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Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. 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. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!

Grants totaling $10,000 were awarded to eight organizations serving Spencer County, by the Women’s Fund of Spencer County, held by the Spencer County Community Foundation. Grant Recipients:  Holly’s House: $1,500 for the Preventing Violence through Education program Dale Women’s Organization: $800 for back-to-school supplies for Spencer County students in need Memorial Hospital Foundation: $1,500 for the Patient Assistance program for Spencer County women Isaiah 1:17 Project: $1,500 for the Hopes and Dreams for Children in Spencer County program Deaconess Hospital Foundation: $2,200 for the Mobile Mammography Outreach program in Spencer County Boys and Girls Club of Evansville: $1,000 for the SMART Girls program at Rockport Elementary School Mariah Hill Foundation: $500 for baby changing stations at the new community building Lincoln Hills Development Corporation: $1,000 for community outreach and free health insurance enrollment assistance for Spencer County children and families The Women’s Fund of Spencer County committee reviewed grant requests and made recommendations to the Spencer County Community Foundation. The types of charitable activities that were considered through this grant program were arts and culture, community development, education, health, human services, environment, recreation, and youth development projects and programs. This Fund was established in the fall of 2006, dedicated to supporting programs that give opportunities, encouragement, knowledge, and hope to the Spencer County community. “The Women’s Fund of the Spencer County Community Foundation is delighted to offer these grants,” says Joy Zook, chair of the steering committee. “I firmly believe we stayed on target with our mission when selecting these eight local organizations as recipients.” For more information about the Women’s Fund of Spencer County, contact Rachael Goldsberry, Regional Director of Development at rgoldsberry@communityfoundationalliance.org, or call 812.649.5724.

The 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Spencer County through the Spencer County Community Foundation. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Spencer 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 Spencer County through the Spencer County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who: graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2025 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2025; 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. Visit https://www.spencercountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding Spencer County’s application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Spencer County and apply for this scholarship by visiting https://www.spencercountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program . Applications must be completed and submitted by August 28, 2024, 11:59 p.m. to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: Academic Performance, Activities, Leadership Roles, Family and Personal Statement, Essays, and Interview. Three finalists will be nominated by the Spencer 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 $490 million. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of 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. Spencer County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 28th year in Spencer County. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to administer the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Spencer County. This scholarship opportunity is truly life-changing for students,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer for the Community Foundation Alliance.

The Spencer County Community Foundation will begin accepting online applications for its Community Good Grants Program on Monday, June 10, 2024. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, July 22, 2024. The Community Good Grants program supports a variety of charitable purposes in Spencer County. The grant encompasses four different request levels: · Level 1: Requests of $500 or less · Level 2: Requests of $501 – $2,500 · Level 3: Requests of $2,501 – $9,999 · Level 4: Requests of $10,000 or more Charitable organizations can view details related to funding requirements and access the grant application via the Foundation’s website at https://www.spencercountycf.org/community-good-grants-program . Funding requests are reviewed by a committee of community leaders under the local advisory board. They review all grant applications, conduct site visits to potential grantees, and deliberate on which organizations best serve the community’s greatest needs. All organizations submitting grant proposals will be notified of the outcome on or before October 31, 2024. For questions, contact Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact at 812.649.5724 or ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org or Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer, at 812.429.1191 (ext. 103) or mwaldroup@communityfoundationalliance.org . These grants are made possible by generous donors who established Community Good or unrestricted funds with the Spencer County Community Foundation. For more information about starting a fund, please contact Rachael Goldsberry, Regional Director of Development at 812.649.5724 or rgoldsberry@communityfoundationalliance.org.

