The Community Foundation Alliance is proud to announce that Justin O’Connor has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Mark Kniese Scholarship. This year marks the 23rd year of the scholarship, with more than $65,000 awarded since its creation. This scholarship will support O’Connor with his studies in Biomedical Health Science at Purdue University. The Mark Kniese Scholarship was established by August Neal in memory of Mark Kniese, a beloved former counselor at Camp Carson in Princeton. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional dedication and rapport with campers while exemplifying the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. O’Connor has been a part of Camp Carson since he was six years old, first as a camper and later as a staff member. “Camp holds a very special place in my heart… it's always been somewhere that I can leave behind my outside worries and focus on the present,” he said. “As a staff member, it has meant being able to experience what it feels like to truly spend the time bettering others instead of just yourself.” He credits his years at camp with inspiring his career path. “Because of camp, I'm able to stay grounded and remember that the reason I want to study medicine is to better the lives of those around me.” While applying for the scholarship, O’Connor reflected on the legacy of Mark Kniese. “He was someone who put the campers before himself and put his entire heart into the work that he did. As a counselor, I strove every day to follow in his footsteps and to carry on his legacy.” Now in its 23rd year, the Mark Kniese Scholarship continues to honor a counselor who served campers and made a difference in their lives. Through the generosity of those who contribute to this fund, the scholarship not only supports higher education but also inspires recipients to carry forward the spirit of service and compassion that defined Mark Kniese’s life.

After severe storms and tornadoes affected Gibson County this spring, a number of local organizations moved quickly to help families recover, providing supplies, shelter, and vital support services. With funding made possible through a Special Project grant from the Gibson County Community Foundation, these efforts reached even further. In total, $18,000 in grant funding was directed to groups assisting with immediate disaster response and infrastructure repair: $9,000 to the American Red Cross Southwest Indiana Chapter $1,500 to the Salvation Army Princeton $2,500 to Sheep Dog Impact Assistance $5,000 to the Gibson County Fairgrounds Pavilion, Inc. “As a board, we deliberately set aside funding for critical needs like this. We were glad to be in a position to provide aid at a time when folks needed it most,” said Matt Monroe, Gibson County Community Foundation County Advisory Board President. On the ground, these funds translated into real help, cleanup kits, health services, and storage supplies for impacted families, as well as gas for chainsaws and generators used in cleanup efforts. For some organizations, like the American Red Cross, the grant allowed them to offer direct financial assistance and continued emotional support. “The American Red Cross responds to disasters every eight minutes, providing shelter, emergency supplies, and emotional support to those impacted,” said Beth Sweeney, Executive Director of the Southwest Chapter of the Indiana Region. “On March 15, disaster workers with the Indiana Region were on the ground in Gibson County, assisting residents after severe weather by assessing damages, providing health and mental health services, financial assistance, cleanup kits, and information about recovery resources. The support of our donors and community partners, such as the Gibson County Community Foundation, enables the Red Cross to respond to disasters and help those who need it most," she added. In another part of the county, spring flooding had damaged critical infrastructure at the Gibson County Fairgrounds. A $5,000 grant supported the emergency replacement of a major drainage pipe, restoring road access and ensuring safety ahead of upcoming community events. "On behalf of the board of directors of The Gibson County Fairgrounds Pavilion Inc. and the Gibson County Fairground, I would like to thank [Gibson County Community Foundation] for awarding us with a $5,000 grant to assist in the replacement of a large culvert at the fairgrounds," said Charles Woodruff, President of the Gibson County Fair Board. "[Gibson County Community Foundation’s] generous support will ensure the safety and functionality of the fairgrounds. The replacement of the culvert is vital for the longevity of the infrastructure, and [their] contribution plays a crucial role in this significant improvement." The grants were made quietly, but with urgency. While the storms made headlines, it was the collaboration among local organizations and partners that made a lasting difference, focusing on what mattered most: helping neighbors recover and move forward.

Pictured (left to right): Rick Coleman, North Gibson Education Foundation, Inc. (NGEF) Board Member; Samantha Mays, NGEF Board Member; Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact; Susan Carey, NGEF Board President; and JD Weagley, NGEF Board Member.

