The post Chase Bennett Memorial Scholarship appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

The post PCCF Announces 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

The Early Learning Curriculum Grant is available to qualified providers in Parke County, including legally licensed exempt programs, state-licensed centers, registered ministries, and school corporations. Each recipient selects from the Indiana Department of Education’s approved Paths to Quality Early Learning Curriculum list.

“Early learning lays the foundation for lifelong success,” said Colleen Engle, Executive Director. “By investing in these essential curriculum tools, we are ensuring that Parke County children enter kindergarten better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive.”

This year, two Early Learning programs were awarded Early Learning Curriculum Grants: Southwest Parke School Corporation’s Pre-K Program and North Central Parke School Corporation’s Wolfpack Preschool Program.

The impact of these grants is already being felt in classrooms. Peggy Wright, Pre-K Teacher at Rosedale Elementary School, shared her experience: “The On My Way Pre-K literacy curriculum has been an incredible addition to our classroom. It has been so easy for my students to engage with and understand—and most importantly, they absolutely love it! Thank you so much, Parke County Community Foundation, for the opportunity to bring this valuable resource to our students through your generous grant. Your support is truly making a difference in their early learning journey.”

NCP’s Wolfpack Preschool Program also benefited from the 2025 Early Learning Curriculum Grant. With this grant, the Foundation assisted Wolfpack Preschool in expanding their program by adding a new 3-year-old classroom at TRES, alongside their two established 4-year-old classrooms at TRES and RES. This addition allows Wolfpack Preschool to welcome more young learners into a nurturing and developmentally rich environment.

The Parke County Community Foundation is honored to help provide intentional, developmentally appropriate support during these early, critical years of growth and learning. Through this initiative, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to strengthening early learning opportunities and supporting the youngest learners in the community.

Pictured with Rosedale Elementary School’s Pre-K Class are (back row left to right) Andrea Hartman, Teaching Assistant; Abby Cleghorn, Principal; Rachel Porter, Digital Curriculum Integration Specialist; Amy Edwards, PCCF Grants & Communications Administrator; Gracie Taylor, PCCF Intern; Colleen Engle, PCCF Executive Director; and Peggy Wright, Rosedale Elementary School Pre-K Teacher.

The post PCCF Awards Early Learning Curriculum Grants appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

The post Parke County Community Foundation Announces New Executive Director appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

Bumgardner began his relationship with the Parke County Community Foundation in June of 1997 as a member of the Board of Directors.  He served the Community Foundation in that role until he was selected as the Foundation’s first full-time Executive Director in August of 2000.  As Executive Director, Bumgardner has overseen all the Foundation’s professional staff and worked closely with the Board of Directors to build the Parke County Community Foundation into a highly respected community model.  Since his arrival, the Foundation’s assets have grown from approximately $165,000 to over $26 Million.  This growth includes the management of over 300 charitable funds.  During Bumgardner’s tenure, the Parke County Community Foundation has distributed more than $22 Million in grants and scholarships to benefit Parke County.  Bumgardner’s dedication to the Community Foundation and the entire Parke County community has made him an admired servant of Parke County.  He has played a vital part in many community organizations and projects and has served as a mentor to many throughout the community.

Alisa Wilson, Parke County Community Foundation’s Board Chair, spoke of Bumgardner’s leadership, “Brad has been the heart, face and soul of the Parke County Community Foundation for 25 years.  Under his vision and leadership, the Foundation has thrived.  Brad’s extraordinary legacy will continue to benefit Parke County for years to come.”

Notable accomplishments and major projects of the Parke County Community Foundation during Bumgardner’s tenure as Executive Director include:  Founding member of Partnership Parke County, Ritz Theater Historic Preservation and Organizational Structure, Beachwood Park Pool renovations and improvements, renovations of the Parke County Tourist & Information Depot, Creation of Parke County Community Foundation Forever Funds, and other projects throughout the community.

While reflecting on his time and accomplishments while with the Foundation, Bumgardner stated “As I step into retirement, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible support I have received from so many people throughout my journey. I have had the privilege of serving in the two best jobs in Parke County.  In my work at the church, I was blessed to build relationships, share Christ, and equip others to do the same.  I was again blessed while working alongside more than 100 dedicated board members who embraced the mission of the Community Foundation.  Because of the selfless work of these board members, donors and countless volunteers, the Foundation will be able to give over a million dollars in grants & scholarships each year, forever leaving a lasting impact on our community. Together, we helped others understand the Foundation’s role and extend its impact throughout the community. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities I have had to share my vision, collaborate with passionate individuals, and witness those visions come to life. It has been an honor to serve our community, and I look forward to seeing how these efforts continue to grow and bless others in the years ahead.”

Bumgardner is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  During his time at Lincoln, he played baseball and basketball and was named the 1982 Student Athlete of the Year.  On October 5, 2019, Bumgardner’s 1978-1979 basketball team, The Preachers, was inducted into the Lincoln Christian University Hall of Fame.  Bumgardner was ordained as a Minister of Christ on March 6, 1983.  He served in ministry at the Rockville Christian Church for 18 ½ years where he held the titles of Youth Minister, Associate Minister, and his final role was Senior Minister prior to joining Parke County Community Foundation.  Bumgardner became a Certified Fund Specialist in 2016 through the Institute of Business and Finance.

Bumgardner is a life-long resident of Parke County.  On August 15, 1982, he married his wife, Susan Hatfield Bumgardner.  In Parke County, they raised their 3 daughters, Katie (Scott) Small of Oxford, England, Audrey (Sean) Smith of San Saba, Texas, and Emily Bumgardner of Brooklyn, New York.  They are also blessed with six grandchildren: Elena, Bennett and Xavier Small; Asher and Jett Smith; and a granddaughter arriving in April.  When speaking of the added time he will have available in retirement, Bumgardner said “Family has always been at the heart of my journey and I’m grateful for the time ahead to focus on what matters most – cherishing moments with loved ones, making new memories, and embracing the simple joys of life.”

The Executive Committee of the Parke County Community Foundation has begun the implementation of succession planning.  The Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Bumgardner have selected PCCF staff member Colleen Engle as Interim Executive Director.  Engle will serve as Interim Executive Director throughout the transition of Bumgardner’s retirement.

The post Executive Director, Brad Bumgardner, Retiring appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

Pictured with the new cabinets are, from left: Assistant Principal Chet Dickey, Parke County Community Foundation Office and Program Director Colleen Engle, and teachers, Nikki Jacks, Katelyn Walters, and Lisa Harmon.

The post RP Receives PCCF Grant to Improve Clothing Closet appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

“Every year our scholarship committee members are tasked with a very difficult decision. This year in particular, the committee had quite the challenge of narrowing down our candidates. These students just keep getting better and better every year. We believe there was no wrong choice in the selection this year. Every student interviewed blew the committee away,” said Brad Bumgardner, executive director of the Community Foundation.

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 am beyond honored to be awarded the Lilly. The Parke County Community Foundation has opened so many doors for my future and for that I am forever thankful.” said Abigale of the award.

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.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

The post 2025 Parke County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar – Abigale Lash appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.

The post December 2024 Newsletter appeared first on Parke County Community Foundation.