The Spencer County Community Foundation announces the distribution of community scholarships totaling $77,950. This year, funds established by generous donors provided scholarships to area students. In addition to announcing the recipients, the Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact, Emily Alvey says, “The Spencer County Community Foundation expresses gratitude towards our philanthropic fund founders and donors, whose generosity enables the realization of these scholarship awards. Their commitment to the education of our youth profoundly influences the future of every recipient. Selecting deserving individuals for these scholarships is carried out by a dedicated committee of volunteer leaders. We deeply appreciate their efforts and dedication in this endeavor. The selection process is always challenging due to the exceptional caliber of our Spencer County students.” Scholarship awards were announced as follows. The Brauns Family Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Thomas and Vicki Brauns to benefit graduating seniors of South Spencer High School who have attended at least two years at Luce Elementary School and are pursuing post-secondary education. The recipient of this year’s award in the amount of $1,000 is Max Eble , a senior at South Spencer High School and the son of Jeremy and Jennifer Eble. Following graduation, he plans to attend the University of Evansville to study Actuarial Science. The Community Scholarship Trust of Spencer County Fund is an annual scholarship created by the Community Scholarship Trust of Spencer County and sponsored by the Spencer County 4-H Association to benefit graduating seniors of any Spencer County high school pursuing post-secondary education. The recipient of this year’s award in the amount of $500 is Kyra Campbell , a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Laura Campbell and the late Robert Campbell. Following graduation, she plans to attend Sullivan University to pursue a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. The Dale and Marilyn Hasler Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship established by family and friends of Dale and Marilyn Hasler to benefit graduating seniors of Heritage Hills High School or Southridge High School pursuing a post-secondary, 4-year degree in engineering. The recipient of this year’s award in the amount of $500 is Esau Valdez , a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the son of Esau and Maria Valdez. Following graduation, he plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana to pursue a degree in Engineering. The Elisa and Brian Peters Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship established by the Peters Family in memory of Elisa Peters to provide scholarships to Heritage Hills High School seniors. Elisa was a life-long advocate of learning with a passion for the medical sciences. The recipient of this year’s $1,000 award is Nadia Eisenhauer , a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Daniel and Jaima Eisenhauer. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Evansville to study Nursing. The Friends of Pioneer Scholarship is an annual scholarship established by Pioneer sales representatives in the LPH Territory to support the educational endeavors of high school graduates and graduating seniors who have a parent employed in the agriculture industry. This year’s $2,000 scholarship recipient is Katlyn Betz, a senior at Forest Park High School and the daughter of Nathan and Rachel Betz. Following graduation, she plans to attend Vincennes University to major in Agribusiness and minor in Animal Husbandry. The Gene and Christina Schwindel Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Gene and Christina Schwindel to benefit graduating seniors or graduates of Heritage Hills High School pursuing post-secondary education. This year’s recipient, receiving $4,000 is Taylor Ruxer , a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Clint and Kelly Ruxer. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana to study Exercise Science. The Harold and Thelma Hunter Scholarship is an annual scholarship created in memory of Harold Hunter by his wife, Thelma Hunter, and their children to help graduates of Heritage Hills High School pursue advanced education. The recipient of the $500 scholarship is Grace Keller , a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Dixon and Martha Keller. Following graduation, she plans to attend Indiana Tech to pursue a degree in Sports Management. The Mabel Mason Ryan Memorial Scholarship is an annual renewable scholarship created by the estate of Mabel M. Ryan to advance education in nursing and medicine. This year’s $10,000 scholarship recipient is Kiya White , a senior at South Spencer High School and the daughter of Timothy White and Heather White. Following graduation, she plans to study Kinesiology and Integrated Physiology at Hanover College. The Mike Ryan Memorial Scholarship is an annual renewable scholarship created by Mabel M. Ryan in memory of her husband to benefit graduating seniors of any Spencer County high school pursuing post-secondary education. The recipients of this year’s scholarship, each receiving a $10,000 scholarship, are Maxwell Etienne and Shelby Ford . Maxwell is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the son of Sheryl Etienne and the late Daniel Etienne. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a degree in Film Production at Western Kentucky University. Shelby is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Gerri Ford and the late Kelly Ford. Following graduation, she plans to study Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy. The Narl and Hazel Conner Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Deann Siegel, Keith Conner, Ron Conner, and Eric Conner as a loving tribute to their father and mother to benefit Heritage Hills High School seniors who plan to enroll as full-time students at an accredited 4-year college or university. This year’s recipients, receiving $1,000 each, are Allie Wetzel and Claire Coleman . Allie is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Josh and Amber Wetzel. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science at Western Kentucky University. Claire is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Clint and Amy Coleman. Following graduation, she plans to attend Western Kentucky University to pursue a degree in Dental Hygiene. The Othmar and Virginia Ringeman Family Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Othmar and Virginia Ringeman to support the post-secondary education of Heritage Hills High School graduates. This year’s recipients, receiving $3,000 each, are Hannah Bolin , Taylor Ruxer , Allie Wetzel , and Samantha Haefling . Hannah is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Duane and Karen Bolin. Following graduation, she plans to obtain a degree in Social Work at the University of Southern Indiana. Samantha is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Paul Haefling and Ellen Haefling. Following graduation, she plans to attend Indiana University Southeast to study Business. The Raleigh and Thelma Abshier Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Jeaniece Scheessele to advance education in honor of her parents to benefit graduating seniors of South Spencer High School pursuing post-secondary education. This year’s $750 scholarship recipient is Kailey Gibbs , a senior at South Spencer High School and the daughter of Kenneth and Kimberly Gibbs. Following graduation, she plans to study Brain and Behavior Sciences at Purdue University. The Randall L. Haaff Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Randall L. Haaff to help graduating seniors pursue advanced education at the University of Southern Indiana. This year’s recipients, receiving $600 each are Esau Valdez and Hailey Brown . Hailey is a senior at South Spencer High School and the daughter of Brandon Brown and Lindsay Brown. Following graduation, she plans to further her education at the University of Southern Indiana. The Rockport American Legion Baseball Team Scholarship is an annual scholarship established by the Rockport American Legion Baseball Team in memory of Bobby “Coach” Snyder to help graduating seniors pursue post-secondary education at an accredited institution. This year’s recipients, receiving $5,000 each, are Boston Schulte , Brailee Head , and Cyrilla Sommer . Boston is a senior at Heritage Hills High School and the son of Karen Schulte. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Kansas State University. Brailee is a senior at South Spencer High School and the daughter of Brandi Erwin. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana. Cyrilla Sommer is a senior at Tell City High School and the daughter of Andy and Sara Sommer. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Finance at Indiana University. The Spencer County Farm Bureau, Inc. Educational Scholarship is an annual scholarship established by the Spencer County Farm Bureau to assist students pursuing post-high school educational programs. The recipient of this year’s award in the amount of $1,500 is Sarah Day . Sarah is a 2023 graduate of Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Eric and Lisa Day. She is currently a student at Indiana University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience. The Spencer Industries Incorporated Scholarship is an annual scholarship created by Spencer Industries Incorporated employees to further the education of natural, adopted, or step-children of employees, recognize the academic achievement of those graduating from high school and continuing their education, and motivate recipients to achieve maximum scholastic and vocational potential. This year’s recipients, receiving $2,000 each, are Claire Coleman , Liz Gehlhausen , and Brittney Wahl . Liz is a 2022 graduate of Heritage Hills High School and the daughter of Tina and Brian Gehlhausen. She is currently a student at Purdue University pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. Brittney is a 2023 graduate of Tecumseh High School and the daughter of Timothy and Rita Wahl. She is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana. The Community Foundation Advisory Board would like to thank the parents, family members, teachers, school administrators, coaches, mentors, and everyone who has inspired these students to be the best they can be. Congratulations to these outstanding students and their families. We wish you the best as you pursue your college degrees and future opportunities.

