2020 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Winner

Congratulations, Sara! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and education.

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2018 Annual Report

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2020 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Finalists

2020 Lilly Scholarship Finalists

Each finalist should be proud to have made it this far, and we wish them all the best!

Taylor May, Sara Muhlenkamp, Leah Hamilton, Macey Weitzel

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2019 Summer Teacher Creativity Mini-Grant Recipient

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $2,994.88 for 11 projects for the second half of 2019.

Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants are to help cover the costs ($300 or less) of learning experiences which teachers feel are important to their students, yet are outside the budget of their school.  This program is funded by the Virgil and Josephine Thomas Educational Fund, a component fund of The Portland Foundation, as a way to increase funding for educational projects and programs.

This program funds grants for field trips, classroom supplies, class projects, programs, music or art instruction, speakers, educational materials and seminars.  The purpose is to allow teachers to become more creative in their teaching styles and methods, without being hindered by cost.

The grants awarded are as follows:

Ms. Carol Bantz – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 1 - $300 to fund the purchase of 3 Osmo Genius Kits for iPads

Ms. Dana Brown – East Jay Middle School Grade 6 - $259.95 to fund the purchase of STEM items

Ms. Tracy Christman – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 2 - $262.90 to fund the purchase of Lucy Caulkins’ Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing

Ms. Natalie Corcoran – Redkey Elementary School Grade 3 - $272.84 to fund the purchase of Math Movement

Ms. Carol Gebert – Jay County High School Theatre - $300 to fund the purchase of materials to build storage units for the scene shop

Ms. Amy Hollowell – East Jay Middle School Grade 6 - $189.75 to fund the purchase of the Scholastic News classroom set

Ms. Jennifer Johnson – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 4 - $225 to fund the purchase of new teaching materials

Ms. Beth Mathewson – General Shanks Elementary School Speech - $295.54 to fund the purchase of flexible seating options for the classroom

Ms. Lindsey Peterson – East Elementary School - $299 to fund the purchase of language therapy materials – The HearBuilder Collection

Ms. Sara Wolf – Westlawn Elementary School Kindergarten - $289.90 to fund the purchase of “Reading Reading” books

Ms. Kristine Wolford – East Elementary School Kindergarten - $300 to fund the purchase of items for a listening center

The next Teacher Creativity Mini-Grant Application deadline is January 9, 2020.

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2019 Summer Grant Recipients

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Portland Foundation Announces Summer 2019 Grant Recipients

Out of the requests from 28 different projects totaling $445,512.00, the Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved grants totaling $230,210.00 for 21 Jay County projects for the second half of 2019.  $225,696.00 comes from unrestricted funds and $4,514.00 from field of interest funds. Those grants are as follows:

Arts Place - $15,000 to fund the summer 2020 Arts in the Parks program

Breakfast Optimist Club of Portland - $2,500 to fund the purchase of four outdoor picnic tables for the Optimist Stand at the Jay County Fairgrounds.  $1,487 comes from unrestricted funds and $1,013 comes from the Fund For A More Attractive Community, a field of interest fund

Jay Community Center - $13,135 to fund senior citizen programming.  $10,000 comes from unrestricted funds and $3,135 comes from field of interest funds that support senior citizens

Jay County 4-H Clubs - $5,000 to fund repairs of the kitchen in the 4-H building and the purchase of an air conditioner

Jay County Civic Theatre - $2,500 to fund the rights for the play “Freaky Friday”

Jay County Fair Association - $38,176 to fund the establishment of eighteen new full service camp sites at the Jay County Fairgrounds

Jay County Fair Association - $27,310 to fund the purchase of 80 new benches for the Farmers Building

Jay County FFA - $5,495 to fund the purchase of a High Striker (ring a bell) to be used at the FFA area at the Jay County Fairgrounds

Jay County Historical Society - $6,000 to fund roof repairs at the Jay County Historical Museum

Jay County Historical Society - $45,800 to fund the purchase of property for additional storage space and parking

Jay County Humane Society - $1,000 to fund fence repair for a dog run

Jay County Pee Wee Football - $1,500 to fund the purchase of 80 pair of “Gear Intimidator” shoulder pads

Jay County Robotics - $1,853 to fund the purchase of robotics equipment

Jay-Randolph Developmental Services - $5,000 to fund the upgrade and repair of the walking trail and execrise stations at JRDS

Jayland Partners - $1,441 to fund the purchase of books for a book club for people with disabilities. $1,075 comes from unrestricted funds, and $366 comes from the Jay County Endowment for Literacy, a field of interest fund.

