Pike County School Corporation recently received a $1,000 grant from the Pike County Community Foundation through the Pike Gives Grant Program to benefit Pike Central High School’s Media Center. The Pike Gives Grant Program allows Pike County Community Foundation advisory board members to recommend $1,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by Carla Willis to assist with repairs to the Pike Central High School Library and for the purchase of books and other reading materials. For more information about funding opportunities through the Pike County Community Foundation, contact Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812-890-4469 or via email lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured:(left to right) Alba Hay; Jenna Harris; Cherie Kopp; Mindy Keeker, PCMS Principal; Carla Willis, Pike County Community Foundation Advisory Board member; Noah Fort; Susan Bolton, Librarian; Dan Gaffney, PCHS Principal; and Lori Williams.

Pike Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) recently received a $1,000 grant from the Pike County Community Foundation through the Pike Gives Grant Program. The Pike Gives Grant Program allows Pike County Community Foundation advisory board members to recommend $1,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by Tera Zazzetti for general support of PAWS. For more information about funding opportunities through the Pike County Community Foundation, contact Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812-890-4469 or via email lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured:(left to right) Cindy Morris, Director of PAWS; and Tera Zazzetti, Vice-President of Pike County Community Foundation Advisory Board.

Petersburg Little League and Petersburg Elementary each recently received a $1,000 grant from the Pike County Community Foundation through the Pike Gives Grant Program. The Pike Gives Grant Program allows Pike County Community Foundation advisory board members to recommend $1,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation’s most recent grant recommendations were made by Wil Teague to assist students at Petersburg Elementary School to purchase books at the Book Fair, and Kelley Hook for general support of Petersburg Little League. For more information about funding opportunities through the Pike County Community Foundation, contact Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812-890-4469 or via email lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured: (left to right) Eric Smith and Shawn Craig, Petersburg Little League; Emma Hook; Kelley Hook, Secretary of Pike County Community Foundation Advisory Board; Courtney Maxey; Camelia Seger, President of Petersburg Little League; Megan Howard; and Echo Petty, Petersburg Little League.

The Pike County Community Foundation awarded $170,789 in grants to seven local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to celebrate its 25 th Anniversary of serving Pike County through impactful grantmaking. These grants funded “quality of place” projects that are essential to improving Pike County residents’ lives, driving economic development, and attracting visitors. Over the past 25 years, the Pike County Community Foundation has been able to grow our assets to over $5.8 million in endowments and non-permanent funds and has granted out over $1.9 million since inception. “What an impact we have made, are making, and will continue to make,” Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. The nonprofit organizations awarded grants have projects that will improve or enhance the physical environment and other characteristics of the community that will make the county an attractive place to live, work, and play. The 25 th Anniversary grant recipients are: · $25,000 to Winslow Parks and Recreation to assist with the cost of turning the old tennis courts into a pickleball court; · $25,000 to Charger Soccer Club to assist with the cost of creating a boys and girls middle school soccer complex in Winslow; · $25,000 to Pike County Progress Partners, Inc. to assist with the cost of demolishing and cleaning up the site of the donated blight house in preparation for building safe housing with new sidewalks on 7 th Street in Petersburg; · $23,340 to Pike County School Corporation to purchase a Creator Space at Winslow Elementary where students can come together to learn, create, and innovate; · $25,000 to The ARC Southwest Indiana to assist with the programming cost to provide vocational training to individuals with intellectual disabilities to prepare them for competitive employment; · $25,000 to 4-H Council of Pike County, Indiana to assist with the cost of remodeling the restrooms in the Pike County 4-H building to make them more substantial, more user-friendly, safer, and ADA-compliant; and · $22,449 to Pike County Public Library to purchase a music garden including flower & butterfly bells, lily pad cymbals, mushroom gongs, and a tenor tree to add harmony to the library's outdoor play space. For more information, please contact Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact at lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org.