The Community Foundation Alliance would like to congratulate staff member, Emily Alvey, on her recent employment anniversary. Alvey recently celebrated her fifth work anniversary as the Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for Perry and Spencer counties, part of the nine-county regional footprint of the Alliance. In her role, Alvey identifies and helps address the needs of the community by working with community leaders and with grants and scholarships committees. Alvey also serves on various nonprofit boards to further her passion for helping her community. The recently introduced Generosity at Work Grant Program enables Alliance staff members to contribute to the communities they serve by recommending a $500 grant to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of their preference through the Ronald L. Bauer Regional Fund on their work anniversary. Alvey selected Isaiah 117 House Spencer/Perry to receive a $500 general support grant through the Generosity at Work Grant Program. “I am passionate about the work of this organization,” explains Alvey. “I've been fortunate to observe the emergence of this organization within our community—starting with raising community awareness, progressing to breaking ground, and now gearing up to open its doors.” The Isaiah 117 House for Spencer and Perry counties is currently under construction in Chrisney, Indiana. The purpose of Isaiah 117 is to provide a space that allows children who have been removed from their homes to receive the comfort and care they need while child welfare staff do the necessary work to identify a safe placement for the child. Learn more at https://isaiah117house.com/ . “This holds significant meaning for our community. Every child deserves a secure space with kind and caring people, fresh clothes, smiles, toys, and comforting blankets. It brings me joy to know that this will occur right within our community!” The Generosity At Work Program grants are made possible by the Ronald L. Bauer Regional Fund, a Community Good fund established through a charitable remainder trust to benefit the Community Foundation Alliance’s regional grantmaking.

The Susan Grundhoefer Memorial Fund, held by the Spencer County Community Foundation, recently awarded a $700 grant to Nancy Hanks Elementary School to update literature and posters in the school building to reflect student diversity. The fund was established in memory of Susan Grundhoefer by husband, Bernie Grundhoefer, and children: Amber Wetzel, Tara Thacker, Denise Scott, and Seth Grundhoefer. “We are extremely grateful for the Susan Grundhoefer Memorial Fund. This year, this memorial will be helping Nancy Hanks create a more inclusive environment for all students. Our goal is to add more visuals and reading materials that represent students with different races, ethnicities, and disabilities. We believe that creating an environment for all students to feel welcome and included is important. We look forward to growing in this area for our students and community.” said Mrs. Jody Schmitt, Nancy Hanks Elementary Principal.  Since 2015, the Susan Grundhoefer Memorial Fund has granted over $18,000 to organizations serving Spencer County.

