2021 Annual Report



Congratulations, Destiny McManus! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and education.
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
THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION
The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $2,346.76 for 9 projects for the first half of 2021.
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. Rhonda Clott – Jay County Jr.-Sr. High School Grades 9-12 - $250.00 to fund eleven members of the Jay Business Professionals of America (BPA) to attend state competition in March 2021
Ms. Lisa Cook – Jay School Corporation Speech - $ 288.84 to fund the purchase of speech and language instruction materials
Ms. Jenny Gibson – East Elementary School Grade 2 - $207.10 to fund the purchase of a set of SnapWords Pocket Chart Cards
Ms. LaVetha Loucks – Westlawn Elementary School Music - $300.00 to fund the purchase of a Soprano Ukulele Storage Rack
Ms. Beth Mathewson – Jay School Corporation Speech - $254.54 to fund the purchase of two eBook sets
Ms. Meg Mauger – Jay County Jr.-Sr. High School Grades 9-12 - $250.00 to fund eleven members of the Jay Business Professionals of America (BPA) to attend state competition in March 2021
Ms. Lindsey Peterson – East Elementary School Speech - $294.00 to fund the purchase of the Expanding Expression Tool Kit and materials for instruction
Ms. Brooke Schmiesing – East Elementary School Grade 2 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of three Chromebook chargers and a charging cart
Ms. Christy Shauver – Redkey Elementary School Resource Room - $202.28 to fund the purchase of reading and math curriculums for special education, and progress monitoring for IEP goals from Teachers Pay Teachers
The next Teacher Creativity Mini-grant Application deadline is June 14, 2021.
THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION
The Portland Foundation Announces Winter 2021 Grant Recipients
Out of the requests from 26 different projects totaling $626,595 the Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved grants totaling $282,485 for 22 Jay County projects for the first half of 2021. $243,847 comes from unrestricted funds and $38,638 from field of interest funds. Those grants are as follows:
A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope - $30,000 to fund addiction treatment for Jay County individuals
Arts Place - $5,000 to fund a post-pandemic celebratory community performance at the Hudson Family Park amphitheater
Arts Place - $25,000 to fund the MusicWorks program
Beneficence Family Scholars - $5,000 to fund monthly events to educate single parents on services provided in the community. $1,324 comes from unrestricted funds and $3,676 comes from the Clyde E. Geeting Memorial Trust, which provides funding for needy families
Dunkirk Beautification Committee - $3,385 to fund the Webster Depot Park Summer Concert Series
Jay Community Center - $30,000 to fund the Boomer Sports program
Jay County 4-H Clubs - $40,000 on a $1 for $1 match to fund renovations of the 4-H buildings at the Jay County Fairgrounds
Jay County Fourth of July Committee - $10,000 to fund the Fourth of July celebration
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition - $25,000 to fund the organization’s Peer Recovery Coaches
Jay County Fair Association - $10,000 to fund the purchase of a new speaker system and new radios/walkie talkies
Jay County Historical Society - $5,000 to fund the Jay County Heritage Festival
Jay County Special Olympics - $7,250 to fund entry fees for Jay County Special Olympians. $5,032 comes from unrestricted funds and $2,218 comes from the Robert and Frances Gillespie Endowment and the Jean Leslie Jaqua Endowment, which are designated to support individuals with intellectual of developmental disabilities
John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund Robotics and STEM Camps
John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund the Senior Learning Series. Funding comes from the Elizabeth A. Starbuck Fund for the Elderly
John Jay Center for Learning - $5,000 to fund the Speakers Series and Symposium
John Jay Center for Learning - $31,800 to fund tuition costs for Jay County High School Students in the SkillsTrac Industrial Maintenance Program. $8,800 comes from unrestricted funds and $23,000 comes from the Weldon L. and Dorothy H. Hamma Memorial Scholarship Fund
Kate’s Kart - $4,000 to fund the purchase of books of distribution to pediatric patients at IU Health Jay Hospital. $3,630 comes from unrestricted funds and $370 comes from the Jay County Endowment for Literacy
Midwest Pet Refuge - $5,000 to fund the purchase of equipment for and the repair of the organization’s new facility. $3,924 comes from unrestricted funds and $1,076 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
City of Portland Park Board - $10,000 to support the construction of a Disc Golf Course at Hudson Family Park
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana - $5,000 to fund the purchase of food for the Senior Safety Net program. $1,752 comes from unrestricted funds and $3,248 comes from the Ralph and Bertha Green-Tony and Helen Saffer Fund for the Elderly, Elizabeth A. Starbuck Fund for the Elderly, the Ralph Denver Stroud and Helen Stroud Endowment, and the Joseph Vormohr Memorial Fund, all of which are designated to provide support for senior citizens in Jay County.
West Jay Community Center - $8,500 to fund the repair of eaves and masonry sealing on the organization’s facility
Youth Service Bureau of Jay County - $7,500 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 70 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 14, 2021 by 5:00 p.m.
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.
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.
Congratulations, Clare! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and education.
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