely and independently in their homes.

Vanderburgh Humane Society Every year, the Vanderburgh Humane Society takes in more than 4,000 unwanted animals. The main cause of pet overpopulation is unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. To address this issue, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation helped fund a new spay/neuter clinic at the Humane Society, which provides surgery services at a reduced rate to shelters within a 90-mile radius and members of the public.

Evansville Dance Theatre Dance requires discipline, passion, and perseverance — important traits for all children, regardless of ability, disability, or economic status. The Vanderburgh Community Foundation funded three new community outreach programs for the former Evansville Dance Theatre that invite children with physical, emotional, and economic challenges to experience the benefits of dance.

Evansville ARC Even during an economic upturn, finding a job that’s a good fit can be a challenge — especially with the additional hurdle of a disability. To help local high school students

Keep Evansville Beautiful By caring for our public spaces, we improve our community. That’s the philosophy of Keep Evansville Beautiful, which received a $10,000 grant from the Vanderburgh Community Foundation to develop a one-year endowment campaign. The Keep Evansville Beautiful Endowment Fund, through the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, will promote, maintain, and benefit public beautification efforts in the area.

Lampion Center Research has shown that repressed memories from a traumatic event can damage all areas of a person’s life, even

1999

Fifth Third Bank Fund-A

1999

Crescent-Cresline-Wabash Plastics Foundation, Inc. Fund

1999

Fifth Third Bank Fund-B

Fifth Third Bank Fund-C

1999

AIDS Resource Group of Evansville Fund

1999

Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana Fund

Discretionary Grants

VCF’s Impact... with developmental disabilities find jobs and transition into adult life, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation provided funding to Evansville ARC’s Successful Transitions program. The program seeks to empower young adults to become independent and active members of the community.

ECHO Diabetic Center When David Nugent arrived in a local emergency room after a friend found him having seizures and slurring his speech, the Evansville man’s blood sugar was over 900 — nine times the normal fasting levels. Nugent had no health insurance, had not seen a physician in more than 30 years, and had no idea he had diabetes. The healthcare professionals who saved his life referred him to the ECHO Diabetic Center, which has received funding from the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. The center provides primary care, education, monitoring supplies, social services, and other assistance to lowincome patients with diabetes. VCF’s funding helps the center provide important home glucose testing supplies to clients.

St. Vincent’s Day Care Center The Vanderburgh Community Foundation awarded a grant of $5,000 to St. Vincent’s Day Care Center for a much needed upgrade to the infant and toddler playground. The day care provides a safe haven for hundreds of Evansville’s poorest children and their families. St. Vincent’s provides a solid early childhood educational foundation in the lives of young, at-risk children, serving hundreds daily. Ninety percent of enrolled children live in poverty.

2000

VCF receives Lilly GIFT IV grant

Beacon Group: $4,050 for printing costs of two manuals that would provide assistance to new businesses, churches, nonprofit organizations and service organizations. Bosse CARES: $2,000 for purchasing computer software giving access to additional resources and purchasing Holland Self Determination surveys. ECHO Community Health Center: $4,000 for expanding the Women’s Clinic to include an additional family session. ECHO Housing Corporation: $2,000 for construction of a playground for the resident children at the Lucas Place transitional housing development. Evansville Day School: $720 for transportation of seventh grade students to the St. Vincent’s Day Care Center and eighth grade students to the Head Start program at Lincoln Avenue and Governor Street to act as teacher aides. Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $475 for an after-school program for Lincoln Elementary School students providing hands-on learning experiences for low-income, at-risk children. Marian Day School: $998 for a cross-age tutoring program and the purchase of Touch Window computer software. Meals on Wheels: $2,500 to continue providing good nutrition to the elderly, sick, mentally ill, and physically handicapped in the community. Old Courthouse Preservation Society: $650 for producing a booklet/brochure on planned giving as an assurance of the future for the Old Courthouse. Operation City Beautiful: $1,000 to plant two flowerbeds along Highway 66. Patchwork Central: $3,000 for staff training necessary for implementing a computer laboratory assisting the learning process and familiarizing students with computers.

2000

Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage Maintenance Endowment Fund

2000

1998

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Scholarship Fund

2000

Harrison High School Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund

2000

Ann & Lee Cooper Family Fund

Public Library Friends: $3,000 to purchase new books, puppets, and programming materials for the Mobile Outreach Services bookmobile serving children at daycare centers.

YWCA

Regional Reading Aid/The Literacy Center: $6,000 to purchase a computer system and LiteracyPro Software. Tales & Scales: $2,000 to underwrite performances of “The Enchanted Horn” for elementary and middle schools and libraries throughout Vanderburgh County. United Methodist Youth Home: $2,000 partial funding to add a half-time staff position to the on-grounds school. Vanderburgh County Health Department: $3,000 to purchase “SUDS” test kits necessary to conduct a study of the utilization of a “Stat” HIV test procedure in the HIV counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification program. Vanderburgh County Mental Health Association: $1,200 for continued support of the “Strengthening the Family Through Tough Love” program.

bookshelf, and manipulatives for children in the Early Intervention Resource Area. Evansville Day School: $1,100 for the cost of transportation to student volunteer project sites. Impact Christian Health Center: $5,000 to provide monitoring supplies and education regarding diabetes control.

Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana: $4,250 for a summit promoting responsible decision-making in order to reduce teen pregnancy. YWCA: $2,000 for participant transportation from Culver Elementary and Glenwood Middle Schools to the YWCA facility for the Live Y’ers program addressing teenage pregnancy and the need for higher education.

1999

Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana: $4,500 to purchase volunteer program kits containing “Operation Free Enterprise” materials for 30 students in each kit. Legal Aid Society of Evansville: $1,228 to purchase audio/ video equipment necessary to increase client services. Meals on Wheels: $3,000 for ongoing operation and route expenses.

Bosse CARES: $3,000 to provide motivation meetings for parents, advisors, and students; to purchase a copy machine, other office equipment, and resource materials for the CARES program in the 1998-99 school year.

Old Courthouse Preservation Society: $2,000 to purchase four Talk-N-Tell digital message repeaters and have the messages professionally produced.

