27 Feb Community Foundation Holds First Annual Gathering of The Hive
The first annual gathering of The Hive, the new ladies’ giving circle for Starke County, was held on February 22nd at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. The event was hosted by the Starke County Community Foundation. Nearly sixty women were in attendance at this inaugural gathering. The group of women awarded $5,000 to local nonprofit organizations.
Grant recipients were: Kid’s Closet, $2,000; Starke County Community Corrections, $1,500; Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center, $750; and Prairie Trails Club, Inc., $750.
Andrea Cox, the Chairperson of The Hive, said, “Being a member of The Hive is an amazing opportunity to be a part of a group of women who want to give back to the community. It is a great feeling to know that we can make a difference in someone’s life in a positive way. I am honored to be the chairperson, and I am looking forward to growing this group.”
The group is open to all Starke County women ages sixteen and older. Members’ contributions are pooled together to give annual grants to Starke County charitable projects. Grant amounts are determined by vote, and every member gets one vote.
Women become voting members by giving $10 per month, or $120 per year. Members ages sixteen through twenty-two can donate just $5 per month, or $60 per year. Half of those dollars are awarded in the current grant cycle, and the other half is put into The Hive Giving Circle Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation, which will help to provide future grant dollars.
Before the next annual gathering, a grant application will be available for local charitable organizations. A grants committee for The Hive will review applications and select four finalists to give presentations to the entire group of women. Voting will take place and grants will be awarded at the event.
The Hive’s name came from a comparison of the giving circle with the way honey bees work. Honey bees work together to produce honey that helps to sustain the entire hive. Similarly, members of The Hive, the ladies’ giving circle for Starke County, work together by pooling their resources in order to enhance the quality of life in their community.