Highland Area Community Foundation cancels annual grants banquet
The Highland Area Community Foundation regrets to announce their 25th Annual Grants Banquet, which was scheduled Oct. 13, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GRANTS TO BE AWARDED
Over $55,800 in grants will be awarded this year. Recipients will be contacted, and arrangements will be made for them to receive their award. Pictures and articles will follow. Please check their website, www.hacf.org, and their Facebook page for a complete list of recipients.
25 YEARS OLD
The Highland Area Community Foundation was preparing to celebrate its 25th year of operation at the 2020 banquet. This celebration will now take place Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. In spite of the pandemic, the Foundation is fulfilling its mission of “Helping to build a better community — one donation at a time.”
The Foundation, in its 25 years of operation, has awarded over 800 grants totaling $1,150,000. Since the Foundation’s inception, over $4,000,000 has passed through the Foundation back to the community in the form of grants, scholarships, and pass through funds. The Foundation is always looking for ways to help serve the greater Highland area including New Douglas, Alhambra, Grantfork, Pierron, Marine, St. Jacob, and more recently St. Rose Township.
The Highland Area Community Foundation continues to operate as usual. In the past 25 years, over 80 individuals have volunteered to serve on the board of directors. Currently serving are: Marvin Warner, president; Jeff Hebrank, 1st vice president; Ryan Goodwin, 2nd vice president; Mark Korte, treasurer; Shari Ammann, secretary; and directors Shirley Bellm, Cathy Boulanger, Kevin Dewaele, Scott Geest, Bonnie Gelly, Todd Imming, Don Johannes, Julie Korte, Brenda Plocher, Lee Rinderer, Rick Ringwald and Bill Wagner.
Beginning with $65,000 in 1995, the Highland Area Community Foundation now manages nearly $6,000,000 as it continues to add various funds (named, pass through and scholarship) to meet both charitable and educational needs of the community.
SCHOLARSHIPS CONTINUE
The Foundation currently handles more than 40 school scholarships for high school seniors to attend college and/or a trade school for further education. High schools benefiting include Highland, Mater Dei, Fr. McGivney, Triad, Staunton, and Lewis & Clark Community College. Scholarships serve as a lasting legacy for an individual, a family, or a corporation — by keeping the legacy name in front of the students and the community forever.
The Foundation encourages people to watch Highland Cable Channel 3 as the Foundation’s informative video is featured daily at 11:55 a.m. Also, individuals are encouraged to visit the Foundation’s website, www.hacf.org, and review the various ways the Foundation is proud to serve the community.
The Foundation looks forward to a good 2020-21 year. It is unfortunate that the 2020 banquet had to be canceled. However, the Foundation hopes to see everyone Oct. 12, 2021, at their belated 25th year celebration of the Foundation’s good works and service to the area.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 12:00 AM.