Students Interview for Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

Ten Top Honor students were recently interviewed for Noble County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Noble County.

Selection of the students was based on their applications submitted in September to the community foundation which were reviewed by a panel of judges representing the central, east and west part of Noble County.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides four years of full-tuition and required fees awarded to one well-rounded high school senior who resides in Noble County, that will receive a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school by the end of June 2018, and will pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an accredited public or private college or university in Indiana. Community Foundation of Noble County also requires community service, volunteerism, extra-curricular activities, leadership roles and honors and awards and at least a 3.80 high school grade point average.

Students interviewed were: Delaney Andrews – Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Zachery Brazel  – Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Adam Dills – East Noble High School, Madelyn Fortman – East Noble High School, Erika Maneke – Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Reginald Parker – Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Sahil Patel – East Noble High School, Paige Skinner – Central Noble High School, Nathan Walz – Concordia Lutheran High School and Kyra Warren – East Noble High School

Names of the top candidate and two alternates will be submitted for final selection approval to Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc. ICI is a nonprofit organization that represents 31 regionally accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships are the result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education, according to the community foundation. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree. A total of 143 Lilly scholarships are awarded statewide.

The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Noble County recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will be announced in early December 2017.

Other finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Community Foundation of Noble County.Pictured seated from left are: Madelyn Fortman, Kyra Warren, Paige Skinner, Erika Maneke, Delaney Andrews. Standing from left: Sahil Patel, Adam Dills, Reginald Parker, Nathan Walz, Zachery Brazel.

Drug Free Noble County Awarded Grant

For Immediate Release

In 2016, former Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller seeded the creation of a statewide network of Indiana foundations with a $500,000 matching grant from Indiana’s Consumer Protection Education Fund. These foundations collectively matched $500,000 by December 31, 2016. This network was named the Indiana Network for the Prevention and Treatment of Opioid Addiction (INPTOA). The INPTOA’s purpose is to provide single county and multi-county collaborative grants to assess, prevent, and treat opioid addiction, and provide community financial support for housing, employment, monitoring, and counseling. Their priority is placed on awarding grants to underserved areas of Indiana and for innovative approaches to addiction. This network was found necessary because opioid abuse and addiction is a nationwide epidemic and Indiana is one of the most affected states.

On July 28, 2017, the INPTOA awarded sub-grants to the following foundations:

  • Community Foundation of Elkhart County
  • Community Foundation of Noble County
  • Community Health Network Foundation
  • Healthcare Foundation of La Porte
  • K21 Health Foundation
  • The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne
  • The Lutheran Foundation

After the Lutheran Foundation secured funding for the region, the Community Foundation of Noble County made a proactive matching grant that will bring a $50,000 investment back to Drug Free Noble County.

Drug Free Noble County will use the funding to design and implement programming that will assess, prevent, and treat OPIOD addiction.  In addition, support for housing, employment, monitoring and counseling for those in recovery will be available.

According to the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, drug overdoses overtook the number of motor vehicle deaths in 2008.  In addition, opioid use disorder resulted in $31.9 million for nonfatal ER visits, and drug overdose fatalities cost $1.4 billion (including medical costs and lost lifetime earnings for victims).  The Community Foundation of Noble County is pleased to support this important work in our community.

 

Jenna Ott Named as New Executive Director

Ligonier – The board of directors of the Community Foundation of Noble County have announced a new executive director.  Jenna Ott of Albion will take over the daily oversight of the organization.

Ott is a graduate of Churubusco High School and a long-time resident of Noble County.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Manchester University, and she completed her MBA at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.

For nearly nine years, Ott has worked as a Program Officer at the Dekko Foundation where she manages a portfolio of grants and mentors a youth philanthropy leadership team.  Before coming to the Dekko Foundation, Ott worked in development for the Community Foundation of Whitley County, and she spent time in fund development at LEAP of Noble County.

Ott will replace interim executive director, Mark Demske.  Demske was appointed in March 2017 after the unexpected passing of Linda Speakman-Yerick, who served as the executive director since late 2008.  Demkse will resume his duties as a member of the community foundation’s board of directors and its committees.

In announcing the news, Rebecca Schroeder, Vice President of the board of directors stated “We are very grateful Mark stepped up to take on the role to serve the community foundation and help with the transition during the difficult time of Linda’s passing. Through Demske’s efforts, the community foundation has been able to thrive during the transition, allowing the organization’s good work to continue to impact Noble County for the better.”

