Vigo County Education Foundation awards more than $40K in grants

​Tribune-Star staff report Nov 25, 2024

The Leadership Giving Award was presented to Indiana State University President Mike Godard on behalf of the university Friday during the Vigo County Education Foundation Business and Bagels event. Shown here are Jennifer Kirsch, Alex Allen-Hodge, Godard, Chris Himsel and Jane Nichols.

The Vigo County Education Foundation awarded $40,061 in school-wide grants to 17 schools Friday during its semiannual Business and Bagels event.
Sponsored by Labor Link, the event celebrated educational excellence and highlighted VCEF’s commitment to enriching educational opportunities for Vigo County students
The grants will fund a range of initiatives, including author visits, theater productions, literacy programs, enriching field trips, and academic and attendance incentives.
Each program is designed to enhance learning experiences and foster a love of education among students across the district, according to a VCEF news release.
During the event, the Leadership Giving Award was presented to Indiana State University President Mike Godard on behalf of the university. Godard spoke about the meaningful collaborations between ISU, the Vigo County School Corp. and the foundation.
“ISU’s unwavering commitment to the growth and development of our educational community is a shining example of what it means to be a true leader in giving and service,” said Alex Allen-Hodge, VCEF board president.
Several notable projects received special recognition during the event:

• Elanco Clinton Laboratories sponsored Ben’s Book Vending Machine Continues to Change Lives, One Book at a Time at Franklin Elementary; Book Nook at Sugar Grove Elementary; and Feeling Sensate-tional at Hoosier Prairie Elementary.
• Thom and Cathy Foster of Foster Wealth Management sponsored A.C.E.D. (Attendance Counts Every Day) at Lost Creek Elementary.
• The Larry Paul Fleschner Foundation funded Ouabache Elementary’s musical, Ouabache is Tiggerific.
• A fund created by Alternatives for Living and Learning supported Booker T. Washington’s Social Emotional Learning Beyond our Four Walls initiative.

Since 1984, the VCEF has awarded over $3.7 million to schools and programs within the Vigo County School Corp.
“This incredible milestone reflects the generosity of our community’s businesses and individuals and their shared belief in providing the best educational opportunities for our students,” said Jane Templeton Nichols, VCEF executive director. “The VCEF is grateful and proud of this support.”