The Betty Ann McCullough Education Seminar and Convocation, Enrichment Project, and Teaching Achievement Grant Programs are now accepting applications. These three grant programs are administered by the Gibson County Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 5, 2025. Betty Ann McCullough was an educator for the North Gibson School Corporation for more than 40 years and a strong supporter of education in her community. Along with several civic memberships, she was a member of the Gibson County Community Foundation advisory board. After Betty Ann McCullough passed away in 1997, three funds and grant programs were established in her memory. The Betty Ann McCullough Education Seminar and Convocation Grant Program provides funding to public and private schools in Gibson County to host educational seminars and convocations to enhance the knowledge and skills of educators in science, mathematics, and language arts. The Betty Ann McCullough Enrichment Project Grant Program provides funding to schools (including institutions of higher learning), libraries, and other public education organizations based or having substantial programs in Gibson County for innovative projects, programs, and equipment designed to enhance mathematics, science, and language arts educational opportunities for Gibson County residents. The Betty Ann McCullough Teaching Achievement Grant Program awards a public-school educator for outstanding dedication and success in improving the mathematics or language arts skills and knowledge of students in the public schools of Gibson County. To apply, please visit https://www.gibsoncountycf.org/betty-ann-mccullough-grants-programs . The Betty Ann McCullough Education Committee will review applications and make recommendations for grant recipients. For additional information about eligibility and requirements or the grant application process, please contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org .