Ott and husband Mike live in Albion with their three children, Warner, Weston and Delaney. Outside of work, Ott prefers to spend her time with family and friends, and is active in her home parish of Immaculate Conception Ege.  She is a busy 4-H mom and loves attending various sporting events as her children’s biggest fan.  Ott stated “I am honored to have been chosen for this important role in our community.  Community foundations are uniquely positioned to help ensure the success of our county for the future, and I am excited to be part of an organization that will impact Noble County residents for generations to come.”

Ott will begin her duties at the community foundation on July 19.  A welcome reception will be held at a later date.

“Donor Stories” Part 4 is Out

Our new “Donor Stories” Video is out!

“Have people come together as a community, like a community should be, like a family, and have that one love and that one passion to make everyone’s life better.”

Part 4 of 4 from our brand-new video series, “Donor Stories.”

Featuring Kellie Waring, former president of PULSE.

“Donor Stories” Part 3 is Out

Our new “Donor Stories” Video is out!

“Make the community and county a better place to live and raise your family. Bottom line, that is what it is all about.”

Part 3 of 4 from our brand-new video series, “Donor Stories.”

Featuring John Riemke, former board member and Mayor of Kendallville.

“Donor Stories” Part 2 is Out

Our new “Donor Stories” Video is out!

“In big and small ways we can help small groups and small ideas that are in our community – we can help make big things happen.”

Part 2 of 4 from our brand-new video series, “Donor Stories.”

Featuring Nancy Shambaugh, former board member.

“Donor Stories” Part 1 is Out!

Our new “Donor Stories” Video is out!

“I think as we recognize young people as the future of this country, it’s very encouraging to be connected with that type of scholarship fund that’s going to help them grow into the type of people that they really hope to be.”

Part 1 of 4 from our brand-new video series, “Donor Stories.”

Featuring George Bennett, former board president.

2017 College Scholarship Winners Announced

The Community Foundation of Noble County recently awarded a total of $126,000 in scholarships during the 2016-2017 scholarship season to area high school and college students including college student Christina Coats of Ligonier, who received the Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students who previously received a one-year or two-year scholarship administered by the Community Foundation of Noble County.  Coats was also the recipient of the Noble County Retired Teachers’ Association Scholarship awarded to a resident of the West Noble School District who will have a high school diploma or equivalent by the end of June 2017 and will be enrolled in a certified 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-year Indiana post -high-school program (the award is given in alphabetical rotational distribution among the three school corporations of Noble County.) Coats a, 2015 West Noble High School graduate, is Secondary Mathematics Education/Dance at Anderson University.

Lynsee Devers a 2016 graduate of East Noble High School was also a recipient of the 2017 Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award and the Nathan Shumaker Memorial Scholarship awarded to students in the second or subsequent year of college who received some or all of K-12 schooling through home school or a Christian School. Shumaker was an East Noble High School sophomore and member of the East Noble Car Team at the time of his death in 2005. Nathanial Scott Shumaker was 16 when he died in an automobile accident on U.S. 6 in Wawaka Friday, Sept. 30, 2005. Devers is studying Music Therapy at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Alyssa Yoquelet a 2016 graduate of East Noble High School was also the recipient of the Oliver and Eleanor Ellenbecker Previous Award Winner scholarship and the Paul Pelikan Memorial Scholarship awarded to a student who has demonstrated great effort to achieve and overcome adversity with preference given to educationally challenged students.  Yoquelet is studying Christian Education/Biblical Literature at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Maggie Kitt received the Tony and Gertrude Kichler Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded to a high school senior or college student who resides in Green or Noble Townships who is pursuing a college education in music, medicine or religion. Kitt, a 2014 Churubusco High School graduate,  is studying biochemistry at the University of Evansville.
Daniel Kane a 2016 East Noble High School graduate is the recipient of the 2017 Talia Joy Smith Performing Arts Scholarship.  This scholarship is for an East Noble High School senior, or previous East Noble High School graduate or new or current student at New York University in the Musical Theatre Program who is pursuing a four-year performing arts degree majoring in either vocal performance or musical theater in the fall of 2017.  All applicants must have a cumulative GPA in high school (or college) of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.  Preference is given to persons graduating in 2017 from East Noble High School.

The Community Foundation of Noble County is home to a variety of scholarships for college, adult and high school seniors. The 2018 application for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship will be offered online in July 2017 for one well-rounded high school senior who resides in Noble County, that will receive a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school by the end of June 2018, and will pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an accredited public or private college or university in Indiana.  High school seniors should check back with the community foundation regarding specific criteria requirements. Deadline for this scholarship application will be September 6, 2017. All other scholarships offered through the community foundation will be available online at the foundation’s website www.CFNoble.org  in mid-November 2017.