Chrysalis Women’s Addiction Services: $3,500 for the salaries of the full-time and part-time program facilitators and for program materials for Strengthening Families. Evansville Area Community of Churches: $550 for the Weekday Mentoring Program: materials, refreshments, and fees for up to four in-service mentor group meetings. Evansville ARC: $1,227 to purchase the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) series, curriculum books, an oak

2001

Jeremy Weil Memorial Art Scholarship

2001

Ozanam Family Shelter: $4,000 for shelter renovations and for HVAC repair and/or replacement. Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage Advisory Board: $4,000 for the mine extents map for the First Avenue Coal Mine Outdoor Museum. Public Education Foundation of Evansville: $4,500 for the production of a CD-ROM career assessment program for Area Vocational District #46.

2001

Lilly “Taking Stock” grant received

Jane Buthod becomes director of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation

Drew Peyronnin becomes Board of Trustees president

2001

Jim & Joann Schwentker Fund

Discretionary Grants Public Library Friends: $1,000 to purchase board book kits, program materials, and supplies for the I Read to My Baby: Teen Mothers Sharing Books project. Reitz Home Preservation Society: $1,525 for Reitz Servants Viewed Personally: invitations, school fliers, costumes, hands-on supplies, food for cast, and photo developing. Youth First: $5,000 toward start-up costs of the organization.

Ozanam Family Shelter: $5,000 for rehabilitation to the west wing, specifically for painting, carpeting, and floor covering. Patchwork Central: $3,500 for the Bike Club Project, a youth bike club. Funds were used to purchase general shop tools, bicycle tools, helmets and safety equipment, shop supplies, shop furniture, replacement bike parts, books/manuals on bicycling, snacks, and recognition incentives.

2000

Prevent Blindness of Indiana: $2,059 to train volunteers to provide eye screenings to children, families, and individuals in poverty and adults at risk of glaucoma.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ohio Valley: $7,000 to implement and advertise a site-based mentoring pilot partnership with the Boys & Girls Club.

Tales & Scales: $2,500 to perform “The Animal that Drank Up Sound” at approximately 60 local schools and organizations.

Benjamin Bosse High School: $3,609 toward the purchase of the PLATO Language Arts and Communications Package software for two workstations providing remediation, acceleration, and enrichment for the TECH W.A.R.S. (Writing & Reading for Success) program.

YWCA: $5,500 to have the Live Y’ers mentor program evaluated by University of Southern Indiana faculty and to purchase computer software to track participants.

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $8,505 to purchase a squeeze/hug machine and to purchase educational materials for the resource library in the STARS Learning & Resource Center.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ohio Valley: $4,830 for salary, benefits, travel expenses, and support materials related to a school-based mentoring pilot partnership program.

ECHO Community Health Care: $6,008 to implement a smoking cessation program targeting low-income individuals.

2001

Bosse CARES: $3,000 to purchase Holland Surveys, send mailings to parents from the Career Center, host Career Nights, and purchase videos and prizes for the Bosse CARES supplemental services project. ECHO Community Health Care: $7,417 for a smoking cessation program: physicals, classes, nicotine therapy replacement prescriptions, and educational materials.

Evansville ARC: $1,118 for music and rhythm instruments and various program materials necessary to implement a music therapy program for adults.

Evansville Coalition for the Homeless: $2,560 for staff salaries, project evaluation, tutorials, copying, postage, teaching and curriculum materials, affiliations, and consulting/grantwriting fee for a tenant education program.

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $1,000 for master artists’ honoraria during the the five-day Very Special Arts Festival for children with special needs.

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $1,000 for teacher participant fees, student transportation fees, and a portion of the materials needed for after-school program activities.

Joshua Academy: $8,500 to purchase Open Court curriculum textbooks and materials for all grade levels.

HOPE of Evansville: $5,000 to purchase or assist in purchase of abandoned properties as part of the Working to Revitalize Evansville’s Neighborhoods (WREN) program.

2002

Philip Fisher becomes Board of Trustees president

2002

VCF receives Lilly GIFT V grant

2003

Bower-Suhrheinrich Fund for Evansville Goodwill Industries

2003

Bower-Suhrheinrich Fund for Trinity United Methodist Church

2003

Ralph Mallory becomes Board of Trustees president

Impact Christian Health Center: $5,000 for additional nursing hours in the Patient Assistance Program. Joshua Academy: $10,000 to provide textbooks, equipment, supplies, and other program related costs for Discovering the Fun in Science. Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana: $3,100 for Personal Economic Literacy for Harwood School students (program materials, insurance, evaluations, staff travel, recognition awards, administrative costs, and training expenses). Legal Aid Society of Evansville: $3,000 to produce and duplicate a video regarding landlord/tenant laws. St. Mary’s Foundation: $7,660 for presenters, parenting books, childcare, follow-up evaluations, office supplies, and program supplies for the Active Parenting Today program. St. Vincent’s Day Care Center: $2,000 for the Science Learning Center Project: tables, chairs, and science equipment to furnish eight science learning center rooms. Tales & Scales: $5,000 for Vanderburgh County school performances of “The Arabian Nights.” Youth First: $5,000 for facilitator’s stipends, food, childcare, completion incentives, program coordination, and outcome measurement and reporting for the Strengthening Families 1014 pilot program for high-risk children.

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $3,690 to purchase adaptive computer switches and toys, software, and a laptop computer enabling use by children and youth who lack hand/arm control. ECHO Community Health Care, Inc.: $7,500 to supplement the cost of medications for clients below poverty level during a 30-45 day “gap” period from when a medication is needed until it arrives from the pharmaceutical companies. Evansville ARC: $1,000 to produce a video to demonstrate the skills disabled individuals can bring to the workplace. Evansville Zoo Guild: $9,720 to enable 108 elementary school children from low-income familiies to attend summer camp at Mesker Park Zoo at no cost. Meals on Wheels: $7,500 to purchase a new Dodge Caravan to deliver meals to the homebound. Memorial Community Development Corp.: $9,800 to purchase supplies, pay staff salaries, cost of field trips, food, program activities, and arts/crafts supplies for inner-city school-aged children during the summer months. St. Vincent’s Day Care Center: $6,000 for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and informational/training materials for the Healthy Child program.

Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana: $5,000 for an anti-violence marketing campaign: billboards, posters, summer concert, workshops, training, parenting classes, rental, meals, etc.

2002 Carver Community Organization: $10,000 for the Carver Science Academy, a science program for inner-city youth including equipment and supplies, occupancy expenses, and salary for a part-time science professional. Central United Methodist Church: $5,000 to purchase tunnels, decks, cubes, and ramps to create a large indoor playroom in the church basement.

Youth First

2004

Dr. Llewellyn Lieber Charitable Fund

2004

Ken Schreiber becomes Board of Trustees president

Gregory G. Meyer Charitable Fund

2004

Melba Jean Racener Scholarship Fund

2004

Reached $5,000,000 in assets

Discretionary Grants Vanderburgh County Council on Aging: $9,000 for wages, benefits, and supplies for homemakers to provide housekeeping, grocery shopping, errands, and bill paying services for the elderly. Visiting Nurse Association of Southwestern Indiana: $5,000 to help offset the costs of medications purchased for hospice patients. Youth First: $1,667.51 to purchase software to develop scannable versions of surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs.

2003 Ark Crisis Child Care Center: $10,000 to purchase safety surfaces for playground fall zones and developmentally appropriate outdoor play equipment to develop two outdoor play spaces. Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana: $1,350 to purchase and install a new computer for the program needs of the organization. Career Choices: $3,000 to create a fund to help cover workrelated expenses for individuals entering training programs and employment opportunities, including clothing and tools, personal hygiene products, licenses and fees, and transportation costs. ECHO Community Health Care: $8,500 to conduct health fairs and community health screenings to medically underserved individuals. Evansville Zoo Guild: $7,500 for the development of an interactive educational facility located in the children’s area of the zoo, including the purchase of tabletop interactive displays, three computer stations, and computer software. t

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $1,920 to enable 16 at-risk children to attend Museum Camp in June 2004, including expenses relating to the camp director, Red Cross training for program volunteers, security guard, field trip, craft supplies, brochures, postage, marketing, snacks, mileage to deliver brochures, purchase of food, and supplies for the program.

Joshua Academy: $8,725 to develop a program to teach students to write their own books, including three computers, encyclopedias, thesauruses, dictionaries, teacher guides, software, illustration materials, binding supplies, and transportation. Mental Health Association - Vanderburgh County: $1,750 to rent a special passenger van to transport emotionally disabled children to and from summer day camp. Patchwork Central: u $2,000 for the purchase of equipment and tools to furnish the teaching studio to support the ceramics program, bicycle program, and garden program. Tales & Scales: $10,000 to assist with start-up costs related to hiring a second performing troupe whose primary focus will be serving local schools and community organizations. Tri-State Food Bank: $10,000 to open a Kids Café in coordination with St. Anthony Center for Family Life to provide an evening meal and programs for children ages 5 through 18, including staff salaries, conference expenses, education, and travel for Kids Café-related training, fundraising expenses, and background checks expenses. Vanderburgh County Council on Aging: $6,000 to provide short-term homemaker services (i.e. housekeeping, grocery shopping, errands, and bill paying) for people who due to age, infirmity, or disability are not able to perform these services themselves. Youth First: $8,230 to implement the Strengthening Families 10-14 program in collaboration with EVSC 21st Century Learning Center to reduce substance abuse among young people by improving parenting skills and strengthening social skills. Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana: $5,000 to implement the JUMP ( Just Use Mediation Power) peer mediation program in Vanderburgh County schools in order to teach youth citizenship, leadership, and nonviolent conflict resolution.

2005

Barbara Dicken becomes director of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation

2005 18

Jane Browne Petersen Fund

David A. Koehler Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund

2005

Lilly “Sustaining Resource Development” grant received

2005

Dr. Elizabeth M. Ryan Fund

2004 American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana: $10,000 for a distribution program for caregivers for elderly in poverty, which provides free self-study program materials or courses. Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana: $10,000 for a consultant and related fees for conducting an organizational capacity analysis that would investigate the potential to raise funds to renovate the old Central Library building into a community arts facility. ECHO Community Health Care: $8,900 for a medical outreach program for disadvantaged/uninsured individuals. Funded spring and fall health fairs offering free health screenings to disadvantaged and uninsured individuals as well as health screenings at various community locations throughout the year. Evansville Christian Life Center: $1,800 for “Earn While You Learn,” which provides funding for cribs and car seats for program participants of the “Earn While You Learn” classes that teach healthy parenting skills. Evansville Coalition for the Homeless: $3,250 for housing resource and consultation: resource materials, increased staff time dedicated to educating program participants about local housing options and eligibility guidelines, and program evaluation. Hands on Discovery Children’s Museum: $3,500 for ExhibitsTo-Go, a traveling museum with six exhibits for off-site educational presentations and staff salaries to facilitate the exhibits. Harvest Time Inner City Ministries: $5,000 for food and supplies for soup kitchen and meal delivery service to provide nutritious meals at no cost. Little Lambs: $7,000 for baby care items (i.e. bottles, car seats, high chairs, gates, diapers, wipes, lotion, etc.) for the incentive program for low-income expectant parents and parents of infants. Marian Educational Outreach: $2,183 for the audio books library to purchase the Scott Foresman and Glencoe social studies textbooks and additional supplemental social studies books on CD for enhanced learning.

