Pictured, from left, are Kosciusko County Community Foundation Secretary Jane Wear, 2023 Heart of Gold Award recipient and Kosciusko County Special Olympics Coordinator Becky Walls, and KCCF CEO Stephanie Overbey.

Text and Photos
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — The impact of donations to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation was the focus of KCCF’s annual celebration luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Winona Heritage Room.

During the luncheon, KCCF presented a video about Elizabeth Frantz, a Kosciusko County resident who joined Project Independence at Combined Community Services during a difficult time in her life.

In 2023, a Community Fund grant from KCCF allowed CCS to support over 40 individuals on their journeys out of poverty through the Project Independence and Hand-Up self-sufficiency programs.

The first six years of Frantz’s life were spent in shelters, with Frantz dealing with abuse in her childhood. Frantz was placed in foster care, where she was told pretty often she was not loved.

At the age of nine, Frantz was adopted and began living in Warsaw. However, at the age of 17, Frantz began using unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs and alcohol to cope with the abuse she dealt with in her childhood.

Frantz ended up in an abusive marriage and sought out assistance after becoming pregnant with her daughter by calling 211, which directed her to CCS.

Frantz graduated from Project Independence in May, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science degree with a major in human services from Grace College. She now works full-time at Wetzel Insurance Agency.

“I saw Elizabeth, when she came into CCS for that first time, she had so much self-doubt, but I’ve watched her thrive and grow as a mother and individual,” said Sabrina Phillips, director of self-sufficiency at CCS. “It was so amazing to see how far she has come.”

“Ten years ago, this was never going to be my life,” said Frantz. “I felt like such a worthless person then. God has shown me over and over how people care. To think the first six years of my life were horrible (and my child’s) were such a blessing…I couldn’t have done that without everyone’s help.”

Also during the luncheon, Becky Walls, the Kosciusko County coordinator for Special Olympics, received the 2023 Heart of Gold Award. Walls received a Heart of Gold pin, certificate, and a $3,000 grant to recommend be donated to an area non-profit of her choice.

Walls has served Special Olympics for nearly 25 years and coordinates over 80 athletes.

“Most do not see the long nights, the miles of driving, the amount of money she spends out of her own pocket, the number of meals she picks up for events, the endless phone calls…the list is endless,” said a letter submitted by an individual who nominated Walls for the award. “The amount of dedication Becky shows is tremendous. Becky is truly a beautiful person inside and out.”

For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, $4.7 million in grants were awarded and nearly $797,000 in scholarships were awarded to 209 students. Donors gave $8.6 million and created 14 new funds. KCCF has awarded over $55 million in grants since its inception.

In 2023, KCCF also awarded $100,000 in Go Forward! grants to seven towns in Kosciusko County for improvements.

The towns which received funds for projects include:

• Claypool: updated emergency response system – $10,000
• Etna Green: Heritage Park enhancements – $18,750
• Leesburg: preservation of town history – $5,000
• Mentone: revitalization of Mentzer Memorial Park – $18,750
• Milford: Waubee Lake trail – $18,750
• North Webster: connector trail to Wawasee Middle School – $18,750
• Pierceton: new tennis and pickleball courts – $10,000

Retiring KCCF board members Kevin Deardorff, Ron Baumgartner, Jennifer Hollar, Jon Roberts, and Christine Sands were also honored at the luncheon for their years of service to the foundation.

Those leading the foundation in 2024 include Josh Gordon, president; Steve Yeager, vice-president; Jane Wear, secretary; Jefferson Hankins, treasurer; and Stephanie Overbey, CEO.

KCCF’s goals for the future include a focus on helping the community meet needs in childcare, workforce housing and job training. In 2024, KCCF will further connections with Habitat for Humanity to develop affordable housing for residents and will ask the community for assistance in growing KCCF’s community endowment funds.