The Gift That Can Keep On Giving

The Corydon Democrat
Wednesday, March 19, 2003

At the recent annual meeting, Paul Beckort, past president of the Chamber of Commerce of Harrison County, presented the President's Award for Community Service to the three county commissioners who, in 1996, had the foresight to use a $5 million gift from Caesars Indiana to establish a Foundation.

The Foundation would receive and invest the $5 million so the income could be used in perpetuity to improve the lives of Harrison County citizens.

The commissioners could have used the money to blacktop a few miles of roads, a popular choice at the time, but which by now would likely prompt grumblings about speeders on those roads and the need for pothole repair. Highways, no matter how well built, do not last, and must continually be repaired.

Because the gift from Caesars was invested instead of spent, residents now own a healthy Foundation with some $23 million in assets that are expected to grow. Only a portion of the income is used to finance worthwhile projects and educational scholarships. The commissioners at that time— Ed Emily, Kenneth Saulman and Terry Miller — show immense foresight and wisdom, for which we are grateful.

O'Bannon Publishing Co. seconds Beckort's choice and welcomes the chance to explain a few details about the Foundation.

(It should be noted here that the writer of this editorial is the wife of one of the Foundation's 21 directors.)

After the Foundation was organized and directors appointed by the commissioners, the members wisely chose J. Gordon Pendleton to chair the group. Members were selected to serve on various committees, including the Grants Committee, then chaired by Linda Keller Runden. That committee was divided into four sub-committees with three members each, who read and score the grant applications made during each grant cycle (two a year). Those that score high according to the criteria set by the board are then voted upon by the full board (directors with a conflict of interest don't vote), and grant awards are announced.

Sometimes the tally appears skewed.

For instance, take a look at grants approved most recently. It would appear the Foundation is partial to Lanesville public schools, because they received some $22,200 compared to North Harrison's $7,000 and South Harrison's $3,144. It's more likely that North Harrison and South Harrison didn't apply for more.

None of the Foundation's directors are paid for the hours they spend at this labor of love. But, for the most part, their jobs are easier now with the assistance of a paid, two-person staff. Steve Gilliland, the executive director, was hired in 1999, and Julie Timberlake, his administrative assistant, followed in 2001. It is only because of such dedicated volunteers as CPA Tom Tucker, the treasurer, that the Foundation continues to operate on a shoestring, in comparison to its $23 million in assets.

The Foundation also gives lessons, so to speak, on how to apply for its money. Sometimes grant applications can seem formidable — just the thought of plowing through more red tape can be a put-off. But this isn't big government. There's little red tape, and in any case the Foundation provides help, so no one need shy away from asking.

The challenge for Harrison Countians in the future, especially, is to formulate and define projects designed to improve the quality of life in this community, so the Foundation can help promote the cause by providing at least part of the money that's needed. At first, it seemed there would never be any lack of causes on which to spend the money, but it wasn't that long ago that getting a mile of gravel road blacktopped seemed about as possible as jumping over the moon.

Well, guess what. We did it, and now we're on the backside, ready to explore uncharted ground.

So again, thank you, not only to the commissioners who set the stage, but also the 21 directors who have performed so diligently. Take a bow.