Learn about what is going on with our member's businesses.
The Clay County is happy to announce we are off and running with full enrollment for our new 2016-2017 school year. We are also very happy that the renovations to our playground are nearly complete.. We are still in hopes of adding a outside trike track. We are looking for volunteers and organizations to help achieve this goal. If interested please call the center at 812-446-1103.
The Head Start always accepts applications all year around. We serve prenatal mothers to children age 5. If interested in receiving an application please call the center at 812-446-1103 ext 626 or 628. we can email . mail, fax applications to you.
Take a look at the scarecrows we have added to our fence outside the center. The class's have been busy making theirs so they can welcome Fall. Have a safe and Happy Halloween and please drive safely around bus's of all sizes.
The Head Start always accepts applications all year around. We serve prenatal mothers to children age 5. If interested in receiving an application please call the center at 812-446-1103 ext 626 or 628. we can email . mail, fax applications to you.
Take a look at the scarecrows we have added to our fence outside the center. The class's have been busy making theirs so they can welcome Fall. Have a safe and Happy Halloween and please drive safely around bus's of all sizes.
First Farmers Bank & Trust CEO honored by American Bankers Association
The American Bankers Association has awarded Gene Miles, President and CEO of First Farmers Bank & Trust, with the Bruning Award, the association's premiere award and designation for ag banking. The award will be presented at ABA National Agricultural Bankers Conference, Nov. 13-16 in Indianapolis.
Gene has served First Farmers for over 38 years and his career has touched on nearly every capacity within the institution, including commercial loan officer, compliance officer, investment officer, marketing officer and accounting officer. He also is deeply engaged in the community, with outreach including volunteer leadership positions with St. Vincent Hospital, the Miami County Community Foundation, the Northern Indiana Community Foundation and the Miami County Economic Development Committee.
As a youth, Miles was raised on an Indiana corn, soybean and livestock farm, working alongside his father and grandfather.“It makes you feel grounded to know that your roots go back to Grandpa’s ground. I am deeply honored to be awarded the Bruning Award. So many employees, directors, and customers have been a part of what we have done, and I would like to personally thank them. I’m extremely proud to have been a part of the U.S. ag banking community and U.S agriculture, the greatest provider of safe, affordable, and abundant food the world has ever seen,” added Miles.
Miles has nurtured and grown First Farmers Bank & Trust through vision, foresight, and old-fashioned values. Several years ago, recognizing that agricultural banking opportunities extended beyond state borders, he led a strategic decision to grow the bank through acquisitions into neighboring Illinois. First Farmers Bank and Trust is a $1.55 billion, 36 branch organization, that employs nearly 400 people in Indiana and Illinois, and serves more than 50,000 clients, all while remaining headquartered in Converse, Indiana, a town of less than 1,250 residents.
The American Bankers Association has awarded Gene Miles, President and CEO of First Farmers Bank & Trust, with the Bruning Award, the association's premiere award and designation for ag banking. The award will be presented at ABA National Agricultural Bankers Conference, Nov. 13-16 in Indianapolis.
Gene has served First Farmers for over 38 years and his career has touched on nearly every capacity within the institution, including commercial loan officer, compliance officer, investment officer, marketing officer and accounting officer. He also is deeply engaged in the community, with outreach including volunteer leadership positions with St. Vincent Hospital, the Miami County Community Foundation, the Northern Indiana Community Foundation and the Miami County Economic Development Committee.
As a youth, Miles was raised on an Indiana corn, soybean and livestock farm, working alongside his father and grandfather.“It makes you feel grounded to know that your roots go back to Grandpa’s ground. I am deeply honored to be awarded the Bruning Award. So many employees, directors, and customers have been a part of what we have done, and I would like to personally thank them. I’m extremely proud to have been a part of the U.S. ag banking community and U.S agriculture, the greatest provider of safe, affordable, and abundant food the world has ever seen,” added Miles.
Miles has nurtured and grown First Farmers Bank & Trust through vision, foresight, and old-fashioned values. Several years ago, recognizing that agricultural banking opportunities extended beyond state borders, he led a strategic decision to grow the bank through acquisitions into neighboring Illinois. First Farmers Bank and Trust is a $1.55 billion, 36 branch organization, that employs nearly 400 people in Indiana and Illinois, and serves more than 50,000 clients, all while remaining headquartered in Converse, Indiana, a town of less than 1,250 residents.
