Message from your co-chairs

Annual Report

The next fifteen months are going to transform the power of the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County. By smartly taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity provided through the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VI Initiative, our endowment will nearly double to over $1,000,000 by March of 2016. If you have already pledged or contributed for the coming year, we want to thank you for that important support. But regardless of your current pledge status, we want to encourage you to do more and partner with us to help reach the milestone of ONE MILLION dollars in our first decade. The Women’s Fund makes a difference where it matters most, harnessing the power of women philanthropists to invest in the future of the community we love while addressing the needs of today. We create greater good together and through the power of endowment will do so forever. This November, we helped transform the lives of women in transition at the YWCA and assisted at-risk children served by CASA with impact grants of $35,000 each. Together, we have granted over a half million dollars in just eight years to areas of crushing need. You will read about that work and see the names of those who have made this work possible — including our exclusive sponsor St. Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children — in this report. Now we need you to consider increasing your support in the coming year as all gifts may be matched dollar-for-dollar through the GIFT VI Initiative. The Vanderburgh Community Foundation will also match up to an additional $500 of your gift to ensure we can match all gifts to our endowment while maintaining our present giving levels. Please consider increasing your gift, at least for the next two campaigns. If your group can increase its giving and become two groups, the power of your gifts will increase exponentially. If you can consider a multiyear gift, a gift of $5,000, or even the lifetime gift of $25,000, please contact our Director, Scott Wylie, so he can help you take full advantage of your gift. There is no limit on the amount that can be matched. He can be reached at 812.422.1245 or scott@vcfoundation.org. Over the next year, members of the Women’s Fund Advisory Board will be working with all of you to maximize our impact in 2015 and for many years to come. It is so exciting to think that in just one short decade, women philanthropists in our community will have created a permanent endowment of over $1,000,000 which will make a difference forever. Thank you for being a part of the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County!

2014

Karen LeMond

Denise Johnson

Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County | 401 S.E. Sixth Street, Suite 203 | Evansville, Indiana 47713 | 812.422.1245

t The Tropicana Ballroom in downtown

Evansville was alive with excitement

on November 7 as nearly 250

women, and a few men, gathered to

participate in the award of this year’s

grants.

Again this year, three charitable

organizations sought funding for

program-related efforts and another

three sought funds for capital

projects. Their journey started with a

thorough vetting process designed

by the Women’s Fund grants

committee, whose charge is to take a

pool of about forty applicant

organizations down to the six who

are invited to present their proposals

to the Women’s Fund membership at

the dinner. Members then cast their

votes.

This year’s voting was as difficult

as always, with some members

holding on to their ballots until the

last possible moment. After all the

votes were counted (with our thanks

to Harding, Shymanski and Company

for providing their professional

services), the Program Impact Grant

was awarded to Vanderburgh County

CASA. Their $35,000 award will be

used to recruit and train 30 new community pillars to serve as new CASA advocates for the 500 children on the court waiting list to receive an advocate. The YWCA of Evansville was the

happy recipient of the Project Impact

Grant. Their $35,000 award will be

used to renovate showers and

bathrooms in the transitional housing

facility that serves homeless women

in recovery from substance abuse.

The remaining finalists—Aurora,

Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center,

Echo Housing, and Ruth’s House—

each received a gift of $5,000 from

the Women’s Fund.

“The good these organizations

are accomplishing with truly limited

resources is nothing short of

astounding,” said Karen LeMond,

who co-chaired the Women’s Fund

this year and will continue in that role

along with Denise Johnson in 2015.

“We are very proud of our part in

helping to make really big things

happen in our community. In just

eight years, our fund has awarded

$545,000 in grants. We think that’s

pretty amazing too!”

Another Exciting Annual Meeting Members award grants totaling $90,000!

a

Ark Completes Expansion Project

At the annual meeting in 2011, the members of Women’s Fund awarded a

$55,000 Impact Grant to the Ark Crisis Child Care Center. Ark’s mission is to

provide free, short-term child care for kids from six weeks through six years

old whose families are in crisis. Care is offered Monday through Friday, year-

round.

