Introducing your 2012 Benton Community Lilly Endowment Community Scholar….Laura May! Congratulations! Laura’s scholarship will provide full tuition for 4 years and an annual book stipend. Laura is the daughter of Jim and Nina May; she will begin her studies this fall in Animal Science at Purdue.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has existed statewide since 1998 as an initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. 142 scholarships have been awarded state-wide this year.

The Foundation wishes the entire Class of 2012 all the best!

The Steve Wallpe Family was named the 2012 Benton Community Farm Family of the Year Friday evening at A Toast to Agriculture, hosted by Benton Community Foundation. Nearly 150 local farmers, agri-businesses, land owners, and community members attended the event at the Benton County Country Club to celebrate agriculture.

Steve and wife, Lana, along with daughters, Kendal and Hannah, were nominated along with three other families for the award. Their high level of involvement in community organizations and Farm Bureau, along with their passion for the family farm, earned them the honor.

Congratulations Wallpe Family!

The Community Foundation will be accepting nominations for this award until Friday, February 24th. We encourage you to think about our community and the farm families that are always willing to step up and lend a hand. This is your opportunity to recognize and say thank you for their efforts! Download the guidelines and nomination form now!

Details about the Toast to Agriculture will be sent out very soon, but we hope that you’ll mark your calendars to join us for a lovely evening at the Benton County Country Club. Along with dinner and the announcement of the Farm Family of the Year, we will enjoy the humor of America’s Funniest Farmer Jay Hendren.

For more information, please contact Ashley Bice at 765.884.8022 or ashley@bentoncf.org.

Jean Glotzbach, Coordinator of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, was spending time with her grandkids, Luke, Grace, and Lucy when Ashley Bice delivered $500 from Santa.

Santa decided his last stop this year would be for the children. He presented the final $500 grant to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library!

Jean Glotzbach brought Imagination Library to life in our community in July 2007. Originally started by Dolly Parton in her home county in Tennessee in 1996, Imagination Library provides free books to children from birth to age 5. The program is open to all Benton County residents; each child enrolled receives one free book every month in the mail. The books are their’s to keep! Jean explained to Santa, “Dolly started the program to promote early literacy in young children. Children who are read to on a regular basis are children who love to read!”

Benton County’s program has served over 400 children in the last four years. There are currently 265 children receiving the books each month. “The funding from this program comes from the good people and organizations in Benton County. Our monthly bill is $525 or more”, wrote Glotzbach. “I have had letters from parents that tell me how excited their little one is when the new books come in the mailbox. Parents also tell me how much they enjoy reading these special books to their child or children.”

Parents who are interested in enrolling their children in this program may pick-up a registration form at any Benton County Public library or they may call Jean at 765.884.0541. The only requirements is that they live in Benton County and are under the age of 5.

Benton Community Foundation would like to thank everyone who wrote to Santa this year in the Letters 2 Santa promotion. We received over 40 letters for many excellent organizations making great things happen in our community. All applicants are encouraged to watch the Foundation website for additional funding opportunities in 2012. On behalf of Santa….Merry Christmas!!

Ashley Bice, Executive Director, presents $500 to Otterbein Public Library Director Sarah Atchison.

Santa knows all the fun does not happen at Christmas time…that is why he stopped at the Otterbein Public Library today to give staff $500 for the Summer Reading Program.

Summer Reading Programs are a valuable part of every town in our community. This past summer, the Otterbein Library entertained 515 people during their 8-week program. Sarah Atchison, Director of the Library, explained to Santa, “Each year we are able to do more and more for our community by providing quality summer reading events that give our families, children, elderly, and community members of all ages a chance to experience things not often available in our area and to promote literacy and reading for enjoyment. We have had side shows, symphonies, ten foot tall puppets, magicians, storytellers, ghost hunters, candy makers, and many other groups come to our Library to educate and entertain our patrons. Not to mention thousands of books read as a result!”

An increase in community participation, a stagnant budget, and a decrease in donations are making it difficult for the Library to maintain the Summer Reading Program. “Our staff tries to be very creative in how we use our funds to make the budget cover quality materials and speakers. However, we hope to increase our program attendance each year. Our current funding will not reach to include all we hope to offer our community in 2012.”

Santa and Benton Community Foundation are pleased to help the Library provide these new experiences to our community and encourage a life-long love of learning. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow to see where Santa’s final stop will be in Benton County before he goes back to the North Pole to prepare for the big night!