The Clay County Head Start will be closed on July 4th for the holiday.
On July 7th 100 Women Who Care will be joining us here at the center to present us a check to help with the updates currently going on with our playground.
Join us on Thursday July 26th at the County 4-H fair for some information regarding our program and some treats to give away.
Every third Thursday of the Month is Head Start night at the local Pizza Hut here in Brazil. Order pizza for the whole family and help support your local Head Start.
On July 27th from 11 am until 2 pm the Clay County Head Start will be hosting a ice cream social here at the center as part of a recruitment opportunity. Staff will be on hand to fill out applications and for ice cream to. If you have any questions please contact the center at 812-446-1103 ext 626 or 628
On July 30th staff from the Clay County Head Start will be helping with the kids fair at the VFW here in Brazil. come out and join us and have some fun.
Looking to rent a venue in the month of July...contact The Renaissance for details on their specials!!! Rent any day in July and receive a discount....even better, book any "all day" rental on any Saturday in July and receive $100 off. Contact us today for a tour of the facility! The Renaissance Reception & Conference Center, Full Service Catering Ph# 812.442.7452 or Email: therenaissance1@yahoo.com
April 21, 2016
For Immediate Release Contact Information:
Beth Tevlin, Executive Director
Phone: (812) 232-2234 Email: beth@wvcf.com
Wabash Valley Community Foundation Exceeds Matching Challenge Grant
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (04/21/2016) – The Wabash Valley Community Foundation, serving Clay County, Sullivan County and Vigo County has successfully met the $2 million challenge grant provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) VI initiative.
The Wabash Valley Community Foundation was challenged to raise $2 million in unrestricted endowment by March 31, 2016. By meeting this challenge, Lilly Endowment has provided an unrestricted endowment match of $500,000 in Clay County, $500,000 in Sullivan County and $1 million in Vigo County.
Fred Nation, president of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, explained that the challenge opportunity came during a time when there was continued uncertainty in the market. “Many thought it would be incredibly hard to [meet the challenge],” he said. “While it is never an easy time to raise money, I think the Wabash Valley is special. We have citizens that believe in the future of our communities, and people that hope for a better future and are willing to invest in it.”
The Community Foundation had 20 months beginning August 1, 2014, and ending March 31, 2016, to raise the matching $2 million in unrestricted funds in order to receive the $2 million from Lilly Endowment, Inc. In the span of 20 months, the Community Foundation raised a total of $3.2 million in new endowment funds of all types. This amount fully leveraged the $2 million from Lilly Endowment, resulting in a total of $5.2 million added to the permanent community capital for the three counties served by the Community Foundation.
“The completion of these three challenge grants will provide more funds for the Community Foundation to grant within the three counties we serve,” said Beth Tevlin, executive director of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. “The new unrestricted gifts and the Lilly Endowment challenge grants will provide additional grant dollars that will be invested in worthwhile, local projects that enhance opportunities within the Wabash Valley.”
Larry Tempel, president of the Clay County Community Foundation, says he looks forward to seeing how the additional funds will transform his county. “We’re thrilled to see the difference that the increase in funding will make in Clay County,” he said. “Thanks to the generosity [we received], we are expecting to award $70,000 per year compared to the roughly $30,000 we’ve been able to award in the past.”
“This process has [also] allowed our board to have discussions about the future of our county,” explained Howard Unger, Asset Development Committee Chair for the Sullivan County Community Foundation. “We have looked at the current state of our county and have begun to dream about the difference that we can make with the additional increase in funding opportunities GIFT VI has provided!”
“With so many great nonprofits in Vigo County, new unrestricted funds will allow the Community Foundation to broaden and deepen the level of grant support,” said Fred Nation. “These grant funds can provide start up grants for new programs, invest in existing organizations to make them more successful and provide a greater opportunity for broad-based community support.”
Lilly Endowment announced the statewide challenge grant totaling $66 million to community foundations in July 2014. The $1-for-$1 match included a focus on building community endowments that are unrestricted and have the greatest flexibility to respond to local opportunities within the communities. The Endowment’s match ranged in amounts from $500,000 to $2 million, depending on the population of the county.
