Retired Judge Judith Stewart was sitting in the Seasons Lodge Conference Center, listening to Ruth Reichmann describe the next winner of the John D. Rudd award winner.
Reichmann was using adjectives like “thoughtful,” “genuine,” “fair,” “impartial,” “graceful,” “ethical” and “patient.”
She mentioned that this year’s recipient had recently retired, and it began to click for Stewart that she was the winner.
A round of applause filled the room as everyone turned to look at Stewart seated next to her husband, Michael Fulton. Stewart smiled and wiped tears from her eyes as Reichmann continued to speak about her.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“All of these are considered hallmark characteristics of good citizenship, and Judge Judith Stewart has been displaying them to us with the utmost integrity, setting the example of what an engaged public servant and community member looks like,” Reichmann said.
The winner of the John D. Rudd award, the highest award given each year to a volunteer, is a highly guarded secret, revealed at the end of the Brown County Community Foundation’s annual meetings. It’s named for its first recipient, a revered public servant and volunteer whose name now graces the ball diamonds at Deer Run Park. Reichmann won the award last year.
“I just want to say thank you so much. This is a very much a surprise. You can tell since I’m wearing jeans,” Stewart said with a laugh, after accepting her award and a hug from Reichmann.
“It means more to me than you will ever know. I love this community and this means so much. I will continue to do everything I can to serve the community,” she said.
After the meeting, Stewart received hugs and congratulations from various community members. She smiled as she hugged each one, the award never leaving her hand.
Receiving it meant a “tremendous amount” to her.
“I thought the world of John Rudd, and to receive this award in his name, knowing everything he did for the community, just means so much to me,” she said.
Stewart and Fulton usually come to the foundation’s meeting every year, so she had no idea she would be up for the award. She has previously served on the foundation’s scholarship committee.
“It really is such an honor,” she said.
Stewart was first elected as judge in 1990, but left that position in 1993 to become the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. She was appointed by former President Bill Clinton and worked under former Attorney General Janet Reno.
She also served on the attorney general’s advisory committee.
She served as the U.S. attorney before returning to Brown County to fill in as judge when then-Judge Heather Mollo in February 2000.
She then ran for the job and was elected to serve again. She won reelection each time until she decided to retire last year.
“It was over the duration of the last 20 years when her community service shined, beyond the expectations of her office,” Reichmann said.
“As a known nature lover, she is a dedicated Friend of the Park where she works to keep Brown County beautiful. She has always been, and remains, a strong advocate of children and education. .. .Not mentioned here are countless unspoken acts of goodwill, contributions to local charitable causes, and innumerable hours spent working to improve the quality of life for everyone in Brown County.”
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At the Brown County Community Foundation’s 2019 annual report to the community, $78,867.64 in grants went to various community groups. The foundation’s CEO, Maddison Miller, said the Grants Committee received nearly 30 applications, requesting a total in excess of $300,000.
“These are not easy decisions to make and we appreciate their conscientiousness,” she said.
Grant Committee members are Jim Schultz, Dwight Thompson, August Simons, Erika Rudd, Peg Lindenlaub, Kerry Ridge, Rod Russell and Don Stuart.
The following organizations received grants:
- $2,500 to the Society of St Vincent DePaul for it back to school program that provides low-income, school-aged children with vouchers to purchase shoes, socks and school supplies. They anticipate serving 300 Brown County kids next school year.
- $4,000 to the Brown County Historical Society for a new printer in the archives to better reproduce historical documents, maps and more materials for its reading and research area. Visitor usage has tripled since opening in 2015 with visitors wanting to learn more about Brown County’s history and their ancestors.
- $912 to the Brown County Community Band toward its marketing and publicity initiative.
- $2,250 to Access Brown County for new tires on the vehicles. In 2018, Access covered 98,853 miles in three vehicles. That’s a total of 6,730 rides for Brown Countians who need to get to work, to doctors’ appointments or to run errands, Miller said.
- $3,396.64 to Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation Society for rehabilitation and headstone restoration in Southview cemetery. PVH restores tombstones and monuments.
- $2,500 to the Nashville Farmers Market for children’s programming support, such as crafts, story time and exploration.
- $1,606 to the Brown County school corporation to place an automated external defibrillator in a highly used community area, such as the rear of the auditorium or in the Larry C. Banks Memorial Gymnasium at Brown County High School. “Having an additional AED will benefit the community that uses these facilities by providing life-saving equipment within arm’s reach. Thank you, Holly Gordon, the school nurse, for making us aware of this need,” Miller said.
- $3,500 to the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation for Lotus Blossoms. Lotus provides multicultural programming for kids through performances, interactive workshops and experiences that spotlight international artists from diverse cultural traditions.
- $720 to the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District for fourth-grade Field Day transportation. This free event for all fourth-grade students in Brown County Schools engages them in a variety of natural resource-related programs and activities involving wildlife, soils, aquatics, forestry, fossils, recycling and more.
- $2,150 to Brown Countians for Quality Health Care to expand dental services for needy patients at the Brown County Health and Wellness Clinic. The group works with the clinic to identify people who need but cannot afford services and allow them to pay a reduced rate.
- A $1,900 matching grant to BETA for its after-school arts program. Students in program, for Grades 5-12, performed music before the meeting. Students receive instruction in violin, keyboard and guitar. The program provides opportunities for families to experience the arts together and use local musicians and artists to develop their youth talent, Miller said.
- $7,500 to the Johnson County Youth Services Bureau for the Brown County Safe Place and host home program. Over the past year, Safe Place has established 10 Safe Place sites and two host homes in Brown County, which help youth who are in crisis to receive immediate help and a safe place to land. The program also provides other services including food, transportation, clothing and school support, Miller said.
- $3,600 to the Brown County Literacy Coalition for a book distribution trailer. The coalition takes books to teachers and school libraries through its affiliation with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
- $2,500 to God’s Grace for the On the Road Again program. The organization provides gently used clothing, shoes, linens, personal hygiene items and more for struggling families in Brown County and surrounding areas. In 2018, 554 children benefited from the back-to-school event alone.
- $2,855 to Thrive Alliance for the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program, which gives people the skills to take care of themselves while caring for someone else. “By offering programs to take care of their own health and wellbeing, they can ultimately become better caregivers,” Miller said.
- $11,364 to Centerstone for its mental health safety net program that ensures Brown County students with mental health diagnoses, and without health insurance, can receive the treatment the need to recover and be successful at school and in life. The National Survey of Children’s Health estimates more than 40 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 17 are not receiving the mental health services they need.
- $864 to Aging and Community Service Thrive Alliance for Foster Grandparents classroom tutor and mentor training. This is a five-week program to help foster grandparents learn to meet the needs of struggling school children considered at risk for academic or developmental reasons. Training covers dyslexia, autism, ADHD, trauma-based behaviors and more. Currently, six to eight classroom grandparents are actively engaged with 108 children in Brown County. New volunteers are being accepted.
- $1,000 to the Brown County League of Women Voters for printing of the “Who’s Where in Brown County” resource guide.
- $3,750 to Turning Point Domestic Violence Services for client assistance and support, which helps Brown County individuals and families working to rebuild their lives. In 2018, 48 families were served through the Brown County office.
- $20,000 to Silver Linings Women’s Resource Center for the purchase of a new vehicle to transport residents to meetings in the recovery community, appointments, child visitations and more. Last year, Silver Linings increased its capacity to nine beds, was certified as a National Recovery Residence and provided 2,093 adult shelter nights for 24 adults and 341 shelter nights for children, along with 13,104 hours of supervised visitation for children. The center also has an impressive record of residents who move on to stable employment, permanent housing and long-term addiction recovery.
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Representatives from four local organizations were made volunteers of the year at the Brown County Community Foundation’s annual report to the community.
Each nominating organization also received a $250 grant.
Brown County Weekend Backpack program
Sandy Higgins is the backpack distribution coordinator who serves as the main facilitator between Brown County Schools and the Brown County Weekend Backpack program. She works to determine the number of bags that each school needs, to sign up students for services and to deliver bags of food.
“She is always going above and beyond to make sure students have food,” said foundation board member Shirley Boardman.
Higgins also helps with fundraising and serves as the Jackson Township trustee in addition to being a substitute teacher in Brown County Schools.
Brown County League of Women Voters
Janet Kramer is longtime member and past League president who has worked “diligently to ensure Brown Countians have the information needed to make informed votes,” Boardman said.
Kramer has volunteered in the areas of voter registration and voter education and has coordinated candidate forums and League events. She also has served on several other boards and committees in Brown County, such as the Homemakers Council, Friends of the Brown County Library and Friends of Brown County State Park.