Ashley Bice, Executive Director, presents $500 to His Kids’ Kloset volunteers (l to r) Kim Schoen, Jean Fritz, Leah Sowards, Gayle and Tony Lee.

On the third day of Christmas…Santa gave $500 to His Kids’ Kloset!

Twelve different individuals wrote to Santa on behalf of His Kids’ Kloset this year; letters came from both enthusiastic volunteers and grateful clients. The Kloset, a mission of the Fowler Christian Church, was inspired after church members witnessed the basic needs of many children in our community during a weekly children’s church program.

Since opening in June 2010, the Kloset has served 775 children from 330 different families! Kim Schoen, shared, “On a typical Saturday morning, the Kloset will help between 150-200 children. The Kloset’s mission is to provide any child in need who lives in the Benton Community area with FREE gently used clothing, shoes, new socks, underwear, and school supplies.” As the Chairperson of the Kloset, Schoen estimates that the Kloset will incur $10,000 in expenses this year to fulfill that mission.

Loretta Ferguson, Kloset Volunteer, told Santa, “Watching these children pick out articles of clothing is comparable to watching a child open toys on Christmas morning!” With the cold upon us, His Kids’ Kloset will use these funds to purchase coats when they do not have a specific size children need. It will also help purchase socks, underwear, shoes, and clothes when the needs arise.

Benton Community Foundation is proud to sponsor Letters 2 Santa this holiday season! There are so many great people doing amazing work in our community; these grants give us a chance to show our appreciation for their efforts. Santa still has two $500 checks to give away this week…make sure you check back tomorrow to see where the sleigh lands!

Ashley Bice, Executive Director, presents $500 to (l to r) Benton County Salvation Army volunteers Elva James, Danielle Menefee, and Erica Wetli.

Santa was back in wet Benton County this morning spreading some holiday cheer. Today’s stop was the office of Elva James, the coordinator for Salvation Army in Benton County. The gift of $500 will help meet crisis needs of Benton County families in 2012.

Elva shared with Santa, “In 2010, Salvation Army provided assistance to 95 Benton County residents, 43 of whom were children. Working with other local organizations such as Community Action, Salvation Army can assist with utilities, rent, gas, and clothing.” In addition, the organization provided school supplies to children and Easter gifts to residents in local nursing facilities. Support from our community is crucial to helping these families in need. In early December, Salvation Army had less than $500 in their bank account. Thankfully they have received over $2,000 in donations this holiday season!

Benton Community Foundation is proud to sponsor Letters 2 Santa this holiday season! There are so many great people doing amazing work in our community; these grants give us a chance to show our appreciation for their work. Check back each day this week to hear who Santa will visit next!

Ashley Bice, Executive Director, presents $500 on behalf of Santa to (l to r) CAAP Advisor Sandy Herre, Julie Hoskins, and CAAP Advisor Jennifer Hoben

Santa and his elves were overwhelmed by the response to the Letters 2 Santa campaign! Over 40 letters were received, supporting all kinds of “good” organizations in our community. This morning Santa surprised Benton Central’s CAAP group with the first of five $500 presents this week!

Community supporter Julie Hoskins asked Santa to help CAAP this year. “This past Saturday, the members of CAAP went shopping for all of the students in the special needs classes. This is an annual project that is called Christmas in a Shoebox. They are buying for 29 students this year…the total bill is usually around $2500.” Santa hopes that this present will help replenish CAAP’s funds so that they can continue their many other projects in the community including Relay for Life, Suicide Walk, Super Saturday, helping with elementary reading and after school programs, and so much more!

Julie told Santa, “I am so impressed with the work this club does, that even though my son graduated, I continue to help when I can. I believe any of the kids involved with CAAP will continue to give back for the rest of their lives.”

Benton Community Foundation is proud to sponsor Letters 2 Santa this holiday season! There are so many great people doing amazing work in our community; these grants give us a chance to show our appreciation for their work. Check back each day this week to hear who Santa will visit next!

Take a few minutes to explain your project to Santa in a short letter. Requests must be received at the Foundation office by Friday, December 16th. One award will be announced daily from December 19th-23rd at www.bentoncf.org and on the Foundation’s Facebook page.

A program for your child’s school, new books for your library, support for the food pantry, a mission at church…what community project will you ask Santa to help?

More information is available through the Foundation’s website or by calling 765.884.8022. Good Luck!