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Foundation 'touches lives in a positive way' |
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Written by Reporter1
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 |
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Page 2 of 2
The 17-year-old ACCF was portrayed in a 16-minute video at a Decatur Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday at Woodcrest Retirement Community as more than 40 people heard the program presented by ACCF Executive Director Coni Mayer.
In the video, a leading member of the foundation's board of directors, attorney Tim Baker, said of the organization, "It touches lives in a positive way every day."
In these times of economic distress, said Mayer, the ACCF can be a help by providing money for people who have been laid off from their jobs to attend college or to get a general educational development (GED) certificate, which assistance was enthusiastically summed up by Mayer when she said, "Give 'em some 'Attaboys!'"
More than 300 scholarships have been given away over the years through the auspices of the ACCF, primarily to high school graduates, but also to adults, who are called by the foundation "nontraditional students," meaning people out of high school for at least five years.
Scholarships can be used at trade and vocational schools and for retraining purposes.
The ACCF also is the vehicle through which numerous grants are made every year, such as more than $20,000 this past spring.
Mayer reported that, this year, for the first time, the ACCF is providing a third scholarship distribution because of economic problems locally.
A foundation information sheet distributed at the meeting said that, for nontraditional students, the ACCF is offering this month "a special distribution to students as a result of recent layoffs. Though many will get a $6,000 scholarship for retraining, this $6,000 will be used quickly and the ACCF will allow some assistance that will bring the students into the June distribution" of the foundation.
There were three grant distributions this year by the ACCF and that will expand to four in 2009.
Furthermore, says the information handout, "this is the first year the ACCF made concerted efforts to provide support to local food banks and support programs for meal preparation for residents with limited income. Mayer noted that, in Adams County, an additional five families per week seek food assistance.
The ACCF is also branching out in 2008 to deliver scholarships to local school districts to help pay for textbook rentals. Says the foundation statement, "Parents who are experiencing layoffs and have multiple children enrolled in local schools can qualify for assistance for their book rental fees."
The list of recipients of ACCF aid and fundraising ability is long, and growing annually, including the Paul and Kathryn Strickler Oncology Institute being built beside Adams Memorial Hospital for $1.4 million, the $20,000 campaign to repair the Boy Scout Cabin in Decatur's Hanna-Nuttman Park, sending treats to local citizens serving in U.S. military units around the world, and assisting the Adams County Historical Society's annual Christmas Walk in Decatur, the Adams-Wells Crisis Center in Decatur, the Boys' and Girls' Club, LOVE INC, and many more.
There are eight ways to donate to the Adams County Community Foundation:
• Give to an existing fund or establish a named fund through a gift of cash or securities,
• Make a pledge over a specific period of time.
• Include the ACCF in your will or estate plan.
• Give a gift of life insurance, creating a major gift at a relatively low cost to the donor.
• Transfer an existing private foundation or charitable trust.
• Set up an annuity, charitable remainder trust, or other planned giving instrument.
• Establish a corporate giving program.
• Give an honorary or memorial gift to honor, acknowledge, or perpetuate a friend or a relative or to award an honor to a coworker or an associate.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 November 2008 )
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