The Pike County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Pike County – Ruby Madison Sallee from Pike Central High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “Ruby’s dedication to her school and community was apparent in her application and interview. The nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet Ruby and recommend her for this life-changing scholarship opportunity,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Pike County Community Foundation. Ruby is the daughter of James and Angie Sallee of Petersburg. Following graduation, she plans to major in Pre-Law. Ruby is a member of the National Honor Society, and Key Club. She is active in track, basketball, swimming, and diving, which have earned her several varsity letters. Ruby is also active in the community, volunteering for the Children Carnival, Operation Christmas Child, Threshermans Steam Engine Show, and her church. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. In determining Pike County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominee, consideration was given to class rank, grade transcripts, financial need, school activities, honors and awards, work history, statement of goals, letter of recommendation, community/volunteer activities, and interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. “The Community Foundation was thoroughly impressed with the quality of applicants and their level of involvement, Pike County has many outstanding young adults full of talent and drive,” said Hazelman. Lilly Scholarship alternates were also announced. Taylor Gosciniak was named the first alternate, and Jamie Sallee was named the second alternate. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. 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 Pike County Community Foundation is now accepting applications for available scholarships through the Community Scholarship Program. The deadline to apply is 12:00 noon on Friday, January 19, 2024. “Donors have honored their loved ones, high schools, or professions by creating endowment funds through the Pike County Community Foundation,” says Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “Individuals, families, and organizations have created community scholarship funds that provide scholarships to assist local students in pursuit of advanced education. Together, these scholarships make up our Community Scholarship Program.” Students may apply for one or more scholarships, as long as they meet the particular eligibility requirements. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted at www.pikecountycf.org/community-scholarship-program. Eligibility requirements and selection criteria are determined by donors and are posted on the website. Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. Applications are accepted until 12:00 noon on Friday, January 19, 2024.

The Pike County Community Foundation celebrated this year’s Community Good Grants recipients on November 2 at the Main Street Presbyterian Church. Grants totaling $156,078 were awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations as one-time support of a project or for expansions or outgrowths of an initial project. Community Good Grants are made possible by Community Good/Unrestricted Funds and Field of Interest Funds which support a wide variety of needs in Pike County.  This year’s grant recipients are: · Bread of Life Ministry Inc. to assist with the cost of bringing two semi-loads of donated food products to Pike County to be distributed among the food pantries and partner agencies; · Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America to assist with the cost of memberships and uniforms for Pike County students; · Charger Soccer Club to purchase four aluminum team player benches and four pop-up canopies; · Department of Natural Resources to purchase one aircraft (with thermal camera), a hard case for storage, extra propellers, and batteries; · Dubois-Pike-Warrick Economic Opportunity Committee, Inc., d/b/a TRI-CAP to assist with the purchase of a used van that will meet the needs of the program; · Holly’s House to provide support for the direct costs of program materials for the prevention program in Pike County Elementary Schools; · Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department to purchase two new handheld 800 mhz radios; · Otwell Miller Academy to purchase the BonVie 12 x 10 x 10 Polycarbonate Greenhouse that has two sliding doors and four window vents for the Learn to Grow project; · Petersburg Elementary PTO to purchase shredded rubber mulch from Lowes and adhesive lacquer from Amazon for the Kindergarten Playground at Petersburg Elementary School. · Petersburg Fire Department to assist with the purchase of an extrication tool, batteries, charger, and mounting brackets; · Petersburg Police Department to purchase new tasers for all officers employed by Petersburg Police Department; · Pike Central Chargers Band Boosters to purchase new speaker equipment for marching band competitions and winter percussion competitions; · Pike County Emergency Medical Services to purchase two VP5430 800Mhz handheld radios; · Pike County Football Boosters for the purchase of shoulder pads for the football program; · Pike County Progress Partners, Inc. to assist with the cost of engineering plans for the Buffalo Trace Trail's new 2.6-mile trail; · Pike County Progress Partners, Inc. to purchase the Lemonade Day Youth Entrepreneurial City program fee; · Pike County School Corporation to assist with the purchase of a new silver-plated Eastman EPH495 Series BBb Sousaphone; · Pike County School Corporation to assist with the purchase of a Thermoplastic playground surface that is non-slip and entirely chemical-free creating a safe and inclusive area for kids that is colorful, bright, and vibrant; · Pike County School Corporation to assist with the purchase of garden equipment, seeds, lumber to build raised beds, soil and manure, and other gardening materials; · Pike County School Corporation to purchase a GoPro Hero 11 waterproof action camera with extra batteries and accessories for the Pike Central Broadcasting class; · Pike County School Corporation to purchase a Scantech iReal 2E Handheld Color 3D Scanner which includes all necessary software and cables; · Pike County School Corporation to purchase chairs for the Preschool Room at Winslow Elementary; and · Pike County School Corporation to purchase twelve Bleeding Control Stations and four mass casualty bags to be stored at each of the Pike County school’s nurse’s office; · Purdue Extension Pike County for the purchase of three adult and three youth-size picnic tables for the parks; · The ARC Southwest Indiana to purchase a smart board for hands-on training; · Tri-State Food Bank to purchase 150 pre-packed family food boxes to be distributed to Pike County families in need; · TTR Haven Over the Hilltop to purchase wipes, diapers/pull-ups, and two car seats for families in need; · United Way of Pike County to purchase t-shirts for Day of Caring volunteers; · Winslow Parks and Recreation to purchase the Oodle Swing, which is ADA compliant and handicap accessible, and the cost of freight; The Community Good/Unrestricted Funds and Field of Interest Funds that allowed this grant cycle are: · Angela J. Warner Unrestricted Fund · Bryan and Beth Luff Unrestricted Fund · Burns’ Family Community Fund · Dudenhoeffer Family Fund for Pike County · Dyer-Wallace Unrestricted Fund for Pile County · Emery and Edna Boger Fund · Friends of Pike County Fund · Gerald L. (Rip) and Betty (Sue) Sorgius Fund · German American Bancorp Community Fund-Pike · Greg and Carla Willis Family Fund · Helderman Family Fund · Hoosier Energy Frank Ratts Memorial Fund · Jeffrey and Chella Stenftenagel, Alva Harold Cox, and Barbara J. Cox Family Fund · Lewis Family Unrestricted Fund · Montes/Fenol Family Unrestricted Fund · Paul and Karen Cooper Family Fund · Pike County Grassroots Unrestricted Fund · Rauch Family Fund · Sisson Steel Unrestricted Fund · Stone-Tooley Community Good Fund · Tom and Ashley Polen-Willis Community Fund · Wallace and Julia Schnarr Community Good Family Fund · Wayne and Charlotte Malotte Fund · Wendell & Irene Craig Unrestricted Family Fund · William & Juanita Bell Unrestricted Family Fund · Willis-Parker-Evans-Fowler Unrestricted Fund Funding was also provided through the David DeTar Corn Trust, a fund managed by the German American Bancorp on behalf of the late David DeTar Corn.