2016 Annual Meeting Held May 24, 2017

The board of directors of the Community Foundation of Noble County held its Annual Meeting to celebrate the year 2016 at the Kendallville Event Center on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

CHECK OUT THE EVENT PHOTOS HERE

Approximately 130 invited guests including donors, fund representatives, volunteers, and grantees attended the luncheon.  The luncheon theme “Cheers to a Terrific Year” was used as a tribute that best describes the community foundation’s late executive director, Linda Speakman-Yerick, who passed away on March 16. Guests were asked to raise a “Linda Paddle”, an image of Linda placed on a wood stick, every time the word “terrific” was used.

Mark Demske, Interim Executive Director welcomed the group stating “Noble County is a tremendously generous county, evidenced by our success. Just last year we celebrated with assets of $27.5 million dollars….in 2016 we ended our year with assets of $28.3 with 182 funds.  An Increase of $830,000. Terrific!” Demske stated “In 2016 the community foundation receipted over 645 gifts totaling $1,103,063! Terrific! We have been busy! Just last year, in 2016, the community foundation distributed 373 grants and scholarships of approximately $1,248,649 back to Noble County! Terrific!”
The community foundation got a new name and a new logo in 2016! Now known as The Community Foundation of Noble County and with the name change, it was decided it was time to update the logo.

Demske stated “Inside the outline of our county are 3 leaves.  The leaves stand for:

  1. Catalyst for positive change to put the right people around the table to solve the tough issues that face our county. 2. Serve as a vehicle for donors to give through and align their passions with causes that will positively benefit Noble County. 3.  Serve as a grant maker to the community to empower our nonprofit organizations and various agencies to make a difference and promote a better quality of life in Noble County.”

 

Demske continued with “It’s our donors that wish to leave a legacy to support their organization that has great meaning and someone they are very passionate about. That’s why they give and the one thing we continue to hear over and over is they love knowing their gift will last forever…in perpetuity and continue to make an impact for those organizations they love.”

 

In 2016 the community foundation created three new funds. The Cromwell High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, Dave and Barb Thomas Fund, West Noble After School Program Fund.

                                                                                                                                                     

Jarrod Ramer, President of the Board of Directors, who has served the last two years as the board president stated “It has been a privilege and honor to have served as president of the foundation. Even when times were lean we continued to have successes to celebrate each year and this year is no different. The community foundation was successful in 2016 in receiving accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.”
Recognition of outgoing Community Foundation of Noble County board members was given to Jolene Durham of Ligonier and Rick Zollars of Kendallville, whose terms have ended. Other board officers and members included

President – Jarrod Ramer, Vice-President – Rebecca Schroeder, Secretary/Treasurer – Barb Thomas

Member at Large – Chuck Wysong, Leigh Ann Pranger, Josh Munson, Dr. Craig M. Lichlyter, Mark Demske, Robert C. Probst, Deborah L. Spidel, Dick Owen, Chris Mershman, Barb Thomas. The supporting organization of the community foundation, Community Initiatives Board are: Dr. Greg Johnson President, Deborah L. Spidel, Debra Hockley, Nancy Egolf, Jane Doyle –  Secretary/Treasurer, Joseph Atz –  Vice President, Robert Kirsch, Curt Gierhan, Marge Kavanaugh, Bill Emmert, Dan Parker and Chris Mershman. The Community Initiatives Board is the grantmaking arm of the community foundation awarding grants to community projects.
The family of Linda Speakman-Yerick joined the annual meeting including her widower John Yerick and daughter Jessica Gromaski. Ramer presented them with the Resolution of Honor and Appreciation in Memory of Linda.

 

Recognition of Noble County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar was given to Kellie Waring who attended along with her mother, Deb. Kellie is a 2017 West Noble High School senior and will be studying Dentistry at IUPUI.

 

In lieu of the “Giver of Gifts” program where the community foundation recognized those special non-profit volunteers in our community that make a difference, the community foundation offered recognition to the Volunteers of the Year, Youth in Philanthropy, Outstanding Board Leadership and Philanthropist of the Year Awards. The community was asked to submit their nominations in early spring. With each Award, the recipient will have the opportunity to award a grant in their honor to their favorite charity.  The Board of Directors and P.U.L.S.E. of Noble County graciously donated the funds to help keep this Circle of Philanthropy continuing.

