Twenty-fifth Anniversary: Growing the Foundation for our Future Annual Report 2017 Table of Contents 6 Letter from the President 8 25th Anniversary Grant Program 9 A Foundation for the Wabash Valley 16 Grants Mission 22 Scholarships The mission of the Wabash Valley Wabash Valley Community Foundation Timeline 24 Community Foundation is to 30 The Foundation for our Future engage people, build resources 31 Ways to Help and strengthen community in 32 Funds the Wabash Valley. 36 Donors 43 The Legacy Society 44 Memorials and Honorariums 45 Financials Vision 48 People The Wabash Valley Community 50 Committees Foundation will be the primary 51 Volunteers Growing the Foundation for our Future steward of endowed funds and a leader that encourages broad- based charitable activity in the Wabash Valley. Don Springman, Sally Lowery and Ed Jukes were the original members of the Community Chest who helped form the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. Sharon Nicoson, daughter of Delmar and Betty Jones, and her husband, Steve, chat with then Community Foundation board President, Fred Nation, at the Power of Endowment Luncheon in 2013. During the production of this 2017 Annual Report, Sharon passed away. She was a founding board member and great advocate for the Community Foundation. For the past 25 years, our role at the Wabash Valley Community Foundation has been to serve you – individuals, families, businesses and organizations – by helping you achieve your philanthropic goals and amplify your impact in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties. It is thanks to your willingness to improve the quality of life in our communities that we’ve spent the past quarter century working together to grow the Foundation for our Future. Since our formation, we have proudly assisted over 9,500 donors ranging from individuals to multi-generational families and small businesses to large corporations. No matter when, how or why you chose to give, know that your gift continues to make a difference in the lives of Wabash Valley residents. Thank you for making the most of your charitable giving by selecting the Community Foundation to serve as your partner in philanthropy. We look forward to working with you over the next quarter century and beyond! Introduction 3 “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago…” - Warren Buffet We couldn’t wait for summer! It meant that cousins would visit their grandparents and that meant lots of softball in their big yard. After a few hours of “slugging away,” my great aunt would carry Kool-Aid and cookies to the picnic table under a big shade tree. Long after the pitcher was empty, the sprawling canopy of leaves from that tree made for good rest and exaggerated stories about that last home run. I drove past that yard this fall. The new residents have a table and a bright red-and- yellow sandbox under the tree. Someone still sits in the shade of that tree that was nothing but a seedling at one time. To the many Clay, Sullivan and Vigo County residents who so selflessly made contributions to the Community Foundation, thank you for your generous gifts that will grow year after year to make a positive impact on the lives of those in our communities. Many of you took advantage of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s GIFT VI initiative that resulted in a $1-for-$1 match to the Community Foundation. 4 The additional permanently endowed $2 building resources and strengthening our million will enable us to grant more to the community." These five areas are: many agencies and projects that touch the lives of our fellow citizens, provide scholarships for • Collaborative Impact Project students, support the arts and enhance the • Awareness and Communication livability of our communities. • Fundraising and Asset Development • Staff Development Nearly $700,000 in scholarships were granted • Board Development last year. The investment earnings from our endowed funds provided over $926,000 in As we look back on our 25th anniversary, I grants to organizations and projects in our want to personally thank the many donors three counties. and supporters in our communities. I also want to recognize the members of the boards As stewards of your contributions, and of those of directors, our committee volunteers and made during the 25 years of the Community last, but certainly not least, the Community Foundation’s existence, your board of directors Foundation’s day-to-day strength – our oversees the management of your gifts by enthusiastic staff. working with a talented and dedicated staff. Our team, led by Executive Director Beth All of you plant and help “seedlings” grow Tevlin, worked to ensure that the Community that will continue to make “shade” for years Foundation was once again nationally to come in our Wabash Valley communities! accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. This achievement Thank you, signals that the Community Foundation is meeting rigorous standards for excellence in the philanthropic administration of its activities and management. H. Michael Lawson The boards of the three counties, community Board President volunteers