Foundation Sees Steady Rise In Giving, Honors Carlsons
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WINONA LAKE – The old adage, “Giving is contagious,” seems to be true with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. The foundation celebrated continued growth Tuesday during its annual celebration luncheon with 150 supporters at the Winona Heritage Room. While the foundation began in 1968, its assets have grown mightily since 1996, when they totaled less than $5 million. Three years ago, assets reached about $40 million, but officials estimate the figure for 2016 to be around $52 million, according to information provided by the foundation. This year, foundation donors gave more than $1.4 million to community funds, bringing the total of more than $2.4 million in new community fund endowment dollars. “That means that every year, an additional $97,000 can be granted to local charitable projects forever,” said Jerry Yeager, who just completed his term as board president. In 2016, more than $500,000 in scholarships were distributed to 228 students and more than $2.4 million was awarded from all funds, according to the foundation, Yeager said. Suzie Light, the foundation’s executive director, said the foundation’s growth is stronger than ever and credited it to the community’s “phenomenally generous donors.” The foundation also completed its $1 million matching initiative this year with Lilly Endowment. The million dollar challenge generated $1.4 million in local matching funds, meaning the foundation would have $2.4 million to use for community grants available to non-profit groups seeking support. “But it also allows us to do pro-active grant making. We identify a need in our community and grant to it,” Light said. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was David Long, a Warsaw native who is vice president of family services for Lifeline Youth and Family Services. He also is a children’s book author. Long, who graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1990, spoke of the need for young people to have strong “shoulders” of support. Long talked about the time he was cut from the seventh-grade basketball team and his fears as he tried out for the team the next year under first-year coach Doug Ogle, who now serves as Warsaw’s varsity coach. He made the team and then compared his own concerns to his son’s trepidations 31 years later about being cut. Long reflected on the support he enjoyed as a youth and mentioned Keith Reinholt and his principal, Richard Kline. “Coach Ogle was wonderful to me,” Long remembered. “He was a shoulder to me.” “There are hundreds of people whose shoulders I leaned on,” Long said. “Classmates, teachers, one of which is here today. Principals, coaches. They made a difference in my life.” His bottom line: “Be great, be a shoulder to somebody and keep fighting for our families.” The foundation also honored former executive director Neal Carlson, who along with his wife, Joy Carlson, worked to establish a new legacy society with the foundation. The Neal and Joy Carlson Legacy Society recognizes donors who have made a commitment to leave the foundation a gift through their estate. While many donations happen after a donor passes away, Light said the new program allows the foundation to thank the donors while they are still alive. Neal Carlson was a volunteer with the foundation from 1972 to 1992 when he began a two-year stint as executive director. After stepping down, he returned as a volunteer and board member, Light said. “Neal and Joy, you have perfectly embodied community service and philanthropy through your gifts of time, talent and treasure. Thank you for letting us honor you today with the Neal and Joy Carlson Legacy Society,” Light said.