2006

2007

Friends of Mesker Park Zoo

Gogarty Family Charity Fund

2006

Allison Comstock becomes Board of Trustees president

Meals on Wheels: u $2,000 to offset costs related to the delivery of meals, such as auto insurance, license, repairs, gasoline, and route supplies. Ozanam Family Shelter: $5,000 to help furnish eight bedrooms and four baths that are being added to the existing shelter at 1100 Read St. Patchwork Central: $5,000 for the Arts & Smarts after-school program to furnish and equip a new teaching studio with a slab roller and table, Hollander beater machine, double easel and brushes, program supplies and materials, and reference resources. Salvation Army: $5,000 to provide direct supervision, tuition assistance, and meals for the summer day camp offered to lowincome youth in the Chain and Jacobsville neighborhoods. Tales & Scales: $5,000 for bridge funding for the development of a second troupe to provide educational performances for the community and at local schools. Visiting Nurse Association of Southwestern Indiana: $2,500 to offset the cost of hospice medication and treatment assistance for Vanderburgh County hospice patients. YMCA of Southwestern Indiana: $1,281 to implement a collaborative program between the YMCA’s Community Action Program and EVSC’s The Learning Center to provide students with a life skills and character development-based curriculum that addresses their behavioral and emotional issues and disabilities.

2005 Ark Crisis Child Care Center: $3,400 to purchase a permanent outdoor play structure for an emergency crisis childcare playground. Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana: $1,000 to allow local schools to bring in artists to present programs and demonstrate artistic processes in schools where the budgets would otherwise not permit such programs.

2007

First Spirit of Giving award given to Richard and Rita Eykamp

2007

Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County established

Discretionary Grants Community Action Program of Evansville: $1,500 to fund a local health fair targeting the Hispanic community.

Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $4,180 to provide specialized outpatient clinic services to local children and adults, regardless of the clients’ ability to pay. ECHO Community Health Care: $9,950 to provide a diabetic monitoring program to low-income individuals to improve clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes. Evansville ARC: $4,000 to assist students in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation who have developmental disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life within the Evansville community. Evansville Coalition for the Homeless: $5,000 to address the issue of poverty in Vanderburgh County from a comprehensive community approach which includes improving the understanding of the culture of poverty by local businesses, community leaders, and people who work with low-income persons. Evansville Dance Theatre: $1,000 to begin four new community outreach programs for economically and physically disadvantaged children. Evansville Goodwill Industries: $2,250 to establish in-house therapy sessions to assist families in dealing effectively with their children with severe behavioral challenges.

Riley Children’s Foundation: $2,500 to provide financial assistance for children from Vanderburgh County to attend Camp Riley for youth with physical disabilities. Southwest Indiana Disaster Resistant Community Corp.: $4,000 to provide carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and safety education to senior citizens in Vanderburgh County. Tales & Scales: $1,000 to fund a family literacy workshop series which will seek to build stronger families and improve children’s enthusiasm for reading in Vanderburgh County. Vanderburgh Humane Society: $4,000 to help fund equipment for a new spay and neuter clinic.

Little Sisters of the Poor: $3,500 toward the purchase of a new “Begging Van” in order to serve the elderly poor in our community.

Wesselman Nature Society: $5,000 to help build a shelter on the Howell Wetlands property.

Media Ministries: $5,000 to provide food and transportation for low-income children while a new Dream Center facility is being constructed.

Youth First: $4,000 to implement the Real U Project, a collaborative effort between three Vanderburgh County colleges and the community to reduce high-risk drinking among college students and college-bound high school students.

Oakland City University: $2,240 to distribute “dorm packs” to high school students at Reitz and Bosse, providing necessary items that can be a difficult expense for low-income families sending children to college. Patchwork Central: $5,000 to establish a social initiative gallery and store to showcase and sell the creative works designed by atrisk adolescents and volunteer artists from the community.

2007

Cassin-David Educational Endowment Fund

Reached $10,000,000 in assets

2007

Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana: $3,750 to fund the Teen Advisory Council which represents every high school in Vanderburgh County in teaching youth to design and lead community service projects to positively impact local community problems.

Lois & Betsy Hamburg University of Evansville Scholarship Endowment Fund

2007

Richard I. (Dick) Unverzagt Scholarship Fund

Lois & Betsy Hamburg University of Southern Indiana Scholarship Endowment Fund

2006 College Mentors for Kids: $6,000 for a college mentoring program to help elementary school children understand the importance of higher education. Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $5,275 for adult day services to enhance participants’ daily living skills so they can achieve personal goals and reach their full potential for independence, regardless of their ability to pay. ECHO Community Health Care: $9,950 to provide an affordable diabetic monitoring program to low-income individuals. Girl Scouts of Raintree Council: $5,000 for an after-school program for at-risk girls in grades K-8 that focuses on selfesteem and self-awareness. Harvest Time Inner City Ministries: $5,000 to buy food and supplies for a soup kitchen that serves about 200 meals every day it is open.

University of Evansville: $3,058.50 for the UE Reads program, which helps K-3rd graders achieve their equivalent reading by the 3rd grade. Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana: $2,326.15 for the Teen Advisory Council program that helps teens respond to community problems and design community service projects.

2007 Albion Fellows Bacon Center: $10,000 for the children’s program. College Mentors for Kids: $6,000 for Evansville’s College Mentors for Kids program. ECHO Community Health Care: $9,950 for the diabetic monitoring program. Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $26,674 for general support.

Leadership Evansville: $4,000 for a youth leadership training program.

Girl Scouts of Raintree Council: $5,000 for Discovering You: A Leadership Development Program.

Little Lambs: $4,870 to purchase car seats and help reduce the infant mortality rate.

Hadi Shrine Temple: $3,315 for the transportation fund.

The Potter’s Wheel: $5,305.35 for equipment and silverware for a soup kitchen, “The Diner,” which served 20,422 meals the previous year. St. Mary’s Foundation: $5,000 for the “Healthy Kids – Healthier Communities” program which provides dental care for children at their schools. Tales & Scales: $6,000 for the “Imagine That” program, which gives instruction on music, theater, and dance techniques for high-poverty-area schools.

Harvest Time Inner City Ministries: $5,000 for food and related supplies for the Hot Food Center. Little Lambs: $4,870 for the car seat project. The Potter’s Wheel: $5,305.35 for The Diner. St. Mary’s Foundation: $5,000 for Healthy Kids — Healthier Communities. Tales & Scales: $6,000 for “Imagine That!” residencies for Evansville schools. Tri-State Food Bank: $7,700 for the Backpack Food for Kids Program.

