Welcome to the Starke County Community Foundation
Starke County is a wonderful rural county comprised of small towns where everyone knows each other; and can always depend on neighbors and friends in a pinch. It has a wonderful heritage and a diverse cultural background that adds to its charm.

Since 1996, Starke 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.

Starke 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 Starke County donations can do more—right here in Starke County.

So far, Starke County Community Foundation has dispersed over 2 million dollars in grants and scholarships. Currently the Community Foundation holds nearly $3 million in assets and administers 64 funds.

STARKE COUNTY 4-H ENDOWMENT FUND
Help make the SC 4-H Fund $7,500 turn into $15,000!!

Through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Emigh (Maple Home Farms) and Mr. and Mrs. Brad Lawrence (Lawrence Family Farms), the Starke County 4-H endowment fund has an opportunity to grow by as much as an additional $15,000 this year!  $7,500, as a dollar for dollar match is being offered throughout the course of 2008, by the Emigh's and Lawrence's.  Your contribution to the Starke County 4-H Endowment fund will DOUBLE during 2008 until the match money has been exhausted. 

The Starke County 4-H Council can use the monies received from this fund to help finance specifically identified needs for 4-H programs each year. Possibilities include scholarships, new programs, building and ground improvements, or specific needs deemed a priority as it relates to the 4-H Council's mission and goals.  As a permanently endowed fund, Starke County 4-H will continue to receive the benefits of your contribution in perpetuity!

To date $4,500 has been pledged but we still have $3,000 to go to maximize the match offer!  That means there is still time to maximize your support for Starke County 4-H AND receive a tax deduction!  Call Kathy Norem at the Starke County Community Foundation (574-772-3665) to receive more information or to make a contribution!!

Thank you to our 2008 Starke County 4-H Donors!

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Emigh
Mr. and Mrs. Brad Lawrence
Knox Liquors, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Medesi
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Jensen
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Kensinger
Ms. May Crider
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Burch
Ms. Cleta Roscka
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Singleton Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Troike
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ferch
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Pflugshaupt
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Wilde
Mr. and Mrs. John Norem
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Holm
Mr. Kent Emigh
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Fosler
Mr. Doug Shannon
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Burch
Olsen Enterprises
Mr. and Mrs. Mat Swanson
Ms. Tammy Small
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Noonan
Mr. and Mrs. Don Paul
Farm Fertilizer, Inc.
Mr. Steve Berndt
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hayes
Mrs. Ellen Stevenson
Kiyoko Ikeda
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Wickert
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sinn
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Skronski
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Temple
Mr. and Mrs. Kim Hall
Ms. Becky Pflugshaupt
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Simpkins

Starke County 4-H Fund and Todd Jacob Stephenson Fund Still Have Match Money Available

We still have $2,500 in matching funds available for the SC 4-H fund during 2008! Your contribution to the SC 4-H fund could help turn $2,500 into $5,000 for the 4-H program!

We also have $1,000 in matching funds available for the Todd Jacob Stephenson fund during 2008! Your contribution to Todd's fund could help turn $1,000 into $2,000 for the benefit of children's programs and activities in Starke County!

Legacy of Women to Offer Spring Programs

The Legacy of Women of Starke County announced that their first program in the 2008 series. "Real Colors Matrixx System" will be held on Tuesday, March 4th at the Knox Middle School Cafeteria from 6-9 p.m.  The following two programs are:  "So Much to Do, So Little Time," on April 10th at the Oregon Davis High School and "The Riches Within," on Thursday, May 15th at the NJSP High School Auditorium.   

Real Colors Matrixx System is a simple personality style typing tool that helps participants understand themselves and others.  By using the Matrixx system, people can quickly identify their own personality style and that of others.

Corinne Powell, presenter for the evening program is a graduate of Valparaiso University and Indiana University.  She is currently in Consumer and Family Sciences in Lake County with Purdue Extension.  Powell has presented the program to hundreds of women in the past 18 years.  "It's interactive and fun," Powell said.  

Kathy Norem, chairperson of the Legacy of Women committee stressed the word "fun" when she talked about the program.  

"We are pleased to be offering this program as the first in our series of three events.  We encourage women to invite others they work with, friends, sisters, and neighbors, or anyone who spends time together in groups," Norem explained. "The dynamics of communicating with each other, working together, and sharing our friendships will all be a part of the Real Colors evening."  

In addition to the program, there will be basket raffles, door prizes and vendors with a variety of products.  

The Legacy of Women is a committee the Starke County Community Foundation organized to promote and develop leadership in women of all ages in Starke County. The series of programs in March, April and May are co-sponsored with Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Starke Memorial Hospital and the SCILL Center. Tickets are $5 per program or a series ticket may be purchased for $10.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or for ticket sale locations; you may call 574-772-3665.

Ober Arbor Gleaners Contribute to Starke County 4-H Agency Fund

Community Foundation Associate Director, Kathy Norem, and 4-H Council member, Mr. Wayne Emigh, accept a gift for the Starke County 4-H Fund from Ober Arbor member Mr. James Falk (far right).

The Starke County 4-H Endowment Fund, held through the Starke County Community Foundation, was the recipient of a donation from the Ober Arbor #477 of the Gleaner Life INS Society on Saturday, January 12, 2008.  Accepting the check from Ober Arbor member Mr. James Falk was 4-H Council member, Mr. Wayne Emigh and the Community Foundations Associate Director, Kathy Norem.  A portion of the contribution was from matching funds offered by the Gleaner Life Insurance Company, considered the "home" office for the Ober Arbor's. 

 "Agency Funds, such as the 4-H fund, are a great way to provide continued support to area service organizations in pursuing their charitable missions," Starke County Community Foundation Associate Director Kathy Norem explained. "We appreciate the generous support by the Ober Arbor Gleaners for an organization that does so much for our community's youth." 

"This fund provides a great vehicle for people to give back to a program that has really enhanced our children's lives over the years. Caring community members eager to support 4-H can make a gift that lasts forever through this fund," Norem explained. "That is because donations to this fund will be permanently endowed so that the interest will continue to support 4-H for perpetuity."

If you are interested in contributing to the Starke County 4-H Fund, please call Kathy Norem at 574-772-3665.