The grant from the Women’s Fund allowed Ark to add a classroom to its

facility, and construction was completed in January 2014. Since that time,

nearly 300 children have found a safe haven in the brand-new classroom, and

Ark has increased care to infants by nearly 5,000 hours. “Every hour and

every visit signifies a time when a child was safe from abuse or neglect,” says

Angie Richards Cooley, Ark’s executive director.

The new preschool classroom is home to up to 10 three-year-olds each

day. The infant care program doubled following the expansion, to

accommodate up to 8 babies daily. Each classroom is equipped with age-

appropriate toys, games, books, music and art. Classroom projects are

specifically designed to enhance each child’s creativity, socialization skills and

self-worth.

The expansion did more than just provide more space for children; it

generated awareness about Ark’s program to more families in need of

services and helped spread the word about the mission of Ark to new potential

funders.

“It was like a fairy tale when Ark was announced as the winner of the

Women’s Fund grant,” said Cooley. “We’d been searching for a way to be able

to serve more children for years; we never imagined our solution would begin

with 200 “Fairy Godmothers” with such amazing generosity and determination

to improve our city and the lives of children and families through their

philanthropy.”

Update on the Endowment

Thanks to the support of

our Women’s Fund

members, the endowment

has continued to grow and

has even exceeded expec-

tations, having surpassed

the half-million-dollar mark

this year! At the close of

2014, the balance of the

endowment is just over

$532,000, and through the

Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VI

Initiative, the endowment

has the potential to nearly

double by March of 2016!

Our members and

supporters can be excep-

tionally proud of growing

this significant resource

from an initial gift of just

$500 in 2007. Gifts to the

Women’s Fund endowment

are never spent but grow

over time and generate

proceeds year after year

that will be granted in

keeping with the fund’s

purpose. Proceeds from

the endowment continue to

grow as well. The

endowment contributed

more than $17,000 to this

year’s grant awards. Women’s Fund co-chairs Denise Johnson (left) and Karen LeMond (right) help Ark executive director Angie Richards Cooley celebrate the grand opening of Ark’s new classroom on May 20, 2014. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke proclaimed the day as “Ark Crisis Child Care Center Day” and read the official proclamation before helping to cut the ribbon on the new classroom.

Suzanne Aiken Carla J. Aldrich Kristie B. Alexander Sherri A. Alley Peggy Annakin Brook Arnold Anne Asbury Beverly Attinger Janet Heldt Baas Janice Barrett Jean Beckman Cindi Beeler Lori S. Beller Sue Bersch Jean Blanton Leslie K. Blenner Amy Bolek Nancy Bonenberger Theo Boots Tonya Borders Karen Bosler Cindy Brinker Jennifer Browning Jeanie Brubeck Glennella Bruce Judy Buchta Barb Butler Sue Calvert Susan Snyder Canfield Amy Canterbury Judith W. Carrell Elizabeth H. Chandler Myrrl Choate Helen Christian Allyson E. Claybourn Allison Comstock Angie Richards Cooley Peggy L. Coomer Jaclyn Cooper-Galey Cecilia Crowe Charlotte Dahman Kristin Dannheiser Julie Williams Daugherty Jan Davies Jill Dear Tracy DeCosta Barbara Ward Dicken Rachel Dierlam Kristin Dominick Joyce Donaldson Kat Draughon Sharon Duell Jan Eastham Holly Edmond Monica Edwards Karen Ellerbrook Catherine M. Engel Ann Ennis Nancy M. Erwin Ronda Espenlaub Nancy Evans Rita Eykamp Cary L. Farthing Cindy Fine Pat Jeffers-Fischer Kay Flesch Shannon Frank

Cara Franklin Neal Franklin Angela L. Freel Deborah Gabe Brandy Garrett Anne L. Geissinger Gayle Gerling Pettinga Paula Gerling Nancy Given Dr. Deborah Goldman Susan M. Goodin Lori Goris Phyllis R. Grimm Jane Grizzell Theodora Gunnarsdottir Jennifer Guzman Shelli A. Hancock Vicki L. Hanni Marcia A. Hard Michele Harris Molly E. Harris Glenda J. Hauschild Carol Havens Kristen B. Haynie Freida Lawrence

