The Community Foundation Alliance is proud to announce that applications are now open for its Community Scholarship Program, offering hundreds of opportunities for students across Southwest Indiana and in select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. These scholarships, made possible by generous local donors, provide financial support for students pursuing college, university, technical programs, or other post-secondary education paths. “Our scholarships reflect the belief that investing in students is investing in the future of our communities,” said Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer of the Community Foundation Alliance. “We want every eligible student in Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky to have access to these opportunities and feel confident applying.” Scholarship Program Highlights Wide Range of Awards: Hundreds of scholarships for graduating seniors and high school graduates across Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. Simple Application Process: Scholarships can be completed through our online Community Scholarships Common Application. Select special scholarship opportunities can be found on each community’s website. Deadline: Applications are open today and close on January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply Visit communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. Review the 2026 Scholarship Guidebook. Find your community and click through to its website. Review all available scholarship opportunities and their eligibility criteria for your community. Complete the 2025–2026 Community Scholarships Common Application. Receive your automatic matches to scholarships you qualify for. Submit all required materials, including essays and recommendation letters, by January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Start your application early! All supplemental materials must be submitted by the deadline, so build in plenty of time for each step. Give your references time to complete their recommendations, allow yourself enough time to write thoughtful essays, and request your transcripts early so your Guidance Counselor has time to process them. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please contact the staff member in your community. Kentucky & Illinois Michele Gates, Program Assistant mgates@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.429.1191 Daviess County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.254.9354 Gibson County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.386.8082 Knox County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.886.0093 Perry County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.547.3176 Pike County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.890.4469 Posey County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.838.0288 Spencer County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.649.5724 Vanderburgh County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.422.1245 Warrick County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.897.2030

The Posey County Community Foundation announced that more than $166,000 has been awarded to 39 local nonprofits through the Community Good Grants Program. These grants support projects that strengthen the community and improve the quality of life for local residents. “At its heart, the Community Foundation is here to build a stronger future for Posey County,” said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “When our donors invest through the Foundation, they’re helping local organizations tackle real issues and create lasting impact.” 2025 Community Good Grant Recipients $2,500 to the American Red Cross Southwest Indiana Chapter for year-round disaster preparedness efforts in Posey County, Indiana $708 to Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Inc. to purchase items used to enhance its Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Groups by funding activities that promote healing and community building to survivors $2,620 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana to recruit Bigs to grow the Community-Based program in Posey County $2,100 to Bread of Life Ministry, Inc. to pay freight for donated food and to purchase food items at discounted prices to distribute to low-income families in the tri-state area $1,000 to Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America to support scouting financial assistance for Posey County Scouts $5,000 to At the Cross Mission to purchase food, cleaning supplies, and other required items needed to provide “to-go” meals to Posey County residents $2,500 to the Deaconess Foundation to provide mammography screening services and education to Posey County women who are under- or uninsured via our Mobile Mammography Bus $5,000 to Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet, Inc., to provide new athletic shoes for students in need in Posey County, Indiana $3,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to fund core construction materials, such as roofing, windows, and weatherproofing materials $5,200 to the Griffin Community Ruritan Club Foundation, Inc., to improve handicap accessibility by creating a cement parking pad at the entrance to the existing wheelchair ramp $5,000 to Holly’s House, Inc., to provide child abuse prevention programming to elementary students in Posey County $2,000 to Hope Outdoors of Southern Indiana to partially wrap/sticker Hope Outdoors Southern Indiana trailer with logo $2,500 to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana to support essential program costs in Posey County $3,750 to the Indiana Alliance of YMCAs to cover registration fees for ten (10) Posey County students to participate in the Indiana Youth and Government program for one session (6 months) $6,000 to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites to replace the flooring of the Murphy Opera House $2,500 to the Isaiah 117 House Vanderburgh County to provide new clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys, pillows, and blankets to children as they transition into foster care $1,500 to The Arc Southwest Indiana to purchase Individualized Work Readiness Toolkits, additional training materials, and supplies $6,500 to Mount Vernon Youth Baseball to purchase new concession equipment, including drink coolers and a refrigerator $2,500 to the Mount Vernon City Improvement Foundation, Inc., to replace the previous azaleas and enhance the Azalea Garden located at Riverbend Park $8,000 to Mount Vernon-Black Township Parks and Recreation to purchase a new playground structure $7,500 to NewLife Rescue & Adoption, Inc., to cover the cost of spaying/neutering surgeries for the shelter cats and dogs in Posey who come under our care $2,079 to the New Harmony Artist's Guild, as fiscal sponsor for New Harmony Community Choir, for the purchase of a Yamaha P525 stage piano with stand, pedal assembly, and stool $4,000 to the New Harmony Volunteer Fireman’s Club to purchase one (1) AED, and one (1) Medical plus Oxygen Bag $12,000 to the Town of New Harmony (Park Board) to fund the 200 amp service upgrade required to add an accessible, family, public restroom that will be open year-round in Murphy Park $4,000 to the New Harmony Ministry Association Food Pantry to assist with housing (rent or mortgage) and utility assistance to residents in the northern part of Posey County $4,000 to Posey County Salvation Army to support the Emergency Assistance Program, which provides aid to people struggling to meet their basic human needs $6,000 to the Posey County Fair Association to replace the roof on the Dining Hall to ensure safe, year-round use for meetings, storage, and as the fair's command center $1,500 to the Posey County Domestic Violence Taskforce (WillowTree of Posey County) to update and increase security for the WillowTree of Posey County Safe House by adding cameras to the front and back entrances $2,500 to Mudpuppy Palace to fund one full-day visit for five (5) local schools, providing hundreds of students with hands-on, standards-aligned STEAM and nature-based programming $8,500 to River Bend Food Pantry to supplement pantry stock for the Summer Kids' Program $2,500 to the Rapp Granary - Owen Foundation for maintenance of the exterior of sandstone walls $3,500 to St. John's Episcopal Church to purchase furnishings for the home to be utilized by the Posey County Department of Children Services $6,000 to St. Matthew Catholic School for a collapsible stage to support student performances and enhance our growing fine arts and school community events $8,000 to Thrive to purchase various out-of-school time programming supplies such as STEM materials, art materials, literacy materials, and other academic enrichment materials $10,000 to United Way of Posey County to fund monthly postage of the books from the Dolly Imagination Library for children enrolled in the program, aged 0 to 5 $2,000 to the Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc., to provide spay/neuter services for the pets of Posey County residents, reducing pet overpopulation and improving quality of life for families $2,760 to the Wolfgang Orchestra and Chorus, Inc. to purchase four new songs, allowing them to keep current with more musical options $5,000 to Youth First, Inc., to provide students with access to prevention education and mental health support at no cost $5,000 to Zion Lippe United Church of Christ to support the Partners in Food Program, by funding 20 sponsorships, which will be connected to a producer (farmer) who'll pledge the gross proceeds of one acre, less the sponsorship, to the program's mission The Community Good Grants Program is just one of the powerful ways the Foundation connects local generosity to real community needs. Grants are funded through endowments established by donors who are deeply committed to the future of Southwest Indiana. Why This Matters The Posey County Community Foundation is more than a grantmaker. It’s a trusted local partner, connecting people who want to make a difference with the causes and organizations that make our community thrive. Each gift is invested for long-term growth, creating a permanent resource for local needs both now and for generations to come. To learn more about how you can give back or create your own fund, contact Deanna Rhodes, Regional Director of Development at drhodes@communityfoundationalliance.org or 812.838.0288. 

