Community Foundation awards $2.5 million
Also, Sycamore, Delphos to close; Duke Energy helping when temps drop
The Community Foundation of Howard County is proud to announce that it awarded $2,518,520.09 to local nonprofits and students in 2024, demonstrating its continued commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Howard County.
“This significant investment in our community reflects the generosity of our donors and the vital role the Foundation plays in supporting local initiatives,” said Amy Pate, Chair of the Board of Directors. “We’re honored to facilitate this level of grantmaking, which will have a lasting impact on our nonprofits, students, and the broader community.”
The funds were distributed through various grant programs and scholarships, supporting a wide range of community needs and educational pursuits. Examples of grants made in 2024 include:
Grants from Unrestricted Community Endowment Funds - These flexible funds allow donors to entrust the Foundation with selecting programs that address evolving community challenges through a competitive grant process.
$35,000 to Greentown Historical Society for History Center Structural Repair
$40,000 to CAM, Inc. for Howard County Connect Transportation Service
$20,000 to Turnabout Community Resource Center for Pathways to Recovery
$6,000 to Kokomo Early History Learning Center for Drums Along the Wildcat 2024
And many more…
Grants from Designated/Agency Funds - Designated funds provide consistent financial support for specific organizations identified by donors.
$5,848 to the Kokomo Humane Society from Linda Daugherty Friedrich Fund for the Kokomo Humane Society
$1,162 to Bridges Outreach from John Eugene Fredrick & Bessie Kitselman Fredrick Memorial Fund
$4,200 to Taylor School Corporation from Lynn K. Harland and Leslie K. Harland Scholarship Fund for Taylor High School
And many more…
Additional grants were awarded through Field of Interest Funds, Donor Advised Funds, and Scholarship Funds aimed at advancing education and addressing targeted community priorities.
The Community Foundation of Howard County Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Todd Moser at 765-454-7298 or todd@cfhoward.org.
The Community Foundation website can also be visited at cfhoward.org and contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.
Sycamore, Delphos to close
East Sycamore Street between Faulkner and Ohio St. will close Wednesday, February 26, beginning at 8 a.m.
North Delphos Street between East Walnut and East Sycamore will also close. This project is expected to last three days, weather permitting.
Questions regarding the project should be directed to Mr. Jon Pyke at 765-456-7400.
Duke helping when temps drop
Duke Energy is offering information on how customers can save energy and money through financial assistance, energy-saving programs and conservation tips.
Ways to manage winter heating bills
Duke Energy offers free programs and tools to help customers better manage and understand their monthly energy expenses:
Pick Your Due Date allows customers to adjust the date their bill is due.
Interest-free Installment Payment Plans are available for customers who need flexibility with paying a bill.
Usage Alerts notify customers how much energy they are using and how much it costs in time to make adjustments to their energy use before the end of a billing cycle.
Weatherization Program helps income-qualified customers save energy and reduce expenses through conservation measures like weatherstripping and HVAC repairs or replacements.
For customers who qualify, Duke Energy’s partnerships with community and state agencies can help them access financial assistance, including:
Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund®: Assists qualifying customers who need help paying their energy bill. The program is funded through voluntary contributions from Duke Energy shareholders, customers and employees.
Low Income Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP): Provides a one-time payment to help eligible Indiana households pay their energy bills during winter months.
Energy-saving tips to combat the cold
The following low- to no-cost tips can help lower energy usage as well:
Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The smaller the difference between the temperature inside your home and outside, the lower your energy usage and the greater the savings.
Change your air filter and schedule regular maintenance for your heating systems. Maintaining your heating systems can help increase efficiency.
Set your water heater to 120 degrees to manage water heating, which is typically the second-biggest user of energy in your home.
Caulk, seal and weatherstrip air leaks in windows, doors and vents to save 10 percent to 20 percent in heating and cooling costs.
Replace standard bulbs with LEDs, which are more efficient than regular bulbs while giving off the same amount of light. Replacing just six of your most frequently used bulbs with LEDs can save up to $480 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
With the colder than normal temperatures, it is also a good time to check on friends, neighbors and family members who are elderly to ensure they have what they need to stay warm.
For context on this winter’s chilly temperatures, below are location-specific statistics from the National Weather Service relating to the weather in January:
In the Lafayette area, the average temperature in January was 11.6 degrees colder than December, 5.1 degrees colder than a year ago, and five degrees colder than a typical January.
In the Indianapolis area, the average temperature in January was 12.4 degrees colder than December, 5.3 degrees colder than a year ago, and five degrees colder than a typical January.
If customers need help reading their electric bills, Duke Energy offers an interactive tool to explain each component, such as a graph and comparison chart that provide a clear, uncluttered snapshot of their energy usage.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com/HereToHelp and duke-energy.com/WinterEnergySavings.
We are so blessed to have the Community Foundation that we go in Howard County! They do an incredible job both as a source of funds and in providing advice, support, connections, education, and resources!