'FRIENDS OF CARROLL COUNTY' CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL LILLY ENDOWMENT GIFT MATCH INITIATIVE
Donors benefit Carroll County by giving $500,000 towards endowment
The Carroll County Community Foundation’s ‘Friends of Carroll County’ members celebrated the success of reaching Lilly Endowment’s GIFT $500,000 match initiative that will provide funds to support current and future needs in Carroll County. The event took place at the Delphi Opera House in Delphi, Ind.
Dr. Paul Manning, Carroll County Community Foundation board chair, thanked donors for stepping up to make sure the match funds were available to become permanent assets through the Foundation to support Carroll County. “The closer we got to meeting the match, the more excitement our donors showed,” said Manning. “They really wanted to make sure this opportunity was not missed. The Carroll County Comet ran ads updating the status of the remaining available match dollars and people responded. It kept the momentum going. I am grateful for everyone’s willingness to accept the challenge.”
The match period ran from August 2014 to March 31, 2016. During that time, the Carroll County Community Foundation received 545 gifts from 244 donors. Donors started 15 new endowment funds that will support Carroll County projects, activities and programs forever.
Al Jackson, Carroll County Community Foundation board member, talked about implementing the ‘Promise Indiana CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan’ in Carroll County. The 529 Program is a college and career readiness education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. The Foundation and Indiana Promise representatives recently introduced the concept to Carroll County Schools.
“Studies show that low and moderate income children with college savings between $1 and $499 are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate from college,” Jackson shared. “This program offers hope and is a great way to encourage families that education beyond high school is attainable for their children. Partners are needed to provide funding and to help spread the word that this program offers hope.”
During the evening, Brady’s Hope, Carroll County Food Pantry and the Burlington Community Library were selected in a special grant drawing to recognize each organization’s worthwhile work in Carroll County.
The Friends of Carroll County was established as a way for people to support the work of the Community Foundation.
The Carroll County Community Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of local citizens. The purpose of the Foundation is to serve the interests of donors, to make grants and to act as a catalyst around issues of community importance in Carroll County. In addition to providing community support through endowed funds, the Foundation offers such services as a free will planning guide that is designed to help individuals as they prepare to work with their estate planning advisors. Contact the Carroll County Community Foundation at (800) 964-0508 or visit the Web site at www.cfcarroll.org for a free copy of the will planning guide or for more information.