The Posey County Community Foundation distributed more than $92,000 to 22 local Posey County students from its Community Scholarship Program. These scholarships are funded by generous donors who have established a scholarship fund with the Posey County Community Foundation. Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Community Scholarship Program! Ben Dickhaut Memorial 4-H and FFA Scholarship - Brant Oakley Bobby Rogge Memorial Scholarship - Maggie McCutchan Byron and Lila Brenton Memorial Scholarship Sophie Scheller Kayla Jones Carran Family Scholarship Shawnee LaMar Chloe Swartz Cash Family Scholarship - Kyra Rainey CountryMark Technical Trade School Scholarship - Shelby Lang Craig Andrew Spradley Memorial Scholarship - Maggie McCutchan Edwin W. Martin and Aletha C. Martin Scholarship Brant Oakley Alyssa Heath Aubrey Brandenstein Tate Wilson George and Peggy Rapp Scholarship - Laney Owens Gillenwater Scholarship - Maggie McCutchan Harry A. Logan Fire Service Scholarship - Colby Angel Herb and Betty Curry Scholarship - Shawnee LaMar James W. Moore Scholarship - Colton Green Katie Kanowsky Memorial Scholarship - Noah Koester Kevin Dillon North Posey Memorial Scholarship - Rebekah Alderson Kiwanis Memorial Scholarship - Colton Green Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship 1st Alternate - Maggie McCutchan Mac McCutchan Scholarship - Lacy Baehl Margaret Corbin Wathen Scholarship - Shawnee LaMar Oscar and Helen Uebelhack Agriculture Scholarship - Chloe Swartz Posey County Co-op Scholarship - Rowan Wheeler Riedford Health Professionals Scholarship - John Thomason Robby Wilson Memorial Scholarship - Laney Owens Rosella and Doyle Oursler Scholarship - Charlotte Smith SABIC Innovative Plastics Scholarship - Ethan Mansfield Whitney Wehr Memorial Scholarship - Malley Wagner William H. Keck Leadership Scholarship - Kyra Rainey