The Pike County Community Foundation would like to recognize the continued service and commitment of the advisory board. Members continuing their advisory board commitment include Wil Teague (president), Tera Zazzetti (vice president), Kelley Hook (Secretary), Sarah Belmore, Tony Cochren, Jon Craig, Angie Gray, Vance Hays, Stan Keepes, Chaze Patrick, Abigail Vinnedge, Terri Whitehead, Bridget Butcher, DaLynda Hyatt and Carla Willis. Volunteer members of the advisory board play a vital role in the success of the Community Foundation. They focus on local asset development, learning about the community’s greatest needs and nonprofits that support those needs, and recommending grants and scholarships. "The accomplishment of our mission hinges significantly on the enthusiastic involvement of community members within our advisory board. Their dedicated volunteer efforts represent a continuous and wholehearted commitment of time, all with the goal of ensuring that donations reliably generate a positive influence on the well-being of individuals in Pike County," said advisory board president, Wil Teague. While the Pike County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, at least one county advisory board member serves as a county representative on the Alliance Board. This fiscal year's representatives are Sarah Belmore and Jon Craig. We extend a heartfelt appreciation to our advisory board members for their service and dedication to making a lasting impact in our community. For more information about the Pike County Community Foundation activities, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pikecocommfoundation or visit www.pikecountycf.org .

The 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (LECSP) application is now available in Pike County through the Pike County Community Foundation. The LECSP will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Pike County LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Pike County through the Pike County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who: • graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2024 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2024; • intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and • meet the criteria specific to their local Community Foundation. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Pike County and apply for this scholarship by visiting https://www.pikecountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program . Applications must be completed and submitted by Friday, August 25, 2023, at 12 noon EST to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: Class Rank, Grade Transcripts, and Financial Need. One recipient and two alternates will be nominated by the Pike County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December. Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $486 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the LECSP 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. Pike County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 26 th year in Pike County. “We are grateful that Lilly Endowment has continued the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. This scholarship will make an enormous impact on the recipient’s life and educational goals. I’m excited to be part of the process,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Pike County Community Foundation.