Tri-State Food Bank: u $7,700 for a backpack program that provides backpacks filled with food for at-risk kids to bring home on the weekends.

University of Evansville’s Office of the President: $3,058.50 for UE Reads.

2007

Ron Glass Endowment Fund for the Evansville African American Museum

2007

Amy W. MacDonnell-Randall T. Shepard Historic Preservation Lecture Fund

James E. & Aleen K. Rankin Endowment Fund

2007

Lois Hamburg Evansville Philharmonic Endowment Fund

Discretionary Grants University of Southern Indiana Foundation: $13,571 to support faculty enhancement.

2008

Vanderburgh Community Council on Aging: $4,575 for the materials needed for the “Handyman Program” to install assist devices in the homes of elderly, low-income residents to help prevent them from falling and getting injured.

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $5,000 to provide a free family resource library for low-income or one-parent families.

Visiting Nurse Association of Southwestern Indiana: $3,790 for a new Telehealth Monitor to help provide quality home health care to those in need within our community.

ECHO Community Health Care: $4,000 toward the incentive program for the “Keep Kids Current” program, which will provide education to parents of uninsured and underinsured children to establish a medical home for preventive care.

YWCA: $6,845 to fund one half of a year-round program of weekly meetings called “Positive Futures” for pregnant and parenting teens.

Evansville ARC: $5,000 to purchase a therapy swing for child development. Evansville Christian Life Center: $3,300 to support a complete replacement of the back entryway doors to the facility. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville: $1,800 for supplies for the “Arts History” program to provide art education for youth. Lampion Center: $4,390 to purchase a LapScan 4000 for trauma treatment and to send two therapists to training for this method of treating emotional trauma. The Potter’s Wheel: $5,094 for the soup kitchen “The Diner” to provide affordable meals for low-income families. St. Vincent’s Day Care Center: $3,000 to upgrade the learning environment for children through the purchase of art and educational materials for 18 classrooms. S.O.U.L. Empowerment: $5,000 to assist in the purchase of two pieces of youth cardio equipment, a computerized treadmill, and an elliptical trainer for the Youth Fitness/Fun Camp and Weekend Childcare Ministry programs.

2009 Community Foundation Alliance: $9,984 for Vanderburgh Community Foundation operating expenses. Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center: $24,742 to support the Epilepsy Clinic. Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science: $9,380 to maintain and conserve paintings or other art donated by Jane Browne Petersen or her husband. Friends of Mesker Park Zoo: $10,880 to support the mission of the Friends of Mesker Park Zoo. House of Bread & Peace: $45,000 for upgrading the facility, including energy-efficient windows and appliances, new flooring, and roof over patio area. Student Financial Aid Association: $7,777 to provide scholarships. University of Southern Indiana Foundation: $31,849 for support of disability studies.

Tri-State Men’s Center: $10,000 as a challenge grant to support the “Brother’s Keeper” program to provide temporary shelter and support services to help ex-offenders overcome their destructive lifestyle and make a successful reentry into society. Funding will be received after the organization has secured the remaining $10,000 of the budget.

2007

2008

Keep Evansville Beautiful Fund

Nick Cirignano becomes Board of Trustees president

2008

Joseph & Neal Franklin Endowment for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra

2008

Joseph & Neal Franklin Endowment for University of Southern Indiana Performing Arts

Lilly Scholars Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program Indiana ranks near the bottom of the 50 states in the percentage of 25-year-old residents who have earned a bachelor’s degree. The statistic was troubling to Lilly Endowment leaders, who knew that low educational attainment would hold back the state’s economy in an increasingly complex, technology-oriented world.

Class of 2007 scholarship recipients, including four recipients of the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, shown here with Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave.

To encourage educational achievement and commend Indiana’s best and brightest high school students, the Lilly Endowment founded its community scholarship program in 1998. The program provides four-year, full-tuition scholarships to any accredited public or private college or university in Indiana, plus up to $900 for books and equipment.

Heidi Brackmann, Bosse High School Rashad L. Gold, Harrison High School

2000 Va T. Cun, Harrison High School Danielle R. Henderson, Harrison High School James G. Kissel, Mater Dei High School Randy L. Scherer, North High School

The program is administered locally through the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, which chooses and interviews 10 finalists every year and then selects the final recipients. Among the criteria: high grade point average and test scores, completion of the Indiana Academic Honors curriculum, participation in school activities, personal character, community activities, and writing skills.

2001

Past Vanderburgh County Recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship:

Valerie Fenneman, Central High School Peter A. Knoll, North High School Ai T. Nguyen, Central High School Janice C. Parmar, North High School Pamela A. Sontz, Harrison High School Bryan K. Stroube, Central High School

1998 Melva Lucas, Harrison High School Tiffany A. Hodge, North High School

Jennifer Rudenko, Central High School Kyle W. LeClere, Reitz Memorial High School Dan T. Cun, Harrison High School Amanda Ryan, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Aaron C. Schnur, Reitz Memorial High School Amanda Braun, Reitz Memorial High School

2002

2003

1999

Erin Austin, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Blair L. McCarthy, Reitz Memorial High School Jaclyn E. Riffert, Reitz Memorial High School

Charles Shrode, Harrison High School Emily Judy, Bosse High School

2008

Thomas F. Walls Youth Hockey Scholarship Fund

2008

William J. Fenet Brescia University Scholarship Fund

Franklin Endowment for the Performing Arts

2009

Robert “Bubba” Jochum Scholarship Fund

Lilly Scholars...

