Our Community Foundation Inc

We are searching for our next Executive Director! Please visithttps://lnkd.in/g5wNQJr5

Today, we celebrate the incredible grandparents who fill our lives with love, wisdom, and cherished memories. In the spirit of Grandparents Day, we invite you to make a meaningful gift in honor of your grandparents. Your donation benefits our community, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come. Giving is made easy through our online platform: https://lnkd.in/gth4ybZ6 #wearedaviesscounty

Today is International Day of Charity! This day, recognized by the United Nations, highlights the power of giving back. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading kindness, we can all contribute to a better world. We invite you to support our local initiatives in Daviess County, making a difference right here in the community we share. Our Community Foundation provides a means for donors to address present and future needs in the community by forming permanent and temporary funds. We provide a variety of gift options to help donors achieve their charitable wishes and provide an outlet for charitable capital to be created and preserved. To make a gift today visit: https://lnkd.in/gth4ybZ6 or contact us at 812-698-5413 to learn more.

We recently announced that four educators at Barr Reeve Middle/High School have been named Foundation Teaching Innovators and received grants for their first-semester classroom projects. A $250 grant will be used in Jessica McConnell’s classroom to purchase needed supplies and equipment to allow students to experience storytelling through mini-documentary projects. “Regardless of post-secondary plans, students will need to use critical literacy skills to navigate this quickly changing world. Through the use of documentaries, students will gain insight into topics they are not familiar with and will develop analysis and critique skills as they write and respond to the documentaries, as well as plan, create, and edit their own,” says McConnell. A $250 grant will be used in Jessica Guinn’s classroom to purchase graphic novels. “Some students inherently love to read, and some do not,” says Guinn. “My goal as an educator is to help every student love reading. A graphic novel is a type of book that combines words and images, similar to a comic, but with more words. While at first glance this might seem too elementary for my high schoolers, they have all enjoyed the format of graphic novels - even my reluctant readers.” A $250 grant will be used in Jordan Guinn’s classroom to also purchase graphic novels. “In my current Spanish classes, we do a lot of individual reading, and a large portion of this reading comes in the form of daily reading of novels. Engaging reading experiences for students would help provide more language input for students who would otherwise not get it.” Finally, a $239 grant was awarded for 6 construction calculators in Stephen Bullock’s classroom. “These construction calculators will be used by the students to assist them in rafter and truss construction, stairway construction, and other various aspects of construction. This type of calculator is essential for all construction workers,” says Bullock. The Teaching Innovator Grant Program is a strategic investment by the Foundation in the education of Daviess County youth, so they are prepared for the future. Funding was provided by donations to three different funds held by the Foundation – the Jim and L Jane Norton Endowment, the Ken and Paula Jones Family Endowment, and the Administrative Support Fund. Thank you to our generous donors who make grants like these possible! #wearedaviesscounty

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday weekend!

We're excited to announce a new fund approved at the Foundation's August Board meeting, the David and Melissa Osmon Family Fund! If you are interested in donating to this or any of our funds, please visit https://lnkd.in/gth4ybZ6

Through the Teaching Innovator Grant Program, we recently awarded a $250 grant for an advanced density manipulation set at North Daviess Junior/Senior High School. The set will be used in educator Jasmine Spore’s classroom. During the grant presentation, Spore was also named a Foundation Teaching Innovator. “Students at North Daviess will use this set to perform inquiry-based research and collect data to determine unknown substances,” says Spore. “The rationale behind acquiring advanced density calculation equipment is to help students develop content and skills in the metric system and identifying unknown properties. This knowledge is very applicable to any science-related fieldwork. I foresee an impressive increase in the students' ability to use appropriate calculations and precise measurements, and the ability to use critical thinking skills to determine unknown substances that will set a foundation for future lab exercises.” The Teaching Innovator Grant Program is a strategic investment by the Foundation in the education of Daviess County youth, so they are prepared for the future. Funding was provided by donations to three different funds held by the Foundation – the Jim and L Jane Norton Endowment, the Ken and Paula Jones Family Endowment, and the Administrative Support Fund. Thank you to our generous donors who make grants like these possible! #wearedaviesscounty

Congratulations to the second of seven Teaching Innovator grant recipients! Washington Primary received a $250 grant to support a Painted Rock Garden in Kimberly Conder’s classroom and named Conder a 2024 Foundation Teaching Innovator. This art project is based on the children's book Only One You, which stresses how everyone is unique, and that each of us has something to contribute to the world. The grant will allow each student to create a unique painted rock that will then be displayed in a rock garden for all to enjoy for years to come. Conder said the rock garden will be a colorful addition to the school and “a daily reminder to students that no matter what, they're special and they have the power to change Daviess County as well as the world!” The Foundation conducted the competitive grant program during May and June, inviting Daviess County teachers to apply for resources for 1st semester 2024-25 projects. Funding was provided by donations to three different funds held by the Foundation – the Jim and L Jane Norton Endowment, the Ken and Paula Jones Family Endowment, and the Administrative Support Fund. Washington Community Schools #wearedaviesscounty

We recently awarded the first of seven Teaching Innovator grants. Washington Upper Elementary received a $250 grant to support a Hummingbird Bit Premium Kit for Lisa Emmick’s classroom and named Emmick a 2024 Foundation Teaching Innovator. “The kit contains lights, sensors, and motors,” says Emmick. “It is used in conjunction with a microprocessor to build projects, including robots and cars. It combines Artificial Intelligence with microelectronics and covers robotics and coding. This is the perfect union of four vital STEM areas all in one and will allow students to understand how all these things work together to create the products they see and use daily, as well as the types of careers that will be available to them in the future.” This grant program was conducted as a way for the Foundation and our donors to make a strategic investment in the education of Daviess County youth. Funding was provided by donations to three different funds held by the Foundation – the Jim and L Jane Norton Endowment, the Ken and Paula Jones Family Endowment, and the Administrative Support Fund. By providing funding that empowers educators to be innovators and create dynamic learning environments that meet the diverse needs of their students, our Daviess County youth are better prepared for success in our ever-changing world. Washington Community Schools #wearedaviesscounty