The Gibson County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Gibson County – Max Wahl, Gibson Southern High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. The first alternate, Allison Spindler, will receive a scholarship from the Friends of Gibson County Fund. Gage Maglis was named the second alternate. “Max demonstrated exceptional work ethic, leadership, and communication skills throughout his application and interview process," said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Gibson County Community Foundation. "The nominating committee was privileged to meet Max and is proud to recommend him for this transformative opportunity.” Smith continued, “This year, we received applications from 20 highly talented students. Each excelled academically and significantly contributed to various extracurricular and community activities. The outstanding quality of the applications made the selection process challenging for our dedicated committee, which carefully reviewed and scored each submission based on the established criteria." Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. “I’ve always tried to do my best in the things I do, but I still can’t believe it would lead to an achievement like this. I’m so thankful for my family and my community for always supporting me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the Community Foundation for giving me this honor,” said Max Wahl, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “Now, I don’t have to stress about my college finances as much, and I can focus more on making our state and our communities a better place. I hope to attend Notre Dame in the fall, where this scholarship will help me reach my full potential. You only live once, so make the most out of your life!” In determining Gibson County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to GPA, SAT/ACT, school activities and work experience, community service and volunteer activities, personal statement, impromptu essay, and finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Gibson County Community Foundation awarded more than $158,000 in grants to 35 nonprofits through its 2024 Community Good Grants program. These nonprofits are committed to supporting the needs of Gibson County. Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients! $12,500 to JD Sheth Foundation, Inc. to expand the weatherization program to include a regional expansion including pre-blight prevention $7,683.00 to Youth First, Inc. for evaluation and data collection $4,000 to East Gibson Dollars for Scholars to provide financial support to continue the education of graduating seniors of Wood Memorial High School $4,000 to Gibson Southern Scholarships, Inc. to provide four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors of Gibson Southern High School $4,000 to Princeton Area Dollars for Scholars to provide financial support to continue the education of graduating seniors of Princeton Community High School $2,000 to the Gibson County CEO to support students enrolled in the program which is designed to utilize partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes $714.00 to Owensville Community School for the purchase of The Math Thinker and Whole Class Deluxe Bundle Math Stacker Magnetic Set $717.47 to Owensville Community School for the purchase of Hands on Equations class set and Hands-on Equations Fractions for two classrooms $960 to South Gibson School Corporation to purchase 24 phonic kits from Rocking Chair Readers $600 to Oakland City University-Acorn Academy to purchase hands-on materials $3,960 to Chemo Buddies to purchase supplies for 66 first-day comfort kit bags and last-day balloons, along with wigs, hats, accessories, and cosmetics for 10 cancer patients from Gibson County $9,000 to Holly's House, Inc. to teach skills to keep kids safe from abuse by providing child abuse prevention programming to elementary students in Gibson County $4,200 to Bread of Life Ministry, Inc. to pay the freight for donated food and to purchase food items at discounted prices to distribute to low-income families in the Tri-state area $2,000 to Tri-State Food Bank to provide assistance for Gibson County children who rely on the free lunch program during the week but need food to help them get through the weekend $4,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Gibson County to replace the HVAC unit at the Restore building $700 to the Oakland City Columbia Township Public Library to purchase items needed to clean the headstones of a community cemetery to preserve historical markers $200 to the Gibson County Council on Aging to purchase items needs for the free art/painting class for Gibson County Seniors to participate, learn and enjoy $5,000 to Emmy Corp dba Gibson County Animal Services to help seniors and different a bled residents of Gibson County enhance their lives and the lives of their pets $500 to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra to enable students from Gibson County to attend the March 2025, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Helen M. McKinney Young People's Concerts $4,000 to the Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America to provide support for the Scoutreach afterschool program within the North Gibson School District and the workforce development program $2,500 to the Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Inc. for expenses associated with survivor car travel to the Evansville shelter, safety, doctor's appointments, employment, etc. $20,000 to The Arc Southwest Indiana for the purchase of a vehicle designed to provide reliable and accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities in Gibson County $4,652 to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana to serve a total of 462 students in Gibson County, focusing on Work Readiness, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy $1,000 to the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana for materials to construct a Camper Closet which will create a clean and organized space to have "camp readiness bags" readily available for campers $17,535 to Princeton Youth Baseball to enhance overall accessibility and safety by demolishing and rebuilding a baseball dugout to ensure it accommodates people of all abilities $2,398 to Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation to cover the expense of printing 1,000, 24-page color informational booklets for students $2,000 to Owensville Ministerial Alliance Food Bank to buy food supplies and equipment for Montgomery and Wabash Townships $2,349 to the Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Inc. to purchase one new commercial freezer to enhance our food pantry in Gibson County $10,050 to Gibson County Youth Theatre to purchase the rights, royalties, materials, and orchestration for our 2024-2025 Season $3,700 to The Well of Gibson County to purchase incentives of $25.00 gift cards for gas, food, transportation (2 gift cards a month), and supplies $8,000 to Dream Builders of Indiana to purchase a 7x16 enclosed trailer to house tools and supplies to build beds for children in Gibson County in need $3,000 to Deaconess Hospital Foundation to provide patients who do not have access to transportation with rides to ensure they can consistently get to oncology treatments and appointments $3,000 to North Gibson Education Foundation, Inc. for the Tiger Alley Public Art Display which will showcase mural-sized art created annually by NGSC students to be displayed in a new community area in downtown Princeton $2,799 to True Hope Pregnancy and Family Resource Center of Gibson County to purchase the ILA Pro translation device to serve a more diverse client base $1,249 to Psi Iota Xi Sorority-Fort Branch to purchase and install one adapted swing, in the public park in Fort Branch public park, to promote accessibility in the community

Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!

Leslie Mustard's 15 Years of Service with the Gibson County Community Foundation

The Community Foundation Alliance has announced the recipient of this year’s Mark Kniese Scholarship. This annual scholarship is made possible by a fund established by August Neal in memory of Mark Kniese, a former counselor at Camp Carson in Princeton. To be eligible, applicants must not only demonstrate dedication and rapport with campers but also embody the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. This year, Riley Oakes of Evansville, Indiana, has been selected to receive a $3,500 scholarship. Riley is enrolled at the University of Southern Indiana, pursuing a dual degree in Psychology and World Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish, while also preparing for a career in Pre-Occupational Therapy. Reflecting on her time at Camp Carson, she shared, “Camp Carson has been my second home for the past three summers. I didn’t just find a physical home but also a community of people who have become dear friends. I’m incredibly thankful to work with them.”  She continued, “I love camp for the opportunities it provides everyone involved. It’s not just about the impact we have on campers but also how the camp experience has influenced me and my fellow counselors.” When asked about receiving the Mark Kniese Scholarship, Riley expressed her gratitude: “Words cannot describe the honor I feel in being awarded a scholarship in Mark Kniese’s name. I look up to the example he set and carry our camp values with me in every interaction I have with campers and counselors.” Riley also shared her excitement for the future: “In a few weeks, I’ll be leaving to spend the last semester of my undergraduate degree studying abroad in Spain. I’m eager to return to camp next summer and share my experiences with campers and counselors alike.” 2024 marks the 22 nd year of the Mark Kniese Scholarship with awards totaling more than $59,000.