The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Gibson County through the Gibson County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Gibson County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Gibson County through the Gibson County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, is open to all Indiana residents who: graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2026 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2026; intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and meet the criteria specific to Gibson County Community Foundation. Visit gibsoncountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding the Gibson County application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Gibson County and apply for this scholarship by visiting the Gibson County Community Foundation website. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 25, 2025, to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: GPA, school activities and work experience, community service, volunteer activities, personal statement/unusual circumstances, impromptu essay, and interview. Three finalists will be nominated by the Gibson County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December.  Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. Gibson County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 29th year in Gibson County. “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a remarkable opportunity for high school seniors in Gibson County. I’m honored to be part of a process that recognizes students’ achievements and aspirations. Not only transforms the life of its recipient by supporting their educational and personal growth, but it also benefits the local community by investing in future leaders who are likely to give back and make a lasting difference in the region,” said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact.

Gibson County Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 Community Good Grants Program. Nonprofit organizations serving Gibson County are encouraged to apply by Monday, August 4, 2025. Community Good Grants are awarded to charitable partners addressing a wide range of local needs. Funding is available to support programs and projects that make a meaningful impact in Gibson County communities. Organizations can find detailed grant guidelines and submit their application online . For questions or assistance, please contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.386.8082 or asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org.

The Betty Ann McCullough Education Seminar and Convocation, Enrichment Project, and Teaching Achievement Grant Programs are now accepting applications. These three grant programs are administered by the Gibson County Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 5, 2025. Betty Ann McCullough was an educator for the North Gibson School Corporation for more than 40 years and a strong supporter of education in her community. Along with several civic memberships, she was a member of the Gibson County Community Foundation advisory board. After Betty Ann McCullough passed away in 1997, three funds and grant programs were established in her memory. The Betty Ann McCullough Education Seminar and Convocation Grant Program provides funding to public and private schools in Gibson County to host educational seminars and convocations to enhance the knowledge and skills of educators in science, mathematics, and language arts. The Betty Ann McCullough Enrichment Project Grant Program provides funding to schools (including institutions of higher learning), libraries, and other public education organizations based or having substantial programs in Gibson County for innovative projects, programs, and equipment designed to enhance mathematics, science, and language arts educational opportunities for Gibson County residents. The Betty Ann McCullough Teaching Achievement Grant Program awards a public-school educator for outstanding dedication and success in improving the mathematics or language arts skills and knowledge of students in the public schools of Gibson County. To apply, please visit https://www.gibsoncountycf.org/betty-ann-mccullough-grants-programs . The Betty Ann McCullough Education Committee will review applications and make recommendations for grant recipients. For additional information about eligibility and requirements or the grant application process, please contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org .

