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Author: Shelly Jones

14 Nov

Posted at 16:09h in Featured Story
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What are some important questions to ask your parents before they die? Here are some tips on starting meaningful estate planning conversations this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of us are mentally preparing for the holidays and spending time with family. Something you’re probably not preparing, though, is a list of questions to ask your parents before they die. (Uh, morbid! Why?) We’re totally aware—death, money, and inheritance are some table topics that many families won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. With that said, please hear us out on why Thanksgiving is a great time to check in with your family about their affairs, and how to broach the subject in a way that isn’t totally cringey.   Thanksgiving: A Portal of Gratitude, Sentiment, and Tradition Thanksgiving is the season of gratitude, and for many, family makes it to the top of that list. By bringing up estate planning in ways that honor gratitude and sentimentalism can show them that you care. We’re asking you to consider this for a few key reasons: Talking to your loved ones about estate planning is crucial. Thanksgiving is one of the key family gatherings of the year. Awkwardness and procrastination can prevent these conversations from happening, leaving everyone in the dark. ...

07 Nov

Posted at 19:15h in Featured Story
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 This is my favorite recipe for homemade carrot cake! This cake is so easy to make, perfectly moist and topped with an easy homemade cream cheese frosting. And we just have to give credit to the original recipe writer here www.livewellbakeoften.com. Prep Time: 35 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes | Servings: 10 Slices Ingredients For the carrot cake: ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled (250 grams) ▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ▢ ½ teaspoon ground ginger ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ▢ ½ teaspoon salt ▢ ¾ cup canola or vegetable oil (180ml) ▢ 4 large eggs at room temperature ▢ 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar (300 grams) ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams) ▢ ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (125 grams) ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ▢ 3 cups lightly packed grated carrots (300 grams)   For the cream cheese frosting: ▢ 1 (8-ounce) package brick style cream cheese (226 grams) softened ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter (115 grams) softened ▢ 2 cups powdered sugar (240 grams) ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract   How To Make Thanksgiving Carrot Cake Make The Cake Layers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray two 9-inch round cake pans well with nonstick cooking spray, then line the bottoms of each pan with a parchment paper circle. This will make it much easier to remove your cake layers from the pan! Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt to a large mixing bowl and give it a good whisk. ...

07 Nov

Posted at 19:04h in Featured Story
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We have some exciting news to share! Not only is the Community Foundation of Grant County celebrating our 40th birthday this year, but we also have an incredible Matching Opportunity that we’d like to tell you more about! Because of the tremendous support you’ve provided over the years, there have been meaningful, lasting changes in our community—and now we’ve got the chance for you to make an even bigger impact. With a gift from Lilly Endowment Inc., every dollar you donate to any new or existing Give To Grant Fund will be matched 2-to-1. That means your $100 becomes $300, your $1,000 turns into $3,000, and so on, until the remaining $500,000 in matching funds is used up. It’s like a birthday present for the whole community! Your donation will support both our annual grantmaking and our bold new community leadership initiatives. Here’s just a glimpse of what Give To Grant Funds are currently supporting: Collabora: We’ve purchased the building at 100 S. Washington Street in Marion, and after renovations, we’ll be moving in with six nonprofit partners— Grant County Visitors Bureau, Grant County Economic Growth Council, Greater Grant County Chamber of Commerce, Project Leadership, and United Way of Grant...

07 Nov

Posted at 14:52h in Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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City of Marion partners with Community Foundation to award $400,000 in grants to fifteen nonprofit organizations serving Marion The Community Foundation of Grant County, in partnership with the City of Marion, is excited to announce the award of $400,000 in grants to fifteen nonprofit organizations that are making a significant impact in the city. Through the 212° Grant Cycle, these organizations will receive essential funding for programs and projects that drive positive change across the City of Marion. The grant cycle's name is inspired by the metaphor that at 211 degrees, water is hot, but at 212 degrees, it boils—creating steam powerful enough to move a train—this grant cycle reflects the transformative impact of small but powerful efforts. The nonprofits selected are making that extra degree of difference, driving progress that propels our community forward. The City of Marion formally celebrated the grant recipients during the Community Spotlight segment of the City Council meeting on Wednesday, November 6th. This celebration was an opportunity for the city to honor the remarkable work of local nonprofits and the impact they continue to make across Marion. Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community Foundation, shared her enthusiasm for the impact of the 212° grant cycle and...