 

Youth in Philanthropy Award was awarded to West Noble Primary 1st Grade Secret Agents of Kindness

Each 1st grade classroom at West Noble Primary chooses at least one random act of kindness to complete during the school year.  In addition to that, every month the entire 1st grade completes monthly kindness missions within our school or community.  These “Kindness Missions” range from hosting community meetings, to leaving encouraging notes on the lockers of high school students.  The mission of the program is to build a kindred spirit in the community by teaching the students the joys of acting in kindness and compassion that leave our school corporation and our neighborhood a safe and loving place to learn and grow.

 

Three individuals were awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Nicole Lowe – Friendship Food Pantry

Nicole has volunteered at Friendship Food Pantry for 2 years.  Nicole has eagerly learned about the new direction of the pantry of helping our neighbors without hurting them.  She strongly supported the concept of helping our neighbors identify their own gifts, skills and abilities while developing opportunities for those assets to be used in leading our neighbors to greater levels of economic freedom and empowering them to independence.

Thank you Nicole!

 

Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Scott Cole – Town of Albion

Scott has an energetic “can do” attitude for the community.  Scott is a real leader in the Albion community and an inspiration to others who volunteer.  Scott has volunteered to help with activities for the Albion Chamber, the Chain O’Lakes Festival, the Albion STAR Team and numerous others.  Thank you Scott!

 

Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Timothy Tew – Kendallville Public Library

Tim has volunteered at the Library for the last 5 years and started the Minecraft group at the Library.  For those of you who do not know, Minecraft is more than just a video game.  By bringing this to the Library, Tim has created a foundation from which youth can gain valuable abstract thinking and problem solving skills.  It helps them create goals and establish a plan to achieve those goals.  Tim has been a role model for the kids who play the game.  Tim’s gift of time and talents has also opened the door for other volunteers at the library.  Other students see his accomplishments, and want to know how they can get involved with volunteering, too.

Thank you Tim!

 

Three individuals received the Outstanding Board Leadership Awards.

Rev. Curryanne Hostetler – Common Grace Ministries

Curryanne accepted the Board Chair position in 2013 just as the organization was beginning the process of organizational restructuring.  With her help, in December 2016, the organization hosted a workshop that attracted participants from five counties and multiple non-profits, churches, schools, and others to learn how to help our neighbors without inadvertently hurting them.  This movement has continued to attract attention and other organizations are also moving in this direction which has the potential to change lives throughout Noble County.  Thank you Rev. Curryanne!

 

Kemuel Prince – Kendallville Public Library

Kemuel has served on the Library Board of Trustees for 6 years, a majority of the time as President.  His reason for being on the Board was “to find a way to serve the community that has provided such a great place to raise a family.”  His experience with finance and project management made the construction process of the library’s Lower Level smooth, even though the library was without a director for most of the project.  Kemuel’s leadership in choosing the director will have a lasting impact on the library and the entire community.  Thank you Kemuel!

 

Sharon Leitch – Chain O’ Lakes Festival and Albion Chamber of Commerce

At 75 years young, nothing stops this gal!  Sharon has been a giver and volunteer for longer than many of us have been alive.  Sharon keeps others on track with the many projects that are going on concurrently. She is the Treasurer for both the Chain O’ Lake Festival and the Albion Chamber of Commerce.  Sharon makes a real difference in our community.  Thank you Sharon!

 

Philanthropist of the Year Award was awarded to David and Marjorie Kile of Kendallville.

Long time residents of Noble County, David and Marjorie Kile have dedicated their lives to making a difference, and giving back. As a retired teacher, Marjorie has seen first hand the difference a scholarship can make when awarded to a student in search of higher learning, regardless of age. David and Marjorie know that as a traditional or non-traditional student, access to higher education can be difficult. Thanks to the generosity of the Kile’s, this new fund is an opportunity for both traditional students and non-traditional students to pursue their dream.  Thank you David and Marjorie!

 

Demske concluded the meeting with thanking the board for their support while serving as Interim and especially thank the staff.  “Trust me, I have needed them far more than they have needed me!  On behalf of the board of directors we will strive to improve the quality of life by serving as a catalyst for positive change and helping donors with their charitable intent and addressing issues throughout the county with our grants.”

 

The community foundation’s annual report is available on its website www.CFNoble.org

The 2016 Annual Report is Out!

We are pleased to release our Annual Report for 2016! Take a look!

Click Here To Read