and staff members worked diligently this past year to create a three-year Strategic Plan. This collaboration resulted in our dynamic plan that centers on five pivotal areas that contribute to the Community Foundation’s mission of “engaging people, A Letter from the President 5 Brazil Main Street Residents gather on the lawn of Brazil City Hall for a Brazil Main Street Movie Night. th anniversary grant program In 2017, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation celebrated 25 years of service. We are fortunate to have spent this past quarter century guiding the charitable efforts of community-minded individuals, as well as partnering with nonprofit agencies focused on improving the quality of life within our communities. The past 25 years of achievement is due to the great generosity of individuals, families and corporate donors. The gifts given to the Community Foundation were added to permanent and lasting endowment funds that have benefitted the community repeatedly in the past and will continue to do so in the future. To celebrate this milestone and say thank you to the Wabash Valley, the Community Foundation awarded twenty-five $1,000 anniversary grants weekly beginning July 7, 2017. More than 100 applications were received from nonprofit agencies in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties detailing how a gift of $1,000 could make a significant impact on those they serve. This 25-week endeavor benefitted youth, seniors, arts & culture, animals, environment, historical preservation and community improvements. 6 CLAY COUNTY PARKS ASSOCIATION Grants of $1,000 each were awarded used the grant to purchase a piece of to the following nonprofit organizations: playground equipment for Craig Park in Brazil, Indiana. THE SALVATION ARMY revitalized BRAZIL MAIN STREET secured a projector VIGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY the landscaping on the exterior of the and sound equipment in order to show digitized 2,000 feet of 16mm film of building on South 8th Street side. movies outdoors during the summer 1960s high school sporting events from LAUNCH TERRE HAUTE purchased months. Schulte, Garfield, Wiley, Gerstmeyer, podcast equipment and created a podcast Honey Creek and West Vigo. CAMP WABASHI used the gift to make the studio for the organization and members necessary repairs to a failing ice machine. WESTERN INDIANA COMMUNITY of the business community. ACTION AGENCY purchased two new CITY OF SULLIVAN PARK purchased two HUMANE SOCIETY OF SULLIVAN computers for the computer lab for clients dozen stackable chaise lounge chairs for COUNTY secured an endless hot water and families to have access to additional use around the pool. heater for the facility. services offered by the organization, FIRST FRIENDS PRESCHOOL replaced five as well as to resources available on the THE WILL CENTER purchased lighting 25-year-old play kitchens. internet. devices and bulbs for elderly, low-income WHITE VIOLET CENTER FOR ECO- consumers. KIDDIN AROUND GOAT CLUB purchased JUSTICE purchased a 3-bay sink for its the electrical and lighting supplies CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY commercial kitchen. needed for the goat barn expansion, and a installed an interurban rail at CENTER POINT & COMMUNITY show dryer for club use. Bicentennial Legacy Park. VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY replaced COMMUNITY THEATRE OF TERRE WABASH RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND 30-year-old tables and chairs frequently HAUTE put the $1,000 grant toward BEAUTIFICATION (RIVERSCAPE) used in fundraisers and at community renovations of the 20-year-old concession purchased materials for West Vigo events. area which had deteriorated from students to design and build a bicycle rack TERRE HAUTE WOMEN’S CLUB continued use. at Dewey Point. purchased wide-size shoes for kids in BROWNSTONE MANOR purchased a chest MEROM CAMP & RETREAT CENTER grades K-12. freezer for food donation storage, two used the grant to purchase new audio OUABACHE LAND CONSERVANCY patio umbrellas, bug lights and outside visual equipment to replace equipment developed and improved the trail system games to benefit residents. from the 1940s. at the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve. RURAL COMMUNITY ACADEMY SHELDON SWOPE ART MUSEUM, INC. SULLIVAN COUNTY AMERICAN INDIAN purchased new books for the library to purchased an additional freestanding COUNCIL, INC. purchased solar panel introduce new authors to grades K-8. room divider which will be used during the Annual Student Art Exhibition to kits and several LED lights to provide WABASH VALLEY HEALTH CENTER display the work of elementary artists. overhead lighting in the shelter house at obtained a capsule mixer, denture model Waapaahsiki Siipiiwi Mound. shaker and denture model holder for the dental clinic. A Foundation for the Wabash Valley The Wabash Valley Community Foundation and our affiliates, Clay County Community Foundation and Sullivan County Community Foundation, were formed because community-minded individuals had a vision for the Wabash Valley and worked diligently to make that vision a reality.