Bee-utiful Turn Out at the 2nd Annual Social Gathering of The Hive

Posted on February 21, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The Hive, a local ladies giving circle established through the Starke County Community Foundation, helped provide a platform and funding to four amazing causes during their second annual Social Gathering at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center Wednesday evening.

Drew’s Gift of Music and The Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation will each receive a $750 grant, The Koontz Lake/Oregon-Township Volunteer Fire Department will be getting $1,500 and the Hope Restored Recovery Home will be awarded a grant of $2,000. 

Each group had a chance to speak about their organization and discuss how the funding was going to assist their cause. The amount of grant funding was determined by how many votes the various organizations gathered from Hive members.

Representatives of the Hope Restored Recovery Home Steve Purtha and Megan Johnston talked about the need for accessible addiction treatment in the community.

Their grant money will be spent on construction supplies for the facility being built on Lane Street in North Judson. Their anticipated date of completion is fall of this year.

Koontz Lake/Oregon-Township Volunteer Fire Department Captain Kyle Hinds explained that a lot of the funding the department receives comes directly from fundraising and the firefighters themselves.

He said their money will go toward purchasing medical supplies as well as a new rescue saw.

Drew’s Gift of Music Founder Deb Johnson discussed how their charity was established in memory of her son, former Knox High School Drum Major Drew Shearin. She said they’ll be using their money to expand their reach in the community to get instruments in the hands of even more students.

She also emphasized a new program they started at Knox Schools called Music Reycled where the organization pays for one student to get professional lessons and then they teach 10 more students what they learned.

Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation Founder Harold Welter highlighted the giving spirit of his daughter who passed away in 2000.

He emphasized that in 2018 they were able to provide 17 grants that made a difference in the lives of teachers and students all across Starke County. The funding provided by the Hive will be used to continue their mission of helping local educators and underprivileged children.

In addition to spotlighting those charitable organizations, some officials from the ladies giving circle spoke as well. SCCF Director of Development and Hive Founder Jessi Martinovