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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.

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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.

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Recently the Gamma Sigma Chapter Kappa, Kappa, Kappa, Inc. applied to the Parke County Community Foundation for “Joy for All Companion Pets” for the Rockville Nursing and RehabCenter. The robotic dogs & cats are used in nursing homes as therapy for elderly who suffer memory loss from aging as well as loneliness, and depression. These are maintenance-free, realistic, interactive mechanical dogs & cats. They provide companionship for those patients who have no relatives, relatives who do not visit, or those who have pets that they had to leave behind when they required full-time nursing home care. These pets are interactive (they move when you pat the back of their neck, they will nuzzle your hand when you pat their cheeks, you experience a heartbeat when you pat their back. If patients don’t interact with the pet, they will take a nap.) Patients who have these pets available have a much more positive attitude, more active interaction with other patients, in short more incentive to lead more positive lives in an often lonely existence. Research has shown that appetites improve, participants engage in more social activities, & interaction between patients improves. This grant purchased 6 cats and 5 dogs for the residents.

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The Parke County Promise’s vision is for every Parke County student to attain educational achievement through college, technical and training offerings in and following high school.

Thanks to all the contributors and Fall Dinner table sponsors who made achieving this $60,000 goal possible.

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The citizens of Parke County responded, and all six communities met their match and beyond! A celebration reception was held in January with each town hosting a commemorative booth at the fairgrounds. Congratulations Parke County communities on a job well done!

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56 years later the Parke County community faces a similar situation. A large group of Parke County youth are living in an “at risk” environment, and the presence of a community pool, which was closed one summer, is vital in maintaining a safe, fun and meaningful childhood for hundreds of Parke County youth.

Several efforts have taken place to repair and enhance the original pool; the walls and floor were re-poured in 2007, the baby pool was converted to a splash pool in 2009, complete with its own new filtering system. However, the 56 year-old filtering system of the Olympic pool, including pumps, lines, drains and skimmers are were worn out as well as not meeting code.

However,after the latest renovation in 2014, The Beechwood Park Pool enjoyed its best summer attendance since 1958 once it was reopened. Evening swim hours, private parties, a Splash Hop, free Red Cross swim lessons to more than 40 children, adult swim, and free sunscreen for attendees were some of the offerings made available by the Beechwood Parks Department.

The pool was closed for more than two summer seasons during the fundraising phase. Graves Plumbing, Linton, Indiana was the renovation contractor. The Foundation contributed $33,000 to this project.

The pool renovation came at a $400K price-tag, equally funded by the Town of Rockville and private donations. The pool not only attracted Parke County swimmers, but also patrons from Vigo, Vermillion, and Clay counties. Congratulations Parke County, for saving an important recreational gem that can serve Parke County citizens for another 50 years.

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A total of $20,000 was granted to 24 different Parke County nonprofits in honor of the Foundation’s 20th anniversary. Sponsors of the event include Parke Seeds Inc., Superior Lithoplate, Wright Implement, Hays Family Heirloom Legacy Fund, and Scott Pet Products. We would like to thank all of our table sponsors as well. The evening’s grand finale was a reproduction of Le Miserables One More Day performed by an ensemble of Parke County’s talented voices.

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