HOWARD COUNTY QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Nearly $2 million invested in the community in 2023

Sample of grants presented by the Community Foundation of Howard County.

Dec. 27, 2023 – On almost any day or anywhere you go in Howard County, Indiana, you may see evidence of the Community Foundation of Howard County.

Whether it’s equipment upgrades at a nonprofit building or a cultural event or a student heading to college with a scholarship, the Foundation changes lives and makes meaningful contributions across a broad spectrum of the community.

In fact, in 2023 nearly $2 million was given in grants and scholarships administered through the Foundation offices at 215 West Sycamore Street in Kokomo, Indiana.

“Howard County has students and nonprofit programs and services that need support, and the Foundation is a vital financial steward providing assistance in our community,” said Teresa Devaul, chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Here are end-of-year updates:

GIFT MATCH FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
According to Devaul, the Foundation has a gift match opportunity happening now that can triple the impact for donors making gifts to the Foundation’s unrestricted community endowment funds. These are grantmaking funds that connect your charitable dreams to vital community programs and services. For every $1 given to an unrestricted fund, the match will be $2 (thus a $1,000 gift would be $3,000).

COMPETITIVE GRANT CYCLE

At the close of this year’s final competitive grants cycle, some two dozen Howard County nonprofit organizations received $736,822 for worthy projects. Devaul noted that many of these grants were awarded from community endowment unrestricted funds, which donors contribute to with the intent to support needs that benefit the citizens of Howard County now and in the future.

“We are grateful for our donors’ foresight and generosity,” Devaul said. “This process provides continued support for the community, and we are honored to be entrusted to ensure that funding reaches those who need it the most.”

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants during June to October 2023 (alphabetical by the organizational name):
$5,000 to American Red Cross for Home fire relief program in Howard County.
$75,000 to Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo Foundation for Trinity Behavioral Health Clinic Inpatient Unit Remodel and Garden.
$15,000 to Bona Vista for Bona Vista Day Service Outdoor Classroom.
$4,950 to City of Kokomo for Kokomo Police Cultural Diversity Training.
$10,000 to Curtain Call Inc. for Mary Poppins Curtain Call Family, Friends, and Alumni Production Assistance.
$10,000 to Family Service Association for Therapy Services for Clients and Staff.
$8,000 to Food Finders Food Bank for Howard County Mobile Pantry Program.
$4,000 to Foster Faith, Inc. for Back-to-School program.
$22,226 to Foster the Need for Foster Closet.
$25,000 to Howard Co. Historical Society, Inc for Seiberling Mansion Chimney Repairs.
$25,000 to Howard Co. Memorial Corp. for Opha May Johnson Memorial & Tuskegee Airmen Traveling Exhibition.
$100,000 to Howard County 4-H Exhibit Association for Howard County Regional Extension Site.
$5,000 to Kokomo Park Band, Inc. for Engaging the Community in Music.
$10,000 to Kokomo Rescue Mission for Community Engagement Through Modern Marketing.
$23,000 to Kokomo Symphonic Society for 50 Days for $50,000 for 50 Years.
$2,000 to Minority Health Alliance of Howard County for Diabetes Education Program.
$5,000 to New London Cemetery Association for Preservation and Beautification.
$20,000 to Sagamore Council, Boy Scouts of America for Mobile STEM Lab.
$5,000 to Taylor School Corporation for Taylor Community Garden 2.0.
$5,718 to Town of Russiaville for Russiaville Cemetery Beautification.

The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Todd Moser at 765-454-7298 or todd@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.