John Jay Center for Learning - $41,500 to fund Phase II of the replacement of aging heat and air units

Kate’s Kart - $4,000 to fund the purchase of books to be distributed at IU Health Jay Hospital

Pennville Community Boosters - $1,500 to fund the Pennville Pumpkin Festival

Redkey Junior League - $2,000 to fund the purchase of new bleachers

Tri Kappa Sorority, Beta Theta Chapter - $2,000 to fund the purchase of a new frozen beverage machine

West Jay Community Center - $7,500 to fund the replacement of water heaters and the purchase of a treadmill and a tier rack for weights

 “As always, The Portland Foundation is very pleased to be able to award these grants. The funds would not be possible if not for the countless gifts from Jay County citizens over the past 68 years. These programs help support our mission; to enhance the quality of life for the people in Jay County,” said Foundation Executive Director Doug Inman. 

The next grant application deadline is January 2, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.

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Lilly Endowment Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow

The Portland Foundation has successfully completed the Lilly Endowment Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VII Initiative challenge match to increase it’s unrestricted endowment. The Foundation eclipsed the $250,000 goal by receiving $254,428 in gifts to twenty six different unrestricted endowment funds. Fifteen of the twenty six endowments are new due to the challenge match. Lilly Endowment Inc. will match the $250,000 raised with another $500,000.

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2019 Winter Grant Recipients

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

 The Portland Foundation Announces Winter 2019 Grant Recipients

Out of the requests from 27 different projects totaling $522,666 the Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved grants totaling $220,447 for 18 Jay County projects for the first half of 2019.  $208,593 comes from unrestricted funds and $11,854 from field of interest funds. Those grants are as follows:

Arts Place - $30,000 to fund the MusicWorks program

Down Syndrome of Indiana, Inc. - $350 to fund supplies for New Parents Packets.  Funding comes from the Robert and Frances Gillespie Endowment, which supports the education of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Dunkirk Glass Days Festival - $5,000 to fund glass blowing demonstrations

Jay Community Center - $30,000 to fund the Boomer Sports program

Jay County Archers - $5,000 to fund the purchase of 3D archery targets

Jay County Fair Association - $34,000 to fund construction of a new Farmer’s Building

Jay County Fourth of July Committee - $9,000 to fund the Fourth of July celebration  

Jay County Historical Society - $5,000 to fund the Jay County Heritage Festival.  $1,376 comes from unrestricted funds and $3,624 comes from the Clyde E. Geeting Memorial Trust, which provides funding for historical facilities

Jay County Humane Society - $1,047 to fund the purchase of exterior kennel dog doors.  Funding comes from the Mel and Evelyn Hanlin Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Fund and the Harold Rex and Kiku Hardwick Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Fund 

Jay County Special Olympics - $5,000 to fund entry fees and hotel expenses for Jay County Special Olympians.  $3,167 comes from unrestricted funds and $1,833 comes from the Robert and Frances Gillespie Endowment and the Jean Leslie Jaqua Endowment, which are designated to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Jay-Randolph Developmental Services - $5,000 to fund the development of a client computer lab

John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund the Speakers Series and Symposium

John Jay Center for Learning - $15,000 to offset tuition costs for students in the SkillsTrac Industrial Maintenance Training Program

John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund Robotics Camp

John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund the Senior Learning Series.  Funding comes from the Elizabeth A. Starbuck Fund for the Elderly

Pennville Community Center - $50,000 on a $2 for $1 match to fund the renovation of the two Pennville Community Center buildings

West Jay Community Center - $6,050 to fund roof repairs and thermostat replacement

Youth Service Bureau - $5,000 to fund the Keeping At Risk Students in School (KARSS) program

  “As always, The Portland Foundation is very pleased to be able to award these grants. The funds would not be possible if not for the countless gifts from Jay County citizens over the last 68 years. These programs help support our mission; to enhance the quality of life for the people in Jay County,” said Foundation Executive Director Doug Inman. 

