Welcome to the Miami County Community Foundation
Miami County is a wonderful community with a rich heritage, steeped in history. Since 1993, Miami County Community Foundation has brought caring people and charitable endeavors together for the good of this great community. The Community Foundation gives donors flexible and tax-effective ways to ensure their charitable giving. We work to build substantial endowment funds for our community through contributions large and small.

Miami County Community Foundation is proud to be a part of the Northern Indiana Community Foundation (NICF). The NICF allows us to maximize our investment benefits and be more cost efficient. This way Miami County donations can do more—right here in Miami County.

So far, Miami County Community Foundation has dispersed nearly 3 million dollars in grants and scholarships. Currently the Community Foundation holds over $4 million in assets and administers 69 funds.

Miami County Community Foundation will proudly offer the Ryan McCarthy Holmes Scholarship for 2009 Peru Graduates. Check back soon for a feature about the great man this scholarship honors.

Shall We Dance Miami County? The Community Foundation hosts
3rd Annual Dancing with the Stars event!

You don't have to be great dancers like Larry and Vicki Wheeler, to have a great time at Dancing with the Stars!

Six area couples will vie for the People's Choice Trophy at the Miami County Community Foundation's own "Dancing with the Stars" contest on April 19, at 7 p.m. at Lincoln School Apartments.

The fun-filled evening is a fundraiser for the Community Foundation, which is best known for the $3 million dollars it has put into our county via grants and scholarships. This year's event is brought to you by the sponsorship of Creekside Consulting and Edward Jones—Tyra Walker.

Cost for the event is only $20 per person to check out the moves of this year's performers in the spotlights of the Lincoln School stage. They include: Clyde and Tammy Fenton, Larry and Vicki Wheeler, Tim and Keri Davies, Arch Wiltshire and Janice Williams, Hiram and Stella Hoover, and Jenny Bowman and Tyra Walker. There will also be an exhibition performance of last year's winners, Andrew and Nancy Lipari.

At the end of the performances, the audience will be able to vote for their favorite performance at a cost of $1 per vote. The couple who raises the most money wins the coveted People's Choice Trophy. But other performers have the opportunity to win prizes as well. New this year is a panel of judges that include Debbie Alwine, Donna Noble and "Maximilian Wigglebottom." They will award three plaques for technical, overall and creative performances to those who do not receive the trophy.

"The best part of this event is that all proceeds benefit Miami County," explained Community Foundation Associate Director, Jenni Marsh, one of the organizers of the event. "We hope to raise a lot of money, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors."

Additional funding for the event was provided by: Rev. Steve and Michele Ailes, Ameriprise Financial—Leon Huskey, Berkshire Law Firm, and Norris Insurance. Harmon Photography and Tux Rental also provided additional support.

"It is such a great evening of entertainment and fun," Marsh said.

DJ Tim Davies will provide music for the evening. There will be appetizers and a cash bar provided by The Siding. There will also be a silent auction. The fun begins with refreshments and bidding at 7 p.m. The dance contest will begin at 8 p.m. Open dancing and more fun will follow.

Seating is very limited—those who want to join in the fun should RSVP by calling (765) 475-2859. The Lincoln School Apartments is a smoke-free facility. Smokers may smoke outside.

Laughs for Literacy: Comedians Raise Money for BOOKS Program

Nationally renown comedian Mike Toomey, will be raising money for the BOOKS Program here in Peru!

Grownups have an evening of laughter in store for them April 26, at 8 p.m. at Peru High School Auditorium. Three talented comedians from Chicago will make you laugh while raising money for a great cause—the BOOKS (Books Offer Our Kids Success) program.

The BOOKS Program buys a new book for every kindergartener at Peru, Maconaquah, North Miami and St. Charles' schools during the months they are in school. The goal of the program is to instill a love of literature and learning in Miami County's youth.

"It's been wonderful to see the children's enthusiasm and how these books have brought families together to read," the program's coordinator Kim Martino said. "We want to be sure the program is here for future generations to benefit from, which is why we are doing this fundraiser, to build funds for future BOOKS purchases."

The comedy show, sponsored by Beef 'O' Brady's, is being put on by comedians from Chicago. It will feature the talents of Mike Toomey, Brian Stephenson and Chuck Ray.

Toomey tours nationally, and has been a favorite at comedy clubs and special events since 1982. He has appeared in concert with such entertainers as Wayne Newton, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Reba McIntyre. He's performed on numerous television programs including HBO's US comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO, MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour, and A&E's Comedy on the Road. He currently performs in the one-man show, TV and Me and is regularly seen on WGN television in Chicago.

Brian Stephenson practices law, performs stand up comedy throughout Chicago and the Midwest, as well as produces and hosts Rolling Mojo's Comedy Revue. He has written and produced a number of plays including the one-man show A Voice Behind the Backstop. He recently won the "Zaniest Lawyer in Chicago" contest.

Chuck Ray is also a Chicago comedian who describes his humor as "Therapy Without the Couch." He regales audiences with his take on marriage, relationships and Starbucks coffee. The three comics' humor is geared to adults, but is not x-rated. It is not recommended for children.

"It's great to have this much talent come to Peru to help our cause," Martino added. "We are so grateful for the sponsorship of Beef 'O' Brady's and the on-going support of the Miami County Community Foundation, which is making this all possible."

Tickets will go on sale April 7. They will be available at Beef 'O' Brady's in Peru and at the Community Foundation office, in the Community Resource Center, at 13 E. Main Street. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Show goers can take their tickets in to Beef 'O' Brady's the night of the show and receive 10% the price of their meal, with the exception of alcoholic beverages.

Boomerang Sisterhood to Host Ladies' Night Out

Tonya Smith and Kim Martino chat at the Boomerang Sisterhood's kick off brunch last summer.

Boomerang Sisterhood members invite the women of Miami County to come to Ladies' Night Out, on May 1 at the Community Building at the 4-H Fairground. The open house event will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and will feature businesses that are run by, and/or that benefit the women in our community.

It's a great opportunity to visit with friends and enjoy time spent with the women who make things happen in our community! Boomerang Sisters (who have paid their membership in full) will also vote for the projects they wish to grant funds to in their initial grant cycle. Admission is free!

Key things to know about the Boomerang Sisterhood:

• It is drawing on the caretakers of our community. Since this is such a busy demographic of people, we will not have a lot of meetings, time obligations, or extended responsibilities.
• Membership to the Sisterhood is $120; half of which is used for granting, the other half is put into a fund to earn interest for future grant disbursements.
• It offers a special "student discount" of $60 for young women attending high school or college, who would like to join.
• Our meetings will be held annually to vote on which grant proposals will receive funding. Members who have paid their dues in full will have the right to vote.

Come learn more about the Boomerang Sisterhood and the women of our community!
May 1, 5-7 p.m., Community Building at the 4-H Fairgrounds