2016-2017 Brag Book

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MEETS $1M CHALLENGE BY Navar Watson, Chronicle-Tribune Hundreds of donors raised $1 million for the Community Foundation of Grant County over the course of 18 months as part of a challenge grant by Lilly Endowment Inc. As a result, Lilly matched every donated dollar, doubling the foundation’s donated funds to $2 million. “We’re abundantly grateful for Lilly Endowment for offering us such a huge gift,” Dawn Brown, executive director of the Community Foundation said. “(Grant County) is the third most generous county in the state, and our donors prove this time and time again.” More than 340 donors contributed to 95 existing endowment funds, according to a Community Foundation press release. Donors opened 15 new endowment funds during the donation process, taking advantage of the opportunity to receive matching dollars. Brown said people from five years old to 90-some years old donated to the foundation. The smallest donation was $5 and the largest donation was $400,000. The deadline to raise the $1 million was March 31, and Brown said she worked until the very last day to secure the full match. “We worked it really hard,” Brown said. “It was totally worth it.We’re so excited.” She said news of the challenge grant came unexpectedly to all 94 community foundations in Indiana’s 92 counties via mail. The Lilly Endowment challenged each community foundation to raise a certain amount money for a matching opportunity, depending on the size of the county it served. 2

The statewide challenge grant was the sixth phase of Lilly’s Giving IndianaFunds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative, which started more than 25 years ago.This sixth phase’s funds totaled at $66 million.Lilly challenged the Community Foundation of Grant County to raise $1 million.Other counties in the 50,001-150,000 population ranged werechallenged the same.“I was shocked when I heard the news that Lilly Endowment was offering amillion-dollar opportunity for Grant County,” former board president of thefoundation, Chad Leighty, said in the press release. “I am continually impressedwith the Lilly Foundation’s support of communities within our state.”He said the benefits of the grant and the work of the foundation staffand donors will touch many lives for years to come.Brown said the GIFT grant requires 50 percent of the$1 million in Lilly funds to benefit the foundation’sunrestricted endowment funds, which are used to fundgrants annually in the city. This allows the CommunityFoundation’s grants committee an immediate andadditional $100,000 to distribute in its first year alone.Brown said this will allow the foundation to benefit morenonprofits applying for grants than before.WOW! 3

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I absolutely plan to serve mythird term. I love serving on this board! Great mission and great people. Judy 5

Here is your website address, LaRea: www.GiveToGrant .org/Platt Dawn, As you know, this has made me extremely happy. Thank you so much for helping to arrange it. LaRea 6

You are AMAZING, Dawn, and such a gift to thecommunity foundation field! You never fail to inspire, challenge, and help us look at things more holistically and with fresh eyes. Bless you!!! (and thanks forsharing this incredible tool!) L. 7

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This is fantastic, Dawn! You’re such a talented writer.Thank you so much! I can post on our blog early next week(maybe by EOD today), then we can promote in our July newsletter along with social media. -Lissa Bradley 9

Dawn and Meagan, I just want to say how proud I am of you guys for updating this weekly …Meagan you are stellar! There is no question by doing that it has helped us SHOW people what a great investment this is. GROWING! WINNER! Way to go and thank you. Just a little over a year. More to come. :) Thanks Mark10

I have loved being on thedistribution committee and would like to continue being on it. I absolutelyloved our flower that yousent!! I was going to plant it but decided to eat it instead! 11

Cue the little kid from “The Incredibles”: That was TOTALLY AWESOME!!! And so are you! Thanks! -William Rhodehamel12

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Nailed it!! Another greatarticle! And thanks for thehomework on getting ridof those donation boxes!! cj 21

S'MORES KIT Dawn, I just had to tell you how much we LOVED your Smores mailing! How creative!! Marketing appreciates your creativity! :) Have a great day! Michelle Peterson VIA CU Marketing Manager 22

S'MORES KIT Love your articles and I wanted to say thank you for the miniature s'mores kit. So clever! -Lana Stuber 23

Good Luck, Abbi!24

DEAR DAWN, I TRUST DR. WRIGHT HAS SHARED WITHYOU THE NEWS OF MY RESIGNATION FROMIWU. WHEN I MET WITH HIM YESTERDAY, I TOLD HIM THAT CHRISTY AND I HAVEBEEN SENSING FOR SOME TIME NOW THAT GOD IS OPENING OTHER DOORS FOR US. BUT THAT UNFORTUNATELY MEANS THIS ONE AT IWU HAS TO CLOSE. AS IT DOES, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THEBLESSING YOU HAVE BEEN TO IWU AND TO ME. MAY YOU BE ENCOURAGED BY THE WORK GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO HERE. AND MAY YOU CONTINUE TO BE BOTH BLESSED BY AND A BLESSING TO THIS PLACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXTINTERACTION. IN THE MEANTIME, ALL THE BEST TO YOU, DAWN! SINCERELY, BRIAN GARDNER 25

Dawn, I work with the Institutional Consulting Group at Merrill Lynch, where we help foundations andendowments achieve their financial goals. I saw in your annual report(which is by far the best report of any foundation in Indiana – so muchcharacter!) that you’re above $20mm in assets, which is quite an accomplishment. If you’re thinking about hiring an investmentmanagement consultant for the firsttime, or if you have a consultant and are considering an RFP process, wewould love to speak with you or your finance committee. Best, John Bradburn26

Hi Dawn,Good morning! I'm sitting in the airport right now probably looking very silly- your emailbrought a big smile to my face!!! Thanks for ALL you do! Can't wait to see what the rest of 2016 has in store for us andGrant County! Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend! -Julie Cline 27