John D. McLaughlin, Harrison High School Rachel K. Witty, Central High School

Matthew Schultheis, Harrison High School Kevin A. Tooke, Mater Dei High School Matthew E. Zirkelbach, Bosse High School

2008 Michael J. Isaacs, Reitz Memorial High School Brandt T. Lydon, Mater Dei High School Karen Scheller, Mater Dei High School Elizabeth Uduehi, Francis Joseph Reitz High School

2004 Kevin (Drew) Beck, Harrison High School Carl J. Blubaugh, Reitz Memorial High School Scott Mueller, North High School Jonathan E. Seger, North High School Todd J. Wannemuehler, Mater Dei High School Meghan E. Paraschak, Harrison High School

2009 Andrew J. Ritter, Mater Dei High School Andrew M. Savage, Harrison High School Alex D. White, Harrison High School Tyler L. Perfitt, North High School

2005

2010

Robert G. Bernardin, Jr., Evansville Day School Lindsey C. Kanter, Harrison High School Nicole E. Kaufmann, Reitz Memorial High School David C. Moore, Signature School

Caitlyn Hammack, Reitz Memorial High School David Korb, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Olivia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell, Reitz Memorial High School William Sievern, Reitz Memorial High School

2006

2011

Emma Brizius, Signature School Andrew Niemeier, Mater Dei High School Jennifer Troyer, Harrison High School Erin Ketchem, Francis Joseph Reitz High School

Samantha Laszlo, North High School Matthew Stewart, Memorial High School Ryan Schultheis, Memorial High School

2012

2007

Jillian Belmonte, Memorial High School Andrew Lasher, Memorial High School Caleb Kerr, Norht High School

Andrew Brinkman, Harrison High School Laura K. Ferguson, Central High School

Community Scholarships

Halvor Aakhus, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Aaron Hosman, Central High School

2001

Vanderburgh Community Foundation This scholarship is awarded to high-achieving students named as alternates for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

Amber Boring, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Daniel Elpers, Mater Dei High School Molly Topper, Mater Dei High School Andrew Whipple, Central High School

2002

Sarah Masterson, Harrison High School Lauren Michelson, North High School Amy C. Nicely, North High School Casey Reising, Reitz Memorial High School

1998

Brandon Phillips, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Catherine Tye, Harrison High School

2009

Kristen K. Tucker becomes Board of Trustees president

Habitat for Humanity of Evansville Fund

2009

1999

James A. McCarty Sr. Spirit of Giving Fund

2010

Fund for Arts and Culture in Vanderburgh County

2003

Erica A. Bush, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Clinton Hasenour, Central High School Kathryn S. Kendall, North High School James R. Ostrye, Harrison High School

2004

Meghan Dus, North High School Emily Kraft, Signature School William Schultz, Harrison High School

2005

Marc A. Hert, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Susan K. Muensterman, Mater Dei High School Tom W. Seto, North High School Elizabeth F. Whobrey, Evansville Day School

In 2008, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation awarded scholarships to fourteen deserving students in Vanderburgh County.

Cassin-David

2006

Nicholas Avon, Harrison High School Branden Clements, Mater Dei High School Nicole Wittman, North High School Andrew Brandsasse, Signature School Steven Geiss, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Sunny Huang, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Nicholas Murphy, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Joshua Nunn, Central High School Susan Parmar, North High School

In 2008, Mary and Steve David established the CassinDavid Educational Endowment Fund to provide scholarships to students with a grade point average of 3.4 or less (on a 4.0 scale). The upstanding content of their character demonstrates their ability to receive the scholarship: Vanderburgh County students are selected on their demonstrated moral character and integrity, willingness to overcome obstacles, and volunteerism.

2008

2007

Ryan Hicks, Central High School Janel Jett, Bosse High School

Megan Reynolds, Reitz Memorial High School

2009

Amanda M. Stagg, Mater Dei High School

Katelyn Clevidence, Harrison High School Hillary K. Merwin, Central High School Matthew R. Schenk, Mater Dei High School Kristyn R. Seibert, Mater Dei High School

2010

Justin Ahlbrand, Central High School

2011

2010

Rebecca Muensterman, Mater Dei High School

Molly Groves, Benjamin Bosse High School Sarah Higdon, Central High School Andrew Kasha, Reitz Memorial High School Sydney Rickelman, Francis J. Reitz High School

2012

Devon Tenbarge, Mater Dei High School

Central High School Class of 1943 Evelyn Church Hatfield Award

2011

Catherine Fritchley, Central High School Neel Erickson, Signature School

This scholarship was created by the Central High School Class of 1943 in honor of Evelyn Church Hatfield, their highly respected business teacher and class sponsor. Each

2012

Claire Fox, Signature School Jarrod Bouchie, Signature School

2010

Mark Miller becomes Board of Trustees president

Lilly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Community Foundation Internship Programâ&#x20AC;? grant received

2010

Fund for Education in Vanderburgh County

2010

Fund for Human Services in Vanderburgh County

Community Scholarships year, this award is given to an outstanding business education senior at Central High School.

2001

2002

2003

2004

Chad Willis

Rebekah Holder

Brandon Henry

Alexander N. Whipple

2005 2006 Victoria A. Kron

Maria Schlumpf

2007 2008 Kelsey Stephenson

Joe Tolen

2009 2010 Kayla M. Braden

2001 2002

Sarah Krampe

Pamela A. Sontz

2011 2012 Catherine Fritchley

men’s basketball season, a plane reached the Evansville airport on a foggy, dreary night, and the UE basketball team boarded for a game in Tennessee. Less than two minutes later, the plane crashed, and 29 people — including every team member — were dead. Also among those lost was Mark Kniese, one of the team’s three student managers. Kniese was a much-loved camp counselor at YMCA Camp Carson, and August Neal, who was also a counselor, remembers how children flocked to her co-worker. In 1999, she set up the Mark Kniese Scholarship Fund awarded to the Camp Carson counselor who most embodies Kniese’s spirit and values. Matt Cross

2003 2004

Scott Lane

Harrison High School Class of 1965

Lindsay Marshall

Amber Hoefling

2005

2006

Rodney Frederick

The Harrison High School Class of 1965 Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by the Alumni Class of ’65. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard initiated the idea for the scholarship at one of the class reunions. The result was a scholarship for a Harrison student demonstrating self-motivation, a strong desire to learn, moral character, school and community involvement, and financial need.