Addiction Solutions Corporation recently received a $3,000 grant from the Gibson County Community Foundation through the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program. In celebration of Gibson County Community Foundation’s 30 th Anniversary, the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program allows advisory board members to recommend $3,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by advisory board member Kent Walden. Addiction Solutions Corporation (ASC) is a non-profit organization rooted in faith, established in 2018. Their initiative began with the creation of two recovery homes—one catering to men and the other to women in Vincennes, Indiana. In the same year, they opened a mixed-gender residence in Olney, Illinois. Then, in 2020, they extended their services to Gibson County by opening a men's home, and then a women’s residence in 2023. Presently, the organization serves a total of 65 residents across the three counties, with their primary focus on individuals struggling with substance abuse disorder. ASC provides a secure and structured environment for both men and women who are determined to transform their lives and overcome addiction. The program emphasizes not only immediate rehabilitation but also long-term restoration, by equipping their participants with the necessary tools to reintegrate into society as productive and contributing members. To learn more about ASC, visit their website at https://addictionsolutionscorp.org/ . For more information about funding opportunities through the Gibson County Community Foundation, contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.386.8082 or via email at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org .

Gibson County Animal Services recently received a $3,000 grant from the Gibson County Community Foundation through the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program. In celebration of Gibson County Community Foundation’s 30 th Anniversary, the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program allows advisory board members to recommend $3,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by advisory board member Tiffany Coomer. Established in 1996, Gibson County Animal Services (GCAS) works to address the issue of stray animal overpopulation within Gibson County, collaborating with law enforcement agencies across the county, partnering with various community organizations, and engaging residents. GCAS has implemented a range of programs and services designed to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. These initiatives include educational presentations at local libraries, wellness clinics tailored for low-income individuals, seniors, and veterans, training sessions addressing animal abuse prevention, regular adoption events, spay/neuter assistance, foster programs, and educational outreach in public schools, among others. To learn more about GCAS, or to find a new FUREVER friend, visit the organization’s website at https://www.gcasonline.org/ . For more information about funding opportunities through the Gibson County Community Foundation, contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.386.8082 or via email at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured (from right): Tiffany Coomer, Community Foundation Advisory Board Member, along with GCAS employees and youth volunteers.

Oakland City University recently received a $3,000 grant from the Gibson County Community Foundation through the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program. In celebration of Gibson County Community Foundation’s 30 th Anniversary, the Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting our Communities Grant Program allows advisory board members to recommend $3,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation’s most recent grant recommendation was made by advisory board member Amanda Dempsey. The OCU Campus Community Garden serves as a focal point for nature appreciation, preservation efforts, composting practices, and the promotion of pollinator habitats. Established in 2019, the Campus Community Garden serves as a hub for experiential learning, drawing participation from students, faculty, staff, and community members alike. The garden will soon introduce a new Beekeeping Club, providing opportunities for students and community members to engage in hands-on apicultural activities. As the garden continues to thrive and expand, there is a plan to provide fresh, organic produce to the East Gibson Food Pantry and make it accessible to the wider community, promoting food security and healthy eating habits. For more information about the OCU Campus Community Garden and how you can volunteer to assist with continued expansion of the garden, contact Amanda Dempsey, at gotmoxie67@gmail.com . For more information about funding opportunities through the Gibson County Community Foundation, contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.386.8082 or via email at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org . Pictured: Dr. Ron Dempsey, President, Oakland City University, along with community members, Southwest Indiana Master Gardners, and Oakland City University campus staff.