The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Posey County through the Posey County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Posey County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Posey County through the Posey County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, is open to all Indiana residents who: graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2026 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2026; intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and meet the criteria specific to Posey County Community Foundation. Visit poseycountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding the Posey County application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Posey County and apply for this scholarship by visiting the Posey County Community Foundation website. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 25, 2025, to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: GPA, curriculum, community service, volunteer activities, essay, personal statement/unusual circumstances, work experience, honors and awards, school activities, financial need or special hardships, and interview. Three finalists will be nominated by the Posey County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December. Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. Posey County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 29th year in Posey County. “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a remarkable opportunity for high school seniors in Posey County. I’m honored to be part of a process that recognizes students’ achievements and aspirations. Not only transforms the life of its recipient by supporting their educational and personal growth, but it also benefits the local community by investing in future leaders who are likely to give back and make a lasting difference in the region,” said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact.

Since its founding in 2004, the Women’s Fund of Posey County has awarded more than $225,000 to nonprofits and programs that address critical needs and improve the quality of life in Posey County. The Fund, held by the Posey County Community Foundation, unites women from across the county dedicated to making a lasting impact through collective philanthropy. At this year’s annual grant award ceremony at the CountryMark Pavilion, $20,000 in grants were awarded to 17 local organizations serving Posey County. Congratulations to the 2025 Grant Recipients! Thrive Afterschool, Inc. MSD of Mount Vernon – Opportunity Center MSD of Mount Vernon – Bobcat Boutique MSD of North Posey – Viking Vault Riverbend Food Pantry MSD of Mount Vernon – Mindfulness Prime Time Class MSD of Mount Vernon – Mrs. Harris Occupational Therapy Classroom Habitat for Humanity of Evansville Children’s Learning Center of Posey County Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare NewLife Rescue & Adoption, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana Mudpuppy Palace, Inc. Holly’s House, Inc. Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana One New Harmony Deaconess Hospital Foundation The generosity that powers these grants is made possible by the Women’s Fund’s signature fundraiser, the annual Golf Scramble. Community members are invited to support this important event as sponsors or players. The 2025 Golf Scramble is looking for volunteers to get involved!

Posey County Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 Community Good Grants Program. Nonprofit organizations serving Posey County are encouraged to apply by Monday, August 4, 2025. Community Good Grants are awarded to charitable partners addressing a wide range of local needs. Funding is available to support programs and projects that make a meaningful impact in Posey County communities. Organizations can find detailed grant guidelines and submit their application online . For questions or assistance, please contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.838.0288 or asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org. 

The Women’s Fund of Posey County, a fund with the Posey County Community Foundation, is now accepting applications for projects or programs supporting Posey County. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply by completing the grant application no later than March 3, 2025. The Community Foundation welcomes funding requests from nonprofit organizations that are deemed tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and from governmental agencies serving the county. Applications submitted by an entity under the auspices of another agency must include a written statement signed by the agency’s board president on behalf of the board of directors agreeing to act as the entity’s fiscal sponsor, to receive grant funds if awarded, and to oversee the proposed project. The project or program must provide support in one of the following areas: · Arts and Culture · Community Development · Education · Environment · Health · Human Services · Youth Development Eligible nonprofit organizations can learn more and apply at www.poseycountycf.org/womens-fund-grants-program . The Women’s Fund Steering Committee will review funding requests and contact grant applicants for an interview. Once interviews have concluded, the steering committee will make its recommendations on funding to the Community Foundation Alliance Board of Directors. No lobbying or soliciting of the steering committee or board members will be permitted.  To learn more, contact Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact at asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org.

The Posey County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Posey County – Lora Commens, North Posey High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. The first alternate, Maggie McCutchan, will receive a scholarship from the Friends of Posey County Fund. Shelby Lang was named the second alternate. “The nominating committee unanimously agreed that Lora was the ideal choice for this honor. She is not only a well-rounded student but also strives to be a role model for others,” said Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Posey County Community Foundation. Smith continued, “This year, 17 exceptionally talented students applied for the scholarship. Each one excelled academically and actively participated in a wide variety of extracurricular and community activities. The quality of the applications made the selection process challenging for the dedicated committee, who carefully reviewed and fairly scored each submission according to the established guidelines.” Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. “I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity and appreciate the support (Lilly Endowment Inc.) will provide me as I continue my academic journey through college,” said Lora Commens, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. In determining Posey County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to GPA, curriculum, community service and volunteer activities, essay, personal statement, work experience, honors and awards, school activities, financial need, and finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Wildcats Remembered Fund, held by the Posey County Community Foundation, recently awarded Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) a $17,860 grant. Foundation staff, along with Principal Dr. Scott Strieter and Vice Principal Mr. Cody Ungetheim, presented the grant to MVHS students. The Wildcats Remembered Fund’s grants to MVHS continue to support a wide range of educational and extracurricular activities that benefit the school and its students.