Marshall County Community Foundation Awards $122,588 in Grants

MCCF announced the first round of 2017 grants from the Foundation’s Community Fund during an awards presentation held Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Plymouth, Indiana. Twice each year, nonprofit organizations are invited to submit proposals for new, innovative and collaborative projects.

Members of the community serving on the MCCF Grants Committee evaluate the proposals and conduct site visits during a competitive application process. 

 

Unrestricted (Community) Fund Grants: 

Unrestricted endowment funds are the most flexible and responsive of the Foundation’s 347 funds in addressing current and emerging needs. Grants from unrestricted endowment funds typically support projects focusing on the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment.

The first grants from unrestricted funds at MCCF were awarded in 1995; since then MCCF has awarded over $3.5 million in total grants to the community from these funds alone. The growth of unrestricted funds now enables MCCF to award more than $200,000 in unrestricted fund grants on an annual basis.

In addition to the MCCF Community Fund, several unrestricted funds also support new and emerging needs. These funds include the Barbara and Ralph Winters Community Fund, the Brian and Patricia Kitch Family Community Fund, the C & M Overmyer Unrestricted Endowment Fund, the iAB Financial Bank Community Fund, the John and Kay Finlay Community Fund, the Philip and Sylvia Bieghler Community Fund, and the Paul and Carol Nye Community Fund.

During the Spring 2017 grant round, $122,588 was awarded to twenty-two organizations in Marshall County for the following projects:

  • Ancilla Domini Sisters:  $3,930 for installation of public electric vehicle charging stations
  • Argos Volunteer Fireman, Inc.:  $6,000 purchase of washer-extractor
  • Boy Scouts of America:  $500 for Eagle Scout project at Veterans Memorial Forest
  • Bread of Life Community Food Pantry:   $3,358 for purchase/installation of air conditioning in  warehouse space
  • Bremen Chess Team: $500 to purchase 35 Quality Tournament Chess COMBOs
  • Bremen Community Cares:  $1,500 to purchase planters for downtown Bremen
  • City of Plymouth:  $1,250 to support Latino Festival
  • Culver Boys and Girls Club:  $6,000 for purchase of technology for self-directed learning while promoting internet safety
  • Culver Main Street Corporation:  $750 to optimize Culver Farmer’s Market assets and build attendance
  • Town of Culver Park and Recreation Department:  $25,000 for construction of 175-seat outdoor amphitheater at Culver Park on Lake Maxinkuckee
  • JESSE:  $10,000 for collaboration with Handmaids of Jesus Christ ministries at the Center at Donaldson to train Ancilla College Students to serve as job coaches for special needs students
  • Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council:  $2,400 for LARE grant bid for professional wetland design firm to assist in evaluating Kline Wetlands
  • Lapaz Lions Club:  $2,500 to purchase supplies for “Spruce Up LaPaz” event in June 2017
  • Marshall County Running Club:  $5,000 to purchase event timing devices
  • Maxinkuckee Players:  $2,500 to assist with royalties for the production of Mary Poppins
  • Plymouth Jr. League:  $1,300 to purchase MVP Baseball Pitching Machine
  • Plymouth Park Department:  $15,600 to purchase 900 linear feet of event fencing
  • Servants at Work (SAWS):  $1,000 to build wheelchair ramps for disabled
  • United Way of Marshall County:  $10,000 match for On My Way Pre K program
  • Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation (WNIT):  $2,500 to support Education Counts program
  • Wythougan Valley Preservation Council:  $20,000 for repair of Rees Theater
  • Yellow River Festival of Marshall County:  $1,000 to help fund history-related activities

Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Grants:

The Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Fund was established to provide annual funding for environmental, educational, or recreational projects directly related to Lake Maxinkuckee. This year’s awards were presented to:

  • Culver Park Department:  $10,800 to create pier platform for off-land fishing
  • Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council:  $9,000 to scan lake to develop bathymetric/depth and weed bed maps
  • Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council:  $2,400 for LARE grant bid for professional wetland design firm to assist in evaluating Kline Wetland