The next grant application deadline is June 1, 2019 by 5:00 p.m.

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2019 Winter Teacher Creativity Mini-Grant Recipients

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $6,146.54 for 22 projects for the first half of 2019.

Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants are to help cover the costs ($300 or less) of learning experiences which teachers feel are important to their students, yet are outside the budget of their school.  This program is funded by the Virgil and Josephine Thomas Educational Fund, a component fund of The Portland Foundation, as a way to increase funding for educational projects and programs.

This program funds grants for field trips, classroom supplies, class projects, programs, music or art instruction, speakers, educational materials and seminars.  The purpose is to allow teachers to become more creative in their teaching styles and methods, without being hindered by cost.

The grants awarded are as follows:

Ms. Kerri Andreshack – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 1 - $300 to fund the performance of “Junie B Jones First Grader at Last”

Ms. Carol Bantz – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 1 - $300 to fund the performance of “Junie B Jones First Grader at Last”

Ms. Tavia Boolman – East Jay Middle School Grade 6 - $249 to fund the purchase of Flocabulary, Kid Blog and Dropbox programs

Ms. Kelly Bricker – Redkey Elementary School Art - $300 to fund the purchase of rocket kits

Ms. Kelly Bricker – Westlawn Elementary School Art - $300 to fund the purchase of rocket kits

Ms. Gina Brockman – East Jay Middle School Grade 8 - $210.68 to fund the purchase of STEM instruction materials

Ms. Megan Byard – East Jay Middle School Grade 8 - $300 to fund the purchase of a 31-class set of the novel “All American Boys”

Ms. Stacy Campbell – Redkey Elementary School Kindergarten - $287 to fund the purchase of a sensory table

Ms. Tracy Christman – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 2 - $300 to fund the performance of “Junie B Jones First Grader at Last”

Ms. Lisa Cook – Jay School Corporation Speech - $289.80 to fund the purchase of speech and language instruction materials

Ms. Holly Farr – Westlawn Elementary School Grade 4 - $300 to fund the purchase of an Amazon Echo, an Amazon Dot, and related items

Ms. Cathy Fugiett – Redkey Elementary School Library - $300 to fund the purchase of Lego Chain Reaction kits

Ms. Cathy Fugiett – Westlawn Elementary School Library - $300 to fund the purchase of Lego Chain Reaction kits

Ms. Kristen Gibson – Bloomfield Elementary School Grade 5 - $81.51 to fund the purchase of fluorescent light covers for the classroom

Mr. Giles Laux – Bloomfield Elementary School Grade 5 - $280 to fund the purchase of a VEX IQ starter kit

Ms. Nicci Littler – Westlawn Elementary School Library - $275 to fund the purchase of a child sized picnic table made of recycled plastic cups

Ms. Beth Mathewson – Jay School Corporation Speech - $296.36 to fund the purchase of Prokoque2Go posters

Ms. Lindsey Peterson – East Elementary School - $280.19 to fund the purchase of materials to decorate the interior of the school

Ms. Jacqueline Rinard – Redkey Elementary School Kindergarten - $300 to fund the purchase a new sight word initiative

Ms. Christa Robinson – Westlawn Elementary School Reading Recovery - $300 to fund the purchase of leveled books

Ms. JoAnn Scott – Jay School Corporation Special Education - $297 to fund the purchase of three IPEVO 4K Ultra High Definition USB Document Cameras to assist visually impaired students

Ms. Sara Wolf – Westlawn Elementary School Kindergarten - $300 to fund the purchase of “Reading Reading” books

 The next Teacher Creativity Mini-grant Application deadline is June 1, 2019.

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2019 Lilly Endowment Winner

Congratulations, Clare! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and education.

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2019 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Finalists

2019 Lilly Scholarship Finalists

Each finalist should be proud to have made it this far, and we wish them all the best!

Clare Dirksen, Kaitlyn Dow, Daniel Bracy, Dillon Muhlenkamp

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