By LARRY PEJEAU, guest columnist
The Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) hosted its 25th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 15 at the Salt Creek Golf Course. The board of trustees, staff and event volunteers were proud to welcome over 150 guests as we highlighted all of the permanent and positive impact delivered by the BCCF since 1993 as a result of the amazing generosity of our local partners.
Thanks to a contribution by Carol and Al Drake, one lucky guest went home with a beautiful diamond as part of our Bubbles and Bling event. Thanks to a contribution by Patricia Rhoden Bartels, one lucky quest was able to purchase a beautiful painting, completed at the gala, as part of a reverse auction called professionally by Roger Craven.
We want to thank all of our presenters, and especially John Lechleiter, for his heartfelt keynote speech focusing on why philanthropy is so important to him, his family and his community. It was a joyous evening of celebration and giving, resulting in a new, $50,000, 25th anniversary fund being created at the BCCF that will support community grants forever.
In my last official event as CEO, I was proud that our new CEO, Maddison Miller, was present to be introduced to the community during the evening. Past CEOs Jim Brunnemer, Jaydene Laros and Bob Kirlin were all present to welcome Maddison and share in the festivities. The BCCF’s first CEO, Del Newkirk, was traveling and unable to attend.
Very early in the morning one day before the event, I received a phone call from Del all the way from Bulgaria. Del shared some thoughts with me that were very insightful.
Del and I discussed the fact that the BCCF currently has over $11 million in assets and that we have granted over $11 million back to the community. This is truly a wonder given the challenges Del faced starting the organization and the fundraising struggles in the early years of the BCCF. This fact is mathematically hard to understand without recognizing the partnerships the BCCF has cultivated with Lilly Endowment Inc., Smithville and Cummins charitable foundations and many other local organizations that awarded grants supporting local initiatives. Del discussed the many projects that have been associated with the BCCF and their value:
- 31 Brown County Lilly Scholarships worth approximately $5 million;
- The Career Resource Center funded with Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Cape I and II grant worth $4.7 million;
- 25 years of BCCF community grants from endowments worth $11 million
- Direct distributions from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT initiative that helped fund the Brown County Public Library, the YMCA, the Project Helping Hands building, the Brown County Art Gallery and other community projects worth approximately $5 million;
- The present value of all BCCF funds valued at $10.5 million;
- The present value of BCCF assets including the new office space and Howard F. Hughes Community Room valued at $250,000.
Del stated: “The benefit from this amount of investment in a small community is immense. It illustrates what people who are committed to their community can accomplish.”
Del and I agreed that the value of all of this philanthropic activity to the community is far greater than the sum of just the dollars. How can you measure the individual and community value of every student that went on to receive a college degree thanks to a scholarship, or the individual and community value of every job that happened thanks to a GED or certificate received from the Brown County Career Resource Center?
What is the long-term value to the community of healthier citizens and new friendships thanks to the existence of the YMCA?
How can you measure the value to the community of more aware and educated citizens thanks to the resources of the public library?
What is the value to the community of the programs being delivered to Brown County with the help of BCCF annual grants provided by our invaluable nonprofit partners?
The continual positive growth in health and wealth in the community, as these grant dollars continue to deliver value, is truly immeasurable.
Del’s final questions to me was, “What would the value of all of these programs be without the presence of the BCCF?” His answer: “The value would be zero.”
For 25 years, the BCCF has been an incredible force for positive change in this community thanks to the dedication of many volunteers, visionary staff members and many generous donors. We have much to be proud of accomplishing, many more challenges to address and many new partners to meet.
I thank everyone in Brown County for allowing me to be part of this legacy. I thank Del Newkirk for giving me that call early in the morning to remind me why it was all well worth the time and effort.
Larry Pejeau retired on Sept. 28 as CEO of the Brown County Community Foundation. New CEO Maddison Miller started work Oct. 1. She can be reached at 812-988-4882 or [email protected].