The Gibson County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Gibson County – Max Wahl, Gibson Southern High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. The first alternate, Allison Spindler, will receive a scholarship from the Friends of Gibson County Fund. Gage Maglis was named the second alternate. “Max demonstrated exceptional work ethic, leadership, and communication skills throughout his application and interview process," said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Gibson County Community Foundation. "The nominating committee was privileged to meet Max and is proud to recommend him for this transformative opportunity.” Smith continued, “This year, we received applications from 20 highly talented students. Each excelled academically and significantly contributed to various extracurricular and community activities. The outstanding quality of the applications made the selection process challenging for our dedicated committee, which carefully reviewed and scored each submission based on the established criteria." Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. “I’ve always tried to do my best in the things I do, but I still can’t believe it would lead to an achievement like this. I’m so thankful for my family and my community for always supporting me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the Community Foundation for giving me this honor,” said Max Wahl, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “Now, I don’t have to stress about my college finances as much, and I can focus more on making our state and our communities a better place. I hope to attend Notre Dame in the fall, where this scholarship will help me reach my full potential. You only live once, so make the most out of your life!” In determining Gibson County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to GPA, SAT/ACT, school activities and work experience, community service and volunteer activities, personal statement, impromptu essay, and finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Gibson County Community Foundation awarded more than $158,000 in grants to 35 nonprofits through its 2024 Community Good Grants program. These nonprofits are committed to supporting the needs of Gibson County. Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients! $12,500 to JD Sheth Foundation, Inc. to expand the weatherization program to include a regional expansion including pre-blight prevention $7,683.00 to Youth First, Inc. for evaluation and data collection $4,000 to East Gibson Dollars for Scholars to provide financial support to continue the education of graduating seniors of Wood Memorial High School $4,000 to Gibson Southern Scholarships, Inc. to provide four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors of Gibson Southern High School $4,000 to Princeton Area Dollars for Scholars to provide financial support to continue the education of graduating seniors of Princeton Community High School $2,000 to the Gibson County CEO to support students enrolled in the program which is designed to utilize partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes $714.00 to Owensville Community School for the purchase of The Math Thinker and Whole Class Deluxe Bundle Math Stacker Magnetic Set $717.47 to Owensville Community School for the purchase of Hands on Equations class set and Hands-on Equations Fractions for two classrooms $960 to South Gibson School Corporation to purchase 24 phonic kits from Rocking Chair Readers $600 to Oakland City University-Acorn Academy to purchase hands-on materials $3,960 to Chemo Buddies to purchase supplies for 66 first-day comfort kit bags and last-day balloons, along with wigs, hats, accessories, and cosmetics for 10 cancer patients from Gibson County $9,000 to Holly's House, Inc. to teach skills to keep kids safe from abuse by providing child abuse prevention programming to elementary students in Gibson County $4,200 to Bread of Life Ministry, Inc. to pay the freight for donated food and to purchase food items at discounted prices to distribute to low-income families in the Tri-state area $2,000 to Tri-State Food Bank to provide assistance for Gibson County children who rely on the free lunch program during the week but need food to help them get through the weekend $4,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Gibson County to replace the HVAC unit at the Restore building $700 to the Oakland City Columbia Township Public Library to purchase items needed to clean the headstones of a community cemetery to preserve historical markers $200 to the Gibson County Council on Aging to purchase items needs for the free art/painting class for Gibson County Seniors to participate, learn and enjoy $5,000 to Emmy Corp dba Gibson County Animal Services to help seniors and different a bled residents of Gibson County enhance their lives and the lives of their pets $500 to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra to enable students from Gibson County to attend the March 2025, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Helen M. McKinney Young People's Concerts $4,000 to the Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America to provide support for the Scoutreach afterschool program within the North Gibson School District and the workforce development program $2,500 to the Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Inc. for expenses associated with survivor car travel to the Evansville shelter, safety, doctor's appointments, employment, etc. $20,000 to The Arc Southwest Indiana for the purchase of a vehicle designed to provide reliable and accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities in Gibson County $4,652 to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana to serve a total of 462 students in Gibson County, focusing on Work Readiness, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy $1,000 to the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana for materials to construct a Camper Closet which will create a clean and organized space to have "camp readiness bags" readily available for campers $17,535 to Princeton Youth Baseball to enhance overall accessibility and safety by demolishing and rebuilding a baseball dugout to ensure it accommodates people of all abilities $2,398 to Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation to cover the expense of printing 1,000, 24-page color informational booklets for students $2,000 to Owensville Ministerial Alliance Food Bank to buy food supplies and equipment for Montgomery and Wabash Townships $2,349 to the Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Inc. to purchase one new commercial freezer to enhance our food pantry in Gibson County $10,050 to Gibson County Youth Theatre to purchase the rights, royalties, materials, and orchestration for our 2024-2025 Season $3,700 to The Well of Gibson County to purchase incentives of $25.00 gift cards for gas, food, transportation (2 gift cards a month), and supplies $8,000 to Dream Builders of Indiana to purchase a 7x16 enclosed trailer to house tools and supplies to build beds for children in Gibson County in need $3,000 to Deaconess Hospital Foundation to provide patients who do not have access to transportation with rides to ensure they can consistently get to oncology treatments and appointments $3,000 to North Gibson Education Foundation, Inc. for the Tiger Alley Public Art Display which will showcase mural-sized art created annually by NGSC students to be displayed in a new community area in downtown Princeton $2,799 to True Hope Pregnancy and Family Resource Center of Gibson County to purchase the ILA Pro translation device to serve a more diverse client base $1,249 to Psi Iota Xi Sorority-Fort Branch to purchase and install one adapted swing, in the public park in Fort Branch public park, to promote accessibility in the community

Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!