Boardman thanked Kramer for her dedication. League member Pam Raider accepted the award on behalf of Kramer, who was celebrating her brother’s 100th birthday in Iowa.
JoAnne Himebaugh also received a volunteer of the year award for her work with the League. Himebaugh currently serves as the secretary and publishes the League’s newsletter.
Himebaugh “is always ready to volunteer and lend a hand where it’s needed” while managing being a business owner and the mother of two. “She is service-oriented, an environmentalist and an educator,” Boardman said.
She has been an active member of the Hometown Collaboration Initiative for two-and-a-half years, finding ways to inspire leadership in nonprofit organizations.
Her nominator described her as “sincere and caring with an infectious smile.”
“I think we’d all agree that’s true,” Boardman said as Himebaugh stood to the side smiling with her award.
Brown County Habitat for Humanity
Carl Bochmann’s nomination said that he “deserves a pat on the back for his big heart and willingness to see what’s needed and then doing it without prompting,” Boardman said.
He works cleaning and removing rubbish for Habitat events and is “always quick to lend a hand, clean a toilet, throw away old furniture and be proactive on lawn maintenance,” Boardman said.
He has also recently helped the Nashville Christmas Committee with Christmas in the Village. Bochmann’s nominator said “he is strong, capable and doesn’t mind getting tired and dirty. Moreover, he has a big heart.”
Ruth Jarrett “has an undeniable commitment to service in the Brown County community,” Boardman said. With professional experience in real estate, she’s been an “invaluable member of the Habitat team by searching for available property, making connections for lot clearings, utility connections, surveying and often rolling up her sleeves to help with a clean-out or rehab,” Boardman added.
She has also helped with the Nashville Christmas Committee.
Habitat for Humanity member Marilyn Fagg accepted the award on behalf of Jarrett who was unable to attend due to a recent car accident.
“We wish her a speedy recovery,” Boardman said.
Brown County Literacy Coalition
Jenise Bohbrink was nominated as the volunteer of the year for the Brown County Literacy Coalition, which claims they would be “lost without Jenise’s eye for detail and general enthusiasm for getting things done.”
For several years, she singlehandedly managed the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library charity golf outing. She has been a tutor, a member of the board and the treasurer.
“Through many iterations of the organization and its board, Jenise’s common sense has helped the literacy coalition make wise decisions, and for that, they are deeply grateful,” Boardman said.
Bohbrink was unable to attend the event. A video had been recorded, but due to a power outage, it was unable to be played.
Other awards
This year’s chairman’s award went to the foundation’s Advancement Committee which began planning Giving Dinners in 2017. That year, five dinners were hosted, raising more than $21,000. In 2018, three Giving Dinners raised almost $13,000.
The committee also organized the foundation’s 25th anniversary gala, which raised more than $50,000 for the community. This year, the committee has hosted two dinners that generated $25,000. Committee members greet guests and help serve meals.
“These women are volunteers from our community who have given generously of their time and many talents to make these very enjoyable and successful fundraising dinners happen,” Chairman Jan Mills said.
The committee members are Kirstie Tiernan, Molly Daugherty, Debbie Kelley, Pam Raider and Shirley Boardman. The committee also had support from staff members Jenise Bohbrink, Mary McInerney, Larry Pejeau and Jennifer Bube.
This year, the foundation created a new Emerging Leader Award of Excellence that went to local 19-year-old Isaiah Smith, who was instrumental in planning Victory Park, a skate and teen park, at Deer Run Park.
“Growing up in Nashville, he saw a need for youth recreation and got to work planning and implementing a project that will affect generations to come,” CEO Maddison Miller said.
“He met with county and school officials, attended community meetings, secured permits and funding, recruited a skate park builder and contractors, and even had a hand in the design of what is now known as Victory Park. He has risen above obstacles and remains committed to completing the project while serving as an inspiration for Brown Countians of all ages.”
The award was created because of Smith to recognize “visionary leadership by a young Brown County resident who demonstrates an ability to engage and positively impact their community,” Miller said.
Smith was unable to attend, but a video was recorded. Due to a power outage, the video could not be played.
The Indiana Raptor Center received this year’s Environmental Leadership award and received a grant for $940.02.
“They do a world-class job caring for these animals and help ensure natural food chain preservation,” Miller said.
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