02 Nov

Posted at 16:57h in Featured Story
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Politics, according to the report, is the biggest source of tension, with post-election dynamics likely amplifying this trend NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 40% of families report open disagreements during holiday gatherings, according to a recent survey by Trust & Will, a leading online estate planning platform. Notably, a full one-third of these conflicts escalate into lasting family rifts, with nearly 20% of respondents indicating that these disputes have even led to changes in a family member's will or estate plan. The report identifies the top five topics most likely to trigger holiday conflicts: politics (34%), past family grievances (32%), relationships (25%), finances (25%), and parenting (17%). Politics, on the heels of a contentious presidential election, is expected to remain a primary driver of family tensions this year. While sensitive topics like inheritance or family heirlooms are often avoided, 38% of respondents in this survey admit that holiday conversations sometimes touch on these subjects in lighthearted ways. Psychologists and mental health experts note that while not every family encounters conflict, data suggest that disagreements during holiday togetherness are common enough to be recognized as a widespread phenomenon. Age, Gender, and Regional Differences in Holiday Tensions Trust & Will's survey also reveals intriguing differences in holiday conflict dynamics...

22 Oct

Posted at 16:45h in Community News, Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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GRANT COUNTY — Greater Grant County has been awarded a $325,000 CAPE II Career Exploration Grant from the Community Foundation of Grant County and Indiana Wesleyan University. The grant, distributed over five years at $65,000 annually, aims to bridge the gap between local education and career readiness by funding a newly established Director of Workforce Development position. The CAPE II Career Exploration Grant aligns with Greater Grant County’s mission to be a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders, and a champion for a stronger community. The new position will focus on fostering meaningful connections between local schools and employers, facilitating internship opportunities, and guiding students toward successful career pathways. “This grant will make a significant impact in helping us address a critical need in our community,” said Kylie Jackson, President/CEO of Greater Grant County. “By investing in the future workforce, we are creating stronger connections between education and career opportunities, ultimately driving economic growth in Grant County.” Dawn Brown, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County, shared her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “This is a momentous step for our community. I truly believe we will look back at this as a pivotal moment in Grant County’s history. Congratulations to...

16 Oct

Posted at 12:41h in A Message from Dawn, Featured Story
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I grew up in an ingredient household, did you?  An ingredient household is a home that plans the meals in advance and purchases the ingredients to make those meals—usually delicious, healthy meals. The problem with an ingredient household is that at first glance in the fridge and pantry, you might not think there is anything to eat. There aren’t quick, grab-and-go snacks—there’s only ingredients. Now, I’m not saying we didn’t ever have snacks, because we did.  Before we watched The Wonderful World of Disney, we would get a cup of M&M’s as a treat.  But because I had siblings, we had to count them out to make sure no one got one additional M—that would be anarchy! So, snacks were planned as well; a treat to be enjoyed occasionally. Otherwise, we lived off ingredients. I’d venture to say that not many families are like this today. Fast food, frozen meals, or ‘girl dinners’—a thrown together snack buffet—are more typical these days; especially with the schedules that are ruled by after-school activities. No judgement. Life in 2024 just isn’t dominated by a lot of ingredient households anymore. This thought was pervading my mind as I was waiting for a flight recently. It’s always interesting...

13 Aug

Posted at 18:11h in Featured Story
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In celebration of the Community Foundation’s 40th birthday, the Foundation has gifted 40 Little Free Libraries to individuals, businesses, churches, schools, and nonprofits throughout Grant County. This initiative aims to promote literacy and foster a love of reading within the community. “The vision was to have a Little Free Library in every community across our county,” said Dawn Brown, President/CEO of the Community Foundation. “All people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege. We’re giving Grant County the gift of literacy because leaders are readers and learners are earners.” Since its establishment on August 20, 1984, the Community Foundation has been a cornerstone of philanthropy in Grant County, dedicated to enhancing the lives of local residents. Over the past four decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $19 million in grants to local nonprofits and provided $8 million in scholarships to students, thanks to the generosity of over 13,000 donors and the leadership of 137 current and former Board Members. Each Little Free Library is uniquely decorated and stocked with books, serving as a community hub where residents can take a book or leave a book. This project not...

09 Aug

Posted at 16:56h in A Message from Dawn, Featured Story
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This happens…every. single. time. I don’t intentionally watch sports on a weekly basis. Occasionally, it happens by accident. I don’t know who the future Hall of Famers will be, have no idea who the top teams are at any given moment, and couldn’t tell you who won either the Super Bowl or the World Series last year. I have been known to holler ‘KOBE’ when I attempt to throw a paper wad into the trash can. Clearly, I’m no athlete. I do know that in some sports a strike is good and in other sports a strike is bad. But outside of that, I have a complete sports deficiency…until the Olympics. Ugh. They suck in my attention like I’m in a time vortex. Have I even watched a gymnast since that last Olympics? Uh, that would be a firm “no”. Did I watch with glee when Clark Kent, also known by his parents as Steven Nedoroscik, clenched USA’s bronze medal in the team all-around final, during his nearly flawless pommel horse routine? Uh, that would be a “heck yeah”! That was the first men’s medal in that event in 16 years! There’s just something about the Olympics that feels so relatable. Do...