2023 Annual Report

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2025 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Finalists

2025 Lilly Scholarship Finalists

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

Top: Madelynn Snow and Aubrey Millspaugh Bottom: Morgan DeHoff, Ella Stockton and Coryn Blalock

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Gift VIII

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2023 Lilly Endowment Scholarship Finalists

2023 Lilly Scholarship Finalists

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

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2023 Winter Teacher Creativity Mini-Grant Recipients

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $2,583.95 for 9 projects for the first half of 2023.

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 classroom supplies, class projects, programs, music or art instruction, speakers, and educational materials.  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 – West Jay Elementary School Grade 1 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of books for the classroom

Ms. Kelly Bricker – Redkey Elementary School Grade 6 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of rocket kits for the classroom

Ms. Kelly Bricker – West Jay Elementary School Grades K-6 - $300.00 to fund the purchase clay and glaze for ceramic art projects

Ms. Natalie Corcoran – Redkey Elementary School Grade 2 - $273.75 to fund the purchase of Sing Your Way Through Phonics program

Ms. Holly Farr – West Jay Elementary School Grade 4 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of indoor recess games

Ms. Erin Homan – General Shanks Preschool - $299.10 to fund the purchase of items for learning centers, Grandparents Day, and Preschool Graduation

Ms. Beth Mathewson – East Jay Elementary School Speech - $249.00 to fund the purchase of a one-year online subscription to Digital SLP

Ms. Erin Roesch – Redkey Elementary School Grade 5 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of rocket kits for the classroom

Ms. Julie Szymczak – Jay County Jr-Sr High School Special Education - $262.10 to fund the purchase of five ergonomic home office desk chairs for students

The next Teacher Creativity Mini-grant Application deadline is June 26, 2023.

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2023 Winter Grant Recipients

THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Portland Foundation Announces Winter 2023 Grant Recipients

Out of the requests from 29 different projects totaling $582,975 the Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved grants totaling $267,555 for 20 Jay County projects for the first half of 2023.  $232,911 comes from unrestricted funds and $34,644 from field of interest funds. Those grants are as follows:

A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope - $20,000 to fund addiction treatment for Jay County individuals

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

Arts Place - $5,000 to fund the Eric R. Rogers Performing Arts Series at Hudson Family Park

Dunkirk Beautification Committee - $2,300 to fund the Webster Depot Park summer concert series

Jay Community Center - $25,000 to fund the Boomer Sports program

Jay County 4-H Clubs - $10,000 to fund roof repair on the 4-H Exhibit Hall and the purchase of an ice machine

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition - $25,000 to fund the Peer Addiction Support Team (PAST) program

Jay County Fourth of July Committee - $10,000 to fund Fourth of July Activities in Jay County

Jay County Historical Society - $5,000 to fund the Heritage Festival

Jay County Pee Wee Football - $15,000 to fund the purchase of 150 new football helmets

Jay County REMC - $6,000 to fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Jay County

Jay-Randolph Developmental Services - $2,455 to fund the purchase of materials for clients.  Funding comes from the Robert M. and Frances O. Gillespie Educational Trust and the Jean Leslie Jaqua Fund, which are both designated to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

John Jay Center for Learning - $6,000 to fund Robotics and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camps

John Jay Center for Learning - $6,000 to fund the Senior Learning Series

John Jay Center for Learning - $10,000 to fund language classes for Spanish speakers learning English and English speakers learning Spanish

John Jay Center for Learning - $31,800 to fund the SkillsTrac Industrial Maintenance training program for Jay County Jr-Sr High School seniors.  Funding comes from the Weldon L. and Dorothy H. Hamma Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides funding for non-traditional students pursuing post-secondary education, including certifications, degrees and union journeyman cards.

Kate’s Kart - $5,000 to fund the purchase of new books for distribution to children at IU Health Jay Hospital.  $389 comes from the Jay County Endowment for Literacy.  The remainder comes from unrestricted Funds.

Pennville Community Gym - $40,000 to fund roof repair on the gym

Run for the Fallen – Honor and Remember of Indiana - $5,000 to fund the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit

West Jay Community Center - $8,000 to fund Summer Day Camp  

“As always, The Portland Foundation is very pleased to be able to award these grants. The generosity of Jay County citizens over the last 72 years allows the Foundation to carry out its 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 26, 2023 by 5:00 p.m.

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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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