Henneberger Jewell Henning Stacy Heuer Elissa Hewins Pamela G. Hinkebein Tara L. Hirsch Chandra Hobson Jessica Hoffman Tricia Hollander Henning Pamela F. Hopson Shawna D. Horne Vicki L. Hubiak Mary A. Hupfer Diana L. Hurt Diane F. Igleheart Jingle Igleheart Hagey Lowry Igleheart-Keach Becky Isley Kelly J. Jackson Patricia Jackson Mary James Young Denise A. Johnson Lisa B. Jones Sharon Kazee Christine Keck Barbara Keller Chase Kelley Lisa Kelsey Elizabeth Kemper Marcia Kiessling Dorothy J. Kincaid Heather Bersch King Joan Kissel Cindy Klassy Marilyn J. Klenck Christina A. Klipsch Michele D. Klipsch Julie M. Ko Charlotte A. Kohlman Jean Korb Douglass R. Korb Kathryn Kornblum Zelle

Jane Wittmer Kuhn Lynn Kyle Julie Lamb Deborah D. Lane Caron J. Leader A Network of Evansville

Women Karen A. LeMond Peggy S. Lewis Megan Wanlin Linos Donna K. Logan Mark Logan Julie Lovins Lynn Lowe Pat Lowery Michele N. Malitz Julie Mallory Mary Martin Barbara McCarty Julie McCarty Carol McClintock Sandra McCully, CPA Tracy McEuen Anne McLaughlin Margaret McMullan Jan Meeks Jodi Merrick Leanne Metz Gayle Meyer Gretchen Miller Marcia Minton Carrie Mogavero Barbara F. Moorman Emily J. Morrison Carey E. Morton Kathy Grant Murrell Mary Sue Myers Cynthia M. Nicholson HR Solutions Inc. Missy O'Daniel Manissa F. Onstott-Lemon Linda K. O'Risky Carol L. Owen Mary-Beth Owen Carol M. Pace Mary K. Padgett Dianna Page Karan Pastora Sherri D.

Patterson-Mason

Jennifer A. Payne

Jane A. Perkins Candice Perry Neely R. Pierce Libby Pittman Theresa

Pompey Lu Porter Mary Ellen

Posthauer Barbara Price Betsy Puthoff Sharon Ray Rosalynn (Roz)

Reherman

Catherine Renner Marla J. Rennie Sarah Richards Jami A. Richardson Tonya Rine Joyse B. Rivers Aubrey D. Roberts Jennifer Roe Connie S. Romain Mary Ruthenburg Marilyn K. Rutter Gwen Sandefur Alvrone Sater Christy Sayle Susie Schach Tammy Schaefer Libby Scheessele Rhonda Schenk Darby D. Schnakenburg Kathy Schoettlin Janet Schultheis Julie Schulz Misty Seaton Lori Sieboldt, MD Kathy Simpson Katie L. Sims Margie Singer Cookie Smith Michelle Smith Marylu Sonntag Charleen Spear Vivian Lee Standifird Carolyn E. Stilwell Trudy J. Stock Kindra Strupp Barbara S. Studwell Debra K. Talley Jayne Kroeger Tang Helen Templeton Tracey Teo Patty Tharp Ann Tornatta Nancy S. Traylor Niki Traylor

Barbara J. Trockman Mary Trottier-Simmons Kristen K. Tucker Betty Van Zant Kendra Vanzo Susan Dayton Vollmer Brenda Wallace Diana Walters Kathryn M. Waters Shirley L. Weber JoAnn Weber-Drennen Kerrie Weinzapfel Jeanne C. Weitzel Crunchy Wells Ann H. White Linda E. White Dana L. Whitehead Jamie L. Wicks Diana Wilderman Pat Wilson Joyce L. Wilzbacher Karleen Wink Shirley A. Winnecke Donita Wolf Laura Wolf Sarah M. Wolf Susan J. Wolf Pat Wu Kerri Zeien Kayce Zeller Tracy Zeller Advisory Board Grants Committee

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes fail to recognize a supporter. Please accept our apologies for any errors or omissions.

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