This matching opportunity was the sixth phase of the Endowment’s GIFT initiative for Indiana community foundations. The GIFT initiative was designed to help local Indiana communities develop the philanthropic capacity to address their own challenges and opportunities. Since 1990, the value of Indiana’s community foundations that have regularly participated in GIFT has grown from $30 million to almost $2 billion, and more than $915 million has been distributed back into the community through local grants.
For more information on the results of GIFT VI in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties, or for more information on the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, please contact Beth Tevlin at 812.232.2234 or visit your community foundation online at www.wvcf.com
A big Thank You to Mandy from Dr Burn's office for coming this week to speak to the kids about their teeth for National Teeth Month.
The Clay County Head Start is still needing volunteers to help with some projects , big and small around the center. If you are interested in volunteering please call 812-446-1103 ext 628 or come by the center.
The Head Start is always accepting applications for all of their programs .
Humane Society to Expand Capacity Thanks to 100 Women Who Care
At their last meeting, 100 Women Who Care Clay County voted to support the Clay County Humane Society after hearing from fellow member, Janice Clark, on the needs of the shelter.
The Humane Society houses between 400 and 500 cats and dogs annually and are always at or over capacity. Each animal receives all of the necessary vaccinations, blood testing and is sprayed or neutered. This process ensures that the animals are healthy and are not adding to the issue of animal over population in our community. However, since they are a no kill shelter, they end up having to turn down animals that are brought to their shelter due to lack of space.
The $9,000 grant from 100 Women Who Care Clay County will be used to expand their kennel space and exercise/play area for the cats and dogs. This expansion will allow the shelter to house more animals and keep them off the streets of Clay County. “I am thrilled that the members [of 100 Women Who Care Clay County] chose the Clay County Humane Society for this quarter!” Clark said “The donation will allow us to shelter more animals and make our community safer from vicious dogs and feral cats.”
This grant is the third of four annual grants to be awarded by 100 Women Who Care Clay County, and is composed of each member of 100 Women Who Care contributing $100 each. This simple model attracts busy, charitable women who want to make a difference in Vigo County. The members meet four times per year for one hour to select one local charity to support for that quarter. To be considered for funding, an agency must be a 501(c)3 and a member of 100 Women Who Care Clay County must nominate and advocate on behalf of the agency.
Modeled after the successful 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County, the 100 Women Who Care Clay County was established in March 2015. Currently, the group has 95 members and is seeking to expand its membership. Individuals joining 100 Women Who Care Clay County will be considered charter members if they become a member before December 31.The larger the group grows, the greater of an impact it will make! Anyone interested in learning more about 100 Women Who Care Clay County should call the Wabash Valley Community Foundation at 812-232-2234.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. St.Vincent Clay Hospital is needing input from the community to help identify opportunities to improve health. Please click on the email address below to access a very short survey focused on community risks. The survey only takes a few minutes. We will use this data in future discussion with community partners to from programs that address risks identified.
Thanks for you participation,
Jerry Laue https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/inhealthneedssurvey
100+ Women Who Care in Clay County Award Grant of $6,500 to April 20, 2015
Northview High School - DECA Program
Northview High School's Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) program received a grant of $6,500 from 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County, a philanthropic group in Clay County. 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County formed in March of this year and will meet four times a year to select a nonprofit.
At their first meeting in March, 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County nominated Brazil Mainstreet, Northview High School's DECA program, and the Humane Society. The Women voted for the DECA Program to be the first nonprofit organization that 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County donates to in 2015.
The DECA program consists of 34 Northview High School students who are interested in becoming leaders in careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas. Through their $6.500 donation, the 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County will be providing funds for three Northview High School DECA students to attend the DECA International Conference in Orlando, Florida. These students will meet with over 17,000 high school students, teacher-advisors, business professionals, and alumni to demonstrate their college and career readiness.
The 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County group currently has 68 members and is modeled after the successful 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County, a local group organized in 2013 to support nonprofit groups in Vigo County. 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County continues to welcome new members to group. If membership grows to 100 members, the selected organization will receive $10,000 at each meeting! Individuals joining 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County will be considered charter members if they become a member before December 31.The larger the group grows, the greater of an impact it can make! Anyone interested in joining the Guys Who Give or the 100+ Women Who Care should call the Wabash Valley Community Foundation at 812-232-2234.
