South Whitley Community Facilities, Inc. awards grants during annual meeting

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South Whitley Community Facilities, Inc. recently met for their annual meeting. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were read and approved.

Grant requests were reviewed and monies were awarded to: 4-H STEM – supplies for the After-School Central South Whitley partnership; One Community – supplies for home delivered meals; Rainbow Preschool – educational supplies; Sonshine Child Care Ministry – nutritional breakfast and snack foods; South Whitley Fall Festival – musical entertainment for Fall Festival; South Whitley Youth League – equipment upgrade; The Center for Whitley County Youth – renovation projects for After-School Central South Whitley; and Whitko Jr/Sr High School – two $500 senior scholarships.

Elected to three-year terms on the board of directors were: Kris Shoemaker, Todd Jones, Cindy Barnett and Marlene Mishler. Officers elected included Todd Jones – president, Cindy Barnett – secretary and Joe Grant – treasurer. Cory Sickafoose, Ronda Sroufe, Wayne Swender and Tonya Warner are also Board members.

South Whitley Community Facilities Inc. was established in 1975 to build a medical clinic for four young doctors coming to the community. A massive, community wide fund drive was met with much community enthusiasm that raised over $50,000 in just four weeks. When the initial principal and interest were repaid, the community had over $70,000 to establish a lasting foundation to continue to promote the health and well-being of South Whitley and Cleveland Township.

Over the last 40 years, the interest from the principle sum has awarded over $250,000 to various local projects.

The Facilities funds are held in an endowment with the Community Foundation of Whitley County. Funds are used to “promote the health, education and welfare of citizens in South Whitley and Cleveland Township.”

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation to support Cleveland Township residents, should make their check payable to: South Whitley Community Facilities and send it to the Community Foundation of Whitley County, 1171 East Woods Way, Columbia City, IN 46725.