Rodney Frederick

2007 2008 Elizabeth Deckard

Jenny Smith

2009 2010 Ryan D. Spall

Mckensie Crabtree

2011 2012 Andrea Heshelman

Benjamin Baker

2002 2003 Shirley A. Crenshaw

Elizabeth M. Farmer

2007 2008 Kelley Hollander

Lauren Boyer

2009 2010 Alex D. White

Jordan Kanter

2011 2012 Elayna Dorsey

Jessica Sigmon

Mark Kniese Scholarship In 1977, four games into the University of Evansville’s

2009 David A. Koehler Sr. Scholarship recipient, Makenzi Alsip, with David Koehler Jr., Nancy Koehler, and Dr. Vince Bertram.

2010

2011

Fund for Community Development in Vanderburgh County

Scott Wylie becomes Foundation Director

2010 26

Fund for Health in Vanderburgh County

2011

Evansville Dance Theatre Fund

David A. Koehler Sr. Scholarship

2004

After graduating from the old Central High School, David Koehler Sr. returned to the school after earning a degree from the University of Evansville. Koehler taught government and social studies at his alma mater for 31 years, and his wife Peggy noted that teaching was more than a job to him: It was an opportunity to educate future leaders. After Koehler passed away in 1993, his family established a scholarship to honor his commitment to Central High School and dedication to service-oriented high school seniors at Central.

2005

2006 2007

Logan D. Osborne, Central High School

Audrey Nix

Patrick K. Reddington, Central High School

Molly Quanty

Phillip Riggs, North High School

2007

Nicolas Rich, Reitz Memorial High School

2008

Megan Reynolds, Reitz Memorial High School

2009

Max Bowling, North High School

Makenzi L. Alsip

2011

2010 2011

Alyssa Slater

2006

2010

2008 2009

Joe Tolen

Gregory Cox, North High School

Trevor Mullen, North High School

Stephanie Waller

2012

Sean Stone, Harrison High School

Christopher Neidig

1999

Jason M. Reddington, Central High School

Left to right: Allison Comstock, VCF Board President 200506; County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave; 2006 Rease Henry McDaniel Memorial Scholarship recipient, Carlin Brooks; and Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

2000

Wendy J. Kramer, Harrison High School

2001

Jeffrey L. Overton, North High School

Rease Henry McDaniel Memorial Scholarship

2003

The Rease Henry McDaniel Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Rease Henry McDaniel, a 1985

Alex Abbott, North High School

2012

Rotaract of Evansville Fund

Wades Wings Fund

2012

Knight Township Fire Department Fund

2012

Franklin Fund for the Vanderburgh Humane Society

Community Scholarships graduate of Harrison High School, who passed away in 1986 after a courageous battle against cancer during his four years of high school. This award is given to a senior at Harrison High School who has or has had cancer, a physical handicap, or a serious medical problem.

2008

1999 2000

2012

2001 2002

Dorothy Rapp Music Scholarship

2003 2004

Those who knew Dorothy Rapp, an Iowa native and music lover, said her sweet soprano sounded like the voice of an angel when she sang in the choir at First Baptist Church. The former University of Evansville vocal music professor spent her life sharing her passions for music and religion, and after she passed away, her husband Bob — also a singer and UE music professor — established a scholarship in her name. The Dorothy Rapp Music Scholarship is awarded to a student devoted to pursuing education, developing musical skills, and furthering church music.

Sandra L. Mills

Patricia C. Clayton

Carrie L. Solomon Kevin A. McFadden

2005

2006

Aaron M. Stoltz

Carlin Brooks

2007 2008 Brandon Wilson

Carter L. Cowen

2009 2010 Alexa L. Hendrickson

Ashley Lohman

2011 2012 Sara Tilley

2011 Cecelia Oxford, Heritage Hills High School Cecelia Oxford, Heritage Hills High School

Chad D. Horrell

Joseph D. Haug

Kasey L. Wright, Perry Central High School

Trevor Scarlett

2001

Adam C. Lauer, Francis Joseph Reitz High School Jeremy D. Buente, Harrison High School

Melba Jean Racener From the beginning of her 80 years of life, Melba Jean Racener was known for her pioneering spirit. The Evansville woman was just 16 when she earned her pilot’s license, and when her father let her fly his plane alone for the first time, her mother fainted. Another of her accomplishments was leading the Racener Advertising Company for 40 years and serving as the first female president of the Advertising Club of Evansville. Through her will, she established a scholarship to support third-year college students majoring in advertising, marketing, communications, or a related field. The scholarship, awarded to a student from one of nine Southwest Indiana counties, may be renewed for the senior year if the student demonstrates continued success.

2012

2002

Kimberly Bloss, Hebron Elementary School

2004

Mitchell G. Farmer, Francis Joseph Reitz High School

2005, 2008-2010

Rebecca L. Lauer, Francis Joseph Reitz High School

2011

Jessika Reitz, Central High School

2012 Noah Farmer, Indiana University

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Scholarship The Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Scholarship fund was established by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Jus-

Juvenile Guidance Foundation Fund

2012

Zygmunt Family Fund

tice Randall T. Shepard as an annual award for a senior at Harrison High School who demonstrates the greatest potential for leadership in public affairs and contributions to the community.

2002 2003 Lilliane E. Smothers

William M. Krowl

2004 2005 Matthew R. Stoltz

Morgan W. Stankey

2006 2007 Candace Deisher

Andrew Brinkman

2008 2009 Lauren Diaz

Katelyn Clevidence

2010 2011 Michael Forston

Alaina Cope

2012

Rachel Guthery

High School Hockey Association Academic All-State Award, honoring his excellence in the classroom and on the ice. Voted “most photogenic” by high school classmates, Walls was an incoming junior and mechanical engineering student at Purdue University when he died in August 2007. To honor his memory, Walls’ family, friends, teammates, and many community members contributed to a scholarship fund through the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who participate in the Evansville Youth Hockey Association and rank in the top 20 percent of their class.

2009

Daniel J. Kissel, Harrison High School

2010

Tyler Wargel, Mater Dei High School

2011

Peter Fink, Mount Vernon Senior High School

2012

Thomas Graver, Mater Dei High School

Jeremy Weil Memorial Art Scholarship

The first recipient of the Thomas F. Walls Youth Hockey Scholarship, Daniel Kissel (center), was named in 2009, shown here with fund founder, LeeAnn Wambach and Dr. Vince Bertram, EVSC superintendent.

