News & Events

One Hand - One Heart, a Tremendous Success
February 2008

The Starke County Community Foundation asked everyone to give with One Hand and One Heart to the community for Valentine's Day. Thanks to the generosity of those who participated this year, the Community Foundation raised $18,000.

Special thanks for the success of the fundraiser go to WKVI, 99.3 FM, for their gift of airtime. People had the options of having their donation announced on the radio station, a personal pre-recorded message played on the air dedicated to their Valentine, or a personal pre-recorded message played along with a song dedicated to their Valentine.

"While this has been an annual project for the last several years, we really wanted to do something special to help increase awareness of our organization and our funds," said Kathy Norem, Associate Director of the Community Foundation. We received substantial support from Mr. and Mrs. Brad Lawrence (Lawrence Family Farms) and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Emigh (Maple Home Farms) who collectively offered $7,500 as a dollar for dollar match for gifts to the Starke County 4-H Endowment fund. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stephenson offered $1500 as a dollar for dollar match for the Todd Jacob Stephenson Endowment fund. A generous anonymous donor offered $5,000 as match money for the Starke County Community Foundation's Operating Endowment.

With the matches, the Starke County Community Foundation received over $5,000 for its operating fund, the Starke County 4-H fund will receive just over $10,000, and the Todd Jacob Stephenson fund will receive $900. A number of other memorial and agency funds received donations as well.

There is still match money for the Starke County 4-H fund and the Todd Jacob Stephenson fund. The remaining match money for these two funds will continue to be available during the remainder of 2008 or until the entire match has been received. You can call Kathy Norem at the Starke County Community Foundation at 772-3665 to find out about this opportunity and how you dollars to these funds can double!

"The Community Foundation is so grateful to all of the donors, the volunteers who helped pull the radio show off, and of course WKVI for their generous support and airtime," Norem commented. "Starke County has a lot of love for its community—and we appreciate all of you who expressed it so generously on Valentine's Day."

Community Foundation offers $10,000 Match to 4-H
January 2007

Ten thousand dollars in matching money has been offered by Starke County Community Foundation (SCCF) to the Starke County 4-H Council. The money will be used to create a permanently endowed fund that will be for the sole use and benefit of the county's 4-H program.

"This is a terrific way for the SCCF to support an organization that does do much for our community's youth," Kathy Norem, SCCF Associate Director explained.

Along with the match the SCCF will also provide the 4-H Council with assistance in raising $10,000 by hosting a Farmer's Breakfast in March as well as seeking donations from the community.

"We are grateful to the SCCF for their assistance in working with us to establish an endowed fund that will forever benefit the SC 4-H program," said Starke County 4-H Council President, Connie Lenig. "We will be able to use the monies received from this fund to help finance specifically identified needs for our program each year."

Lenig explained that the money could possibly be used for scholarships, new programs, building and ground improvements, or specific needs deemed a priority as it relates to the 4-H Council's mission and goals.

"We will work with a representative volunteer committee, comprised of a variety of individuals, each year to determine the most appropriate use of the funds received," Lenig commented.

"This is a great opportunity for people to give back to a program that has really enhanced our children's lives over the years. Best of all, the gift a person gives today will continue to give to the 4-H program forever!" Norem explained. "That is because donations will be permanently endowed so that the interest will continue to support 4-H for perpetuity."

If you are interested in contributing to the Starke County 4-H Fund, please call Kathy Norem at 574-772-3665.

New Starke County 4-H Agency Fund
April 2007

Starke County Community Foundation and Starke County 4-H Council not only met their goal, but they exceeded it by over $6,000. During the sixty day fundraising campaign, the agencies raised over $16,000 total to create a permanently endowed fund for the 4-H Council's ongoing needs.

The fundraiser was initiated by the Community Foundation's offer of a match up to $10,000, dollar for dollar, for the creation of a permanently endowed Agency Fund. With the Community Foundation's $10,000 grant, the Starke County 4-H Fund total is now over $26,000.

"Agency Funds, such as the 4-H fund, are a great way to provide continued support to area service organizations in pursuing their charitable missions," Starke County Community Foundation Associate Director Kathy Norem explained. "We saw this matching grant opportunity as a means of providing continued support for an organization that does so much for our community's youth."

Starke County 4-H Council President, Connie Lenig said, "We will be able to use the monies received from this fund to help finance specifically identified needs for our program each year." Lenig further explained that the money could possibly be used for scholarships, new programs, building and ground improvements, or specific needs deemed a priority as it relates to the 4-H Council's mission and goals.

"We will work with a representative volunteer committee, comprised of a variety of individuals, each year to determine the most appropriate use of the funds received," Lenig commented.

"This fund now provides a great vehicle for people to give back to a program that has really enhanced our children's lives over the years. Caring community members eager to support 4-H can make a gift that lasts forever through this fund," Norem explained. "That is because donations to this fund will be permanently endowed so that the interest will continue to support 4-H for perpetuity."

If you are interested in contributing to the Starke County 4-H Fund, please call Kathy Norem at 574-772-3665.