Dawn, We have over 60 plus kids in the Giant Discovery Zone so far and we still have two weeks to go. Now phone calls, flyers and presentations are being done. FYI the Department of Education saw our video and program and according to Brenda McVicker they were crying with joy for the synergy for our kids. Pretty cool. Thanks for believing in us. Who loves you? Mark28

CITIZENS ADVISORYCOUNCIL MEETING Hi Dawn, A big thank you for helping today happen! the talk was great, right up our alley here at MDCO! Thank you for introducing me to Drew. And, thank you for being a part of the design thinking session. I’ve heard positive feedback thus far. I'm praying that we can keep momentum. Also, just so you know, we were granted the bank building for one more full year to continue our research and projects! It’s such a blessing to see the help of the city and county come together so we can be obedient to this community calling! I appreciate you Dawn! Herb Peterson 29

Judy Fitzgerald2016 Realtor of the Year Dawn, Thank you so much for your very kind (and embellished) words on the video presented at the Realtor Awards Banquet. Your thoughtfulness and your comments mean so much to me. It was truly an exciting evening and the video made it even more special. I know that you made those arrangements also...you’re the best! Sincerely, Judy30

Error 404Hi Dawn,Just wanted to thank you for thepersonal hand-written note that you wrote to us regarding the Harry & Jane Finch fund for the memorial that we gave for Harry’s sister. Computer glitches happen………..as Ialways say, tech is great as long as it works :) Glad that the glitch is repaired!Phil & Sarah Smith 31

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Dawn and Cassie, Thank you again for visiting our class this week. I'm grateful for your willingness to help out with this project, and am excited for the students to have an engaging and potentially very beneficial project to work on this semester. Please keep in touch as the fall season plays out. Thanks again, Jacob36

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Kellie, Andrew, Earnest, Heather, Julie, and David, Thank you so much for your rapid response to the generous donation from Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service. Based on our communications, and in order of reservation, I have the following reserved for you with Mark Storey. ORGANIZATIONS ITEMS Affordable Housing Corporation 50 folding chairs Circles of Grant County 2 couches; 1 love seat Grace House 3 couches Family Service Society 2 couches, 2 love seats, 2 chairs,Boys and Girls Club 3 couches, 2 stand-up lamps; 1 love seat Carey Services 2 - 6 couches, 1 - 5 loveseatsPlease contact Mark at 664-5030 and he will work with you to schedule pick-up for these items. Aren’t we so blessed with the abundant generosity in the Grant County community? Thanks, Mark! Regards, Dawn 38

Dawn,Thanks!!! the furniture is 75% gone. We have several chairs still available and ahost of table lamps. All couches are gone. I'm sure that the rest will be gone soon.Appreciate your help. I know these items went to \"good homes\" !!! Mark Storey Needham Storey Wampner 39

Hey Dawn: I always love reading your blogs…your writing is fun, interesting and inspiring. Iparticularly like the simple way at the end youtied it all back to the community foundation and how it’s so versatile. And I think your website is easy to navigate. Brava! Keep up the great work, Paula Paula Van Ness President & CEO Connecticut Community Foundation 40

SHELLY AND DIANNE, I HEARD ABOUT THE $700 SHORTFALL THAT TURN THE PAGE HAD FOR THIS YEAR’S BOOKS. SO, I DECIDED TO ASK THE FUND CONTACTS (LOCALLIBRARIANS) FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY FUND IF THEY’D BE WILLING TO MAKE A GRANT TO THE TURN THE PAGE FUND. THEY VOTED AND WILL BE MAKING A $760 GRANT, THE FULL SPENDABLE FOR IMAGINATION LIBRARY THIS YEAR, TO TURN THE PAGE! I HOPE THAT GETS YOU TO THE PLACE YOUNEED TO BE TO PROVIDE BOOKS TO OUR LITTLES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR! CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU’RE DOING, DAWN DAWN, THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS! THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE TURN THE PAGE FUND. OUR WOMAN'S LIFE CHAPTERS WILL BE THRILLED TOLEARN OF THIS GRANT, AND KNOW THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE THEIR BOOKS. WARM REGARDS, DIANNE 41

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Thank You Dawn, thank you! Actually, youdid help me without even knowing it. William forwarded me somethingthat they did that was copied aftersomething you did and he gave you the credit for it. I love our networking and everyone’swillingness to share their ideas/best practices! Always good to hear from you, Have a great weekend! Tami 43

Dawn, Was on my way to Taco Bell (south) today…and observed this overflowing donation box… …as well as the 2 in the background… I believe the overflowing one has been that way for a week plus… Weren’t you working with the city on getting these removed at one point? Was just curious… Thanks. Grant Cerny Grant, Yes, we having been working with the City of Marion on this.Legally, they had to give the donation dumpster owners 30-45 days to removed them. Until that window of time has passed, they cannot remove them legally. I’ve heard that they should be gone before the end of October, but I don’t know when Marion’s attorney sent the letters, so can’t say for sure. It should be soon though! Trust me, I want them out of here as much as anyone! Have a great week, Dawn Dawn, Very good…You are definitely “on it”!! Appreciate your work with this to help keep things looking well…and funneling the donations to those in our community… Thanks for your time. Grant 44

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Dawn: I just received the Collective Impact invitation. I love the way you summarized our work and issued the invitation to the community. Kudos. Kylie Jackson46

DAWN,I JUST FINISHED READY YOUR RECENT BLOG...BOY...THIS ONE REALLY WILL\"LEAVE A MARK\" ...GREAT JOB! JUSTLOVED IT! I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR BLOG...YOU TRULY ARE A GIFTED WRITER! HAVE A GREAT DAY! SUE FLEMING CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!!! 47

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DAWN - HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU, YOUR TEAM, AND YOUR FAMILY! YOUR SHEPHERD LEADERSHIP IS APPRECIATED! GALATIANS 6:9 BRAD LINDSAY50