Thomas F. Walls Youth Hockey Scholarship In 1993, a 6-year-old Thomas Walls began playing hockey, a sport he grew to love. The Evansville boy joined a local travel program and helped start Evansville’s high school hockey league in 2002. At Walls’ final state tournament in 2005, the North High School student received the Indiana

The Jeremy Weil Memorial Art Scholarship was created by Mark and Deborah Weil in memory of their son, Jeremy. From an early age, Jeremy Weil excelled in art. His early drawings were cartoons. Jeremy used pastel charcoals and loved photography and pottery. He entered the University of Southern Indiana to study art. While visiting Florida with friends, Jeremy died in an accidental drowning. The scholarship is awarded to a Vanderburgh County high school senior who has completed a minimum of three years of high school art classes and plans to enroll in additional art training.

2002

Nathan S. Margoni, St. Joseph High School

2003

Elizabeth A. Schmuhl, St. Joseph High School

Community Scholarships 2005

Caroline R. Pogue, Central High School

2006

Amy Bittner, North High School

2007

Craig Coursey, Francis Joseph Reitz High School

2008

William Wasserman, Evansville Day School

Lois and Betsy Hamburg University of Evansville Scholarship A scholarship fund established through the estate plan of Lois E. Hamburg to benefit worthy and needy students attending the University of Evansville.

2012

Samuel Cartwright, University of Evansville

2009

Lois and Betsy Hamburg University of Southern Indiana Scholarship

2010

A scholarship fund established through the estate plan of Lois E. Hamburg to benefit worthy and needy students attending the University of Southern Indiana.

Sarah M. Szczepanski, Signature School David Levine, Signature School

2011

Lauren Longest, North High School

2012

Jacob Ahlbrand, Central High School

Robert T. “Bubba” Jochum Memorial Scholarship A scholarship fund established by Leroy and Marilyn Jochum in honor of their son Robert Thomas “Bubba” Jochum. Bubba was born March 20, 1967, at Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. He graduated from F.J. Reitz High School in 1985. Bubba was an athlete and a great friend. He played football at Reitz and played baseball at German Township. He married Mindy LutzJochum in 2002. Bubba worked for several years at the Boys and Girls Club of Evansville and at Ferro Plastics. He was a terrific uncle, brother and son. Bubba died in December 2003 due to complications from surgery. This scholarship recognizes Bubba’s interest in the welfare of children and the diverse ways students can use college studies to improve the lives of children.

2011

Chanice Young, Reitz High School

2012

Chanice Young, Reitz High School

2012

Lauren Brown, Reitz High School

Legacy Scholarship Annual scholarship created in 2010 by parents of students who were awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

2012

Lauren Brown, Reitz High School

Spirit of Giving Richard and Rita Eykamp were the first

recipients of the Spirit of Giving award in 2007.

Richard Eykamp is chairman of Mid-States Rubber Products; Rita serves as its treasurer. Together, their commitment to the Evansville community has included contributions to the University of Evansville, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Buffalo Trace Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, and numerous other organizations.

SPIRIT OF GIVING 2008 Young Giver Award: Meagan Meadors

As a high school student, Meadors volunteered at Mesker Park Zoo and organized a Halloween event at the Reitz Home Museum. Meadors still sits on the education committee at the Reitz Home. She also assisted Tales and Scales with the organization and execution of their summer camp, and she participated in numerous philanthropic efforts through her sorority, Chi Omega, at the University of Evansville.

Silent Philanthropist Award: James McCarty Sr.

McCarty has impacted the areas of youth and education through the Bosse CARES program, which aids students in their search for satisfying careers. His vision was to grow the CARES network beyond Bosse until career services were available to students across the EVSC school district.

SPIRIT OF GIVING 2009 Children’s Philanthropist Award: Terry Huber As an advocate and leader for the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention program at the Lampion Center. Huber was the catalyst for funding the project and volunteered to be trained as a facilitator. Due to the momentum he has built, our community now has over 500 adults trained in child sex abuse prevention.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award: Ted C. Ziemer Jr. As a leader at the

University of Southern Indiana is credited with the success of USI’s first capital campaign. With a goal to raise $10.5 million dollars, USI received gifts and pledges of over $18 million. Ziemer also has headed successful fundraising efforts for the Daughters of Charity, St. Mary’s Medical Center, and Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

SPIRIT OF GIVING 2010 Roll Up Your Sleeves Award: Mary “Cookie” Smith As a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, Patchwork Central, and other nonprofit organizations. Smith has worked on numerous Habitat builds and raised money for a Habitat house, serves as a mentor for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, and teaches children about healthy living through Patchwork’s clinic, food pantry, and after-school program.

Community Impact Award: The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville

For revitalizing the Bellemeade Park area and renovating the neighborhood baseball field. The club, which provides safe, positive activities for children after school and during the summer, formed partnerships to renovate the ball field with the goal of launching a neighborhood baseball/softball program for some of the community’s most at-risk youth.

Breaking the Cycle Grant: Habitat for Humanity received a one-time, $20,000 grant as part of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation’s commitment to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. The grant was awarded for The Missing Piece, a collaboration of Habitat, Aurora, and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation to assist the Glenwood Community Development Initiative. The objective is threefold: to create affordable, sustained, and decent housing; to decrease transient rates among neighborhood residents; and to increase the percentage of students in the Glenwood neighborhood who graduate from an EVSC school prepared to enter and complete post-secondary education.

SPIRIT OF GIVING 2011 Dare to Dream Award: Robert Koch II

As an advocate for education, Koch has been instrumental in establishing and ensuring the excellence of Signature School in downtown Evansville. Regularly named one of the top high schools in the nation, this dream is brightening the lives of hundreds of students each year.

Jacobsville Impact Award: Rev. Joseph Easley

As a leader in the movement to rejuvenate the Jacobsville neighborhood, Rev. Easley has been a catalyst of change for both the physical and spiritual needs of one of Evansville’s poorest areas.

123 NW 4th Street, Suite 220 Evansville, IN 47708 Phone: (812) 422-1245 | Fax: (812) 429-0840