The Kosciusko County Community Foundation celebrated its 2012 annual meeting today with more than 100 foundation friends at the Atwood Community Center.

Foundation Executive Director, Suzie Light, welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed the importance of the Atwood community to the Foundation’s history.  Light said that the Community Foundation received gifts designated for the community building back in 1970 when Creighton Brothers challenged the Atwood Lions Club to raise dollars to match Creighton Brothers’ $10,000 gift toward the building project.

Light also noted the importance of Atwood Aldersgate United Methodist Church in maintaining the community building by creating an endowment fund at the foundation for the building’s ongoing maintenance.

The foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund, which helps local families in a medical crisis, was started by Ethel Vandermark, who attended the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Atwood.

Foundation Board President, Jerry Yeager, shared some highlights of the foundation’s most recently completed fiscal year, including:
Over $1.8 million in grants were awarded from all funds.

Of those grants $386,000 were in scholarships to nearly 200 area students.

Financial assistance from funds at the Community Foundation that help people facing a medical crisis totaled nearly  $240,000.

Over $20,000 in educational grants were made at the recommendation of our youth philanthropy group, KEYS.

Nearly $75,000 in grants were made possible by Kosciusko REMC members who rounded up their monthly electric bills to benefit projects funded through the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up Fund held at the Community Foundation.

51 individuals were recognized for their service to others at our annual Heart of Gold reception.

230 volunteers helped the foundation fulfill its mission to make donor dreams shine for the good of our community, and

100 percent of the foundation’s board members and staff financially supported the Community Foundation.

Foundation Governance Chair, Rob Parker, presented the Slate of Officers for election including: President, Jerry Yeager; Vice President, Jim McFadden; Secretary, Mindy Truex; Treasurer, Alan Alderfer; and Executive Director, Suzie Light. The slate was unanimously approved.

New board members Sally Mahnken, Steve Snider and John Warren were recognized and retiring board members Marsha Cook, Rita Price Simpson and Rita Schobert Snyder were honored for their service.

Foundation Development Director, Brenda Rigdon, and Development Committee member, Jeannie Ross, presented pins to professional advisors in attendance who had helped their clients make charitable gifts through the Community Foundation. Those advisors present included Alan Alderfer, Mike Bergen, Neal Carlson, Bob Gephart, Becky Hillyard, Jeanine Knowles, and Jerry Yeager. Many other advisors were recognized in the foundation’s annual report.

Kosciusko County Commissioner Ron Truex presented a proclamation to the Community Foundation recognizing Nov. 8, 2012, as Kosciusko County Community Foundation Day “in celebration of the achievements of the Community Foundation in demonstrating excellence as evidenced by achieving the rigorous National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.”

Light ended the annual meeting by presenting each guest with a “Gift that Gives” certificate they could use to designate a foundation grant to the foundation endowment fund of their choice.

Since 1968, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of the community. The Community Foundation is a public charity, and gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

For more information about the Community Foundation, visit www.kcfoundation.org, call 574-267-1901, or visit the office at 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.