Putnam County Community Foundation Board Treasurer Scott Bieniek surprises Carrie Hamilton, music educator at Tzouanakis Middle School, with a Way to Go grant. As part of its fall grant cycle, the PCCF has awarded 10 Way to Go grants across the county.

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The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) announced its newest grant recipients from the Community Foundation’s largest unrestricted fund, the Community Grants Endowment, as well as its 45 unrestricted named funds created by generous organizations and members of the community.

PCCF recently awarded more than $75,000 in community grants to four community partners serving Putnam County. The scholarships will fund the following:

• Beyond Homeless Inc. – Homelessness Prevention Program Support Program.

• Friends of Lieber State Recreation Area – Set up a StoryWalk on the Nature Center trail.

Putnam County Heritage Preservation Society – Restoration of the Freight Depot as the first closed trailhead for the People Pathways Trail.

• Van Bibber Lake Conservation District – Supplies for the new commissioner program.

These grants were recommended by the Grants Committee, made up of eight members residing throughout the county.

An additional $2,500 was awarded by the PCCF Board of Directors through Way to Go Grants. These are grants awarded to outstanding organizations in Putnam County selected by one or more board members of directors to recognize the contributions of organizations to our community.

10 Way to Go grant recipients include:

• Beyond the Homeless Inc.

• Family Support Services of West Central Indiana.

• Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department.

• Friends of the Putnam County Public Library.

• North Putnam Alumni Association dollars for Scholars Inc.

• Putnam County 4-H Kennel Club.

• Putnam County Center for Women’s Ministry.

• Friends of the Roachdale Library Inc.

• Putnam County Transformers – Gobin United Methodist Church.

• Music Department of Tzouanakis Intermediate School.

Putnam County Public Library Executive Director Matthew McClelland recently received a Way to Go grant from PCCF Board Vice President Kyle Beasley on behalf of the Friends of the Putnam County Public Library .

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“Grantmaking is at the heart of what we do,” said PCCF Executive Director Neysa Meyer. “It’s particularly exciting to see new and innovative applications from community organizations and to have the opportunity for our board to award small grants to programs that might otherwise go unrecognized.” We are grateful for the extraordinary work our grantees do to support the residents of Putnam County.

The next round of PCCF competitive grants will take place in early 2025 with the introduction of the new Community Impact Grants program. Details, including full program guidelines and schedule, are available at pcfoundation.org/grants.

For more information about grants or other opportunities at the Putnam County Community Foundation, individuals can contact Sarah Stone at [email protected] or call the office at 653-4978.