The Spencer County Community Foundation recently announced Community Good Grants totaling $220,717.86 to twenty-seven organizations serving Spencer County. This year’s grant recipients are as follows: · American Red Cross Southwest Indiana Chapter was awarded $10,000 to support the collection of life-saving blood that will supply medical facilities serving Spencer County residents. · Association for a Better Rockport was awarded $5,060 to host the 2024 Summer Concert Series and the Solar Eclipse event and for the purchase of supplies for the events. · Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana was awarded $5,000 to grow the number of youth served in Spencer County by recruiting more mentors and expanding to new site-based locations. · Boys and Girls Club of Evansville was awarded $9,500 to offer the Triple Play program at Rockport Elementary School. · Bread of Life Ministry Inc. was awarded $2,100 to cover the cost of freight for donated food and to purchase food items at discounted prices to distribute to low-income families in the Tri-State area. · Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America was awarded $9,000 to Institute Scoutreach in the South Spencer School Corporation serving kindergarten - 5th grade students. · Chemo Buddies was awarded $4,528 to provide comfort kits to Spencer County cancer patients. · Chrisney Baptist Church was awarded $8,000 to provide food for students in need at Chrisney Elementary School every weekend for the school year. · Christian Resource Center was awarded $10,000 to purchase food for the Food Pantry. · Crisis Connection, Inc. was awarded $4,430 to provide advocacy support to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Spencer County. · Dale Presbyterian Church was awarded $9,803.86 to replace two convection ovens used for weekly Community Table meals. · Epsilon Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa was awarded $2,000 to support the Anabel Wood Plein Air Paint Out event. · For Evansville was awarded $9,500 to provide a platform that enables agencies to work together towards a comprehensive pathway to success for those navigating crises. · Friends of Lincoln State Park, Inc. was awarded $7,500 to provide entertainment for those expected to converge in Spencer County for the solar eclipse. · Heritage Hills PATS was awarded $13,000 to provide a Heritage Hills shirt to each student in grades 7 th – 12 th to foster a sense of community and belonging. · Lincoln Hills Development Corporation was awarded $2,500 to provide free health insurance enrollment assistance to prevent coverage loss and increase access to healthcare in Spencer County. · Luce Elementary School was awarded $6,065 to expand the Farm to School Program by purchasing raised beds, hydroponics, and greenhouse supplies. · Maria Hill Foundation was awarded $9,805 to build a 20-space, ADA-compliant parking lot at the Mariah Hill Community Building. · North Spencer Archery Club was awarded $10,187 to purchase additional archery equipment. · North Spencer County School Corporation was awarded $14,000 to support Spencer County Tobacco Prevention/Cessation Program and VOICE Youth Leadership Team in providing prevention, cessation, and educational activities and programs for youth, adults, organizations, health care providers, and employers within Spencer County. · Santa’s Elves and Santa Claus Museum was awarded $500 to purchase letters with a Christmas message to be sent in response to children's letters to Santa and letters on which children may write to Santa. · Spencer County 4-H Association Inc. was awarded $29,500 to install the plumbing and HVAC for the new restroom facility at the 4-H Center. · Stir-N-Up Hope was awarded $7,000 to purchase two new program horses that support ability-inclusive horsemanship. · The Way of Rockport Indiana, Inc. was awarded $3,340 to purchase items for The Way Home, such as cleaning and laundry supplies, food, and educational materials for the 12-Step Celebrate Recovery Support Group. · Town of Grandview was awarded $3,899 to replace flagpoles at the Spencer County Veterans Memorial. · Town of Richland was awarded $19,500 for a pickleball court that will provide a recreational opportunity to meet the needs of residents and visitors. · Young Women LEAD was awarded $5,000 to provide a leadership event for area high school girls focused on leadership, education, and personal development. These grants were made possible by generous donors who created community good or field of interest funds with the Spencer County Community Foundation. · Cevin and Debra Collins Family Fund · Cleveland-Cliffs Fund · Friends of Spencer County Fund · German American Bancorp Community Fund-Spencer · Goldman Family Fund · John Paul and Mary Catherine Luecke Fund · Kathleen Mary (Kathy) Kohm Memorial Fund · Leibering Family Fund · Mark and Susan Waterman Community Fund · Mike and Mabel Mason Ryan Unrestricted Fund · Mulzer Family Fund · Randall L. Haaff Unrestricted Fund for the Benefit of Spencer County · Ruby L Winkler Family Fund · TCB Bank/ Fifth Third Bank Spencer County Fund · Thermwood Fund · Todd and Angie Ruxer Family Fund · Trustee Community Fund For more information about establishing a fund, please contact Rachael Goldsberry, Regional Director of Development at 812.649.5724 or rgoldsberry@communityfoundationalliance.org.