On July 7th 100 Women Who Care will be joining us here at the center to present us a check to help with the updates currently going on with our playground.
Join us on Thursday July 26th at the County 4-H fair for some information regarding our program and some treats to give away.
Every third Thursday of the Month is Head Start night at the local Pizza Hut here in Brazil. Order pizza for the whole family and help support your local Head Start.
On July 27th from 11 am until 2 pm the Clay County Head Start will be hosting a ice cream social here at the center as part of a recruitment opportunity. Staff will be on hand to fill out applications and for ice cream to. If you have any questions please contact the center at 812-446-1103 ext 626 or 628
On July 30th staff from the Clay County Head Start will be helping with the kids fair at the VFW here in Brazil. come out and join us and have some fun.
Looking to rent a venue in the month of July...contact The Renaissance for details on their specials!!! Rent any day in July and receive a discount....even better, book any "all day" rental on any Saturday in July and receive $100 off. Contact us today for a tour of the facility! The Renaissance Reception & Conference Center, Full Service Catering Ph# 812.442.7452 or Email: therenaissance1@yahoo.com
April 21, 2016
For Immediate Release Contact Information:
Beth Tevlin, Executive Director
Phone: (812) 232-2234 Email: beth@wvcf.com
Wabash Valley Community Foundation Exceeds Matching Challenge Grant
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (04/21/2016) – The Wabash Valley Community Foundation, serving Clay County, Sullivan County and Vigo County has successfully met the $2 million challenge grant provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) VI initiative.
The Wabash Valley Community Foundation was challenged to raise $2 million in unrestricted endowment by March 31, 2016. By meeting this challenge, Lilly Endowment has provided an unrestricted endowment match of $500,000 in Clay County, $500,000 in Sullivan County and $1 million in Vigo County.
Fred Nation, president of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, explained that the challenge opportunity came during a time when there was continued uncertainty in the market. “Many thought it would be incredibly hard to [meet the challenge],” he said. “While it is never an easy time to raise money, I think the Wabash Valley is special. We have citizens that believe in the future of our communities, and people that hope for a better future and are willing to invest in it.”
The Community Foundation had 20 months beginning August 1, 2014, and ending March 31, 2016, to raise the matching $2 million in unrestricted funds in order to receive the $2 million from Lilly Endowment, Inc. In the span of 20 months, the Community Foundation raised a total of $3.2 million in new endowment funds of all types. This amount fully leveraged the $2 million from Lilly Endowment, resulting in a total of $5.2 million added to the permanent community capital for the three counties served by the Community Foundation.
“The completion of these three challenge grants will provide more funds for the Community Foundation to grant within the three counties we serve,” said Beth Tevlin, executive director of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. “The new unrestricted gifts and the Lilly Endowment challenge grants will provide additional grant dollars that will be invested in worthwhile, local projects that enhance opportunities within the Wabash Valley.”
Larry Tempel, president of the Clay County Community Foundation, says he looks forward to seeing how the additional funds will transform his county. “We’re thrilled to see the difference that the increase in funding will make in Clay County,” he said. “Thanks to the generosity [we received], we are expecting to award $70,000 per year compared to the roughly $30,000 we’ve been able to award in the past.”
“This process has [also] allowed our board to have discussions about the future of our county,” explained Howard Unger, Asset Development Committee Chair for the Sullivan County Community Foundation. “We have looked at the current state of our county and have begun to dream about the difference that we can make with the additional increase in funding opportunities GIFT VI has provided!”
“With so many great nonprofits in Vigo County, new unrestricted funds will allow the Community Foundation to broaden and deepen the level of grant support,” said Fred Nation. “These grant funds can provide start up grants for new programs, invest in existing organizations to make them more successful and provide a greater opportunity for broad-based community support.”
Lilly Endowment announced the statewide challenge grant totaling $66 million to community foundations in July 2014. The $1-for-$1 match included a focus on building community endowments that are unrestricted and have the greatest flexibility to respond to local opportunities within the communities. The Endowment’s match ranged in amounts from $500,000 to $2 million, depending on the population of the county.
This matching opportunity was the sixth phase of the Endowment’s GIFT initiative for Indiana community foundations. The GIFT initiative was designed to help local Indiana communities develop the philanthropic capacity to address their own challenges and opportunities. Since 1990, the value of Indiana’s community foundations that have regularly participated in GIFT has grown from $30 million to almost $2 billion, and more than $915 million has been distributed back into the community through local grants.
For more information on the results of GIFT VI in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties, or for more information on the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, please contact Beth Tevlin at 812.232.2234 or visit your community foundation online at www.wvcf.com
A big Thank You to Mandy from Dr Burn's office for coming this week to speak to the kids about their teeth for National Teeth Month.
The Clay County Head Start is still needing volunteers to help with some projects , big and small around the center. If you are interested in volunteering please call 812-446-1103 ext 628 or come by the center.
The Head Start is always accepting applications for all of their programs .
Humane Society to Expand Capacity Thanks to 100 Women Who Care
At their last meeting, 100 Women Who Care Clay County voted to support the Clay County Humane Society after hearing from fellow member, Janice Clark, on the needs of the shelter.
The Humane Society houses between 400 and 500 cats and dogs annually and are always at or over capacity. Each animal receives all of the necessary vaccinations, blood testing and is sprayed or neutered. This process ensures that the animals are healthy and are not adding to the issue of animal over population in our community. However, since they are a no kill shelter, they end up having to turn down animals that are brought to their shelter due to lack of space.
The $9,000 grant from 100 Women Who Care Clay County will be used to expand their kennel space and exercise/play area for the cats and dogs. This expansion will allow the shelter to house more animals and keep them off the streets of Clay County. “I am thrilled that the members [of 100 Women Who Care Clay County] chose the Clay County Humane Society for this quarter!” Clark said “The donation will allow us to shelter more animals and make our community safer from vicious dogs and feral cats.”
This grant is the third of four annual grants to be awarded by 100 Women Who Care Clay County, and is composed of each member of 100 Women Who Care contributing $100 each. This simple model attracts busy, charitable women who want to make a difference in Vigo County. The members meet four times per year for one hour to select one local charity to support for that quarter. To be considered for funding, an agency must be a 501(c)3 and a member of 100 Women Who Care Clay County must nominate and advocate on behalf of the agency.
Modeled after the successful 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County, the 100 Women Who Care Clay County was established in March 2015. Currently, the group has 95 members and is seeking to expand its membership. Individuals joining 100 Women Who Care Clay County will be considered charter members if they become a member before December 31.The larger the group grows, the greater of an impact it will make! Anyone interested in learning more about 100 Women Who Care Clay County should call the Wabash Valley Community Foundation at 812-232-2234.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. St.Vincent Clay Hospital is needing input from the community to help identify opportunities to improve health. Please click on the email address below to access a very short survey focused on community risks. The survey only takes a few minutes. We will use this data in future discussion with community partners to from programs that address risks identified.
Thanks for you participation,
Jerry Laue https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/inhealthneedssurvey
100+ Women Who Care in Clay County Award Grant of $6,500 to April 20, 2015
Northview High School - DECA Program
Northview High School's Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) program received a grant of $6,500 from 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County, a philanthropic group in Clay County. 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County formed in March of this year and will meet four times a year to select a nonprofit.
At their first meeting in March, 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County nominated Brazil Mainstreet, Northview High School's DECA program, and the Humane Society. The Women voted for the DECA Program to be the first nonprofit organization that 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County donates to in 2015.
The DECA program consists of 34 Northview High School students who are interested in becoming leaders in careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas. Through their $6.500 donation, the 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County will be providing funds for three Northview High School DECA students to attend the DECA International Conference in Orlando, Florida. These students will meet with over 17,000 high school students, teacher-advisors, business professionals, and alumni to demonstrate their college and career readiness.
The 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County group currently has 68 members and is modeled after the successful 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County, a local group organized in 2013 to support nonprofit groups in Vigo County. 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County continues to welcome new members to group. If membership grows to 100 members, the selected organization will receive $10,000 at each meeting! Individuals joining 100+ Women Who Care in Clay County will be considered charter members if they become a member before December 31.The larger the group grows, the greater of an impact it can make! Anyone interested in joining the Guys Who Give or the 100+ Women Who Care should call the Wabash Valley Community Foundation at 812-232-2234.
