News & Events

Marc Hardy of Michiana Public Television WNIT interviews Jim Hardesty

Watch the video!

Sharing Fire - Community Foundations
Fabulous interview with one of Starke County's finest

Jim Hardesty of Hamlet, a long time donor and supporter of the Community Foundation was asked to talk about his philanthropic passions on WNIT- Public Television.

We are excited that Jim is being recognized for his good works. The Community Foundation has been one of the organizations that has benefited from his generosity. We appreciate that he shares his story of working with the Community Foundation with his neighbors and now the entire Michiana area.

Jim was given Emeritus status on the NICF board along with the “Abraham Lincoln” award for his 10 years of service on the NICF board. He also continues to lend his expertise on the Finance Committee where we all benefit from his insight and leadership.

Thanks to people like Jim Hardesty, Starke County will continue to be a great place to live, learn and grow.

Community Foundation supports North Judson
Local farmer directs $2,500 through America’s Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM

Photo from left to right: Sarah Origer, Starke County Community Foundation director of development; winning farmer Josh Brown; and David Gutwein, Specialty Hybrids corn product lead and sales.

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. (February 8, 2012) – The Starke  County Community Foundation will now be able to better serve its community thanks to a $2,500 from local farmer, Josh Brown.

The Starke County Community Foundation received the $2,500 through America’s Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM. The donations are made available through the Monsanto Fund. Josh Brown of North Judson has been selected as a winner in the program, and he designated the $2,500 to the Starke County Community Foundation.

“The Starke County Community Foundation is so pleased to be able to work with Josh Brown and the Monsanto Fund,” said Sarah Origer, Starke County Community Foundation director of development. “We are happy for the organization that Josh chose to benefit through the Community Foundation.”

Grow Communities was created to benefit nonprofit community groups such as the Starke County Community Foundation that are important to America’s farmers.  For Brown, in Starke County, the opportunity to help grow his community became a reality when he was selected as a Grow Communities winner during the second annual program.

In a ceremony held Feb. 8 at the North Judson United Methodist Church, Brown got the chance to present the Starke County Community Foundation with the $2,500 donation.

Through America’s Farmers Grow Communities:

• Farmers in 1,245 eligible counties have the chance to win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit organizations.
• The Monsanto Fund has invested more than $3.1 million to rural communities this year alone.
• More than $207,500 in total has been donated to nonprofits in Ind.
• A list of all winners and more information can be found at  www.growcommunities.com

This program is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communities, in order to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society.  To view all of the winners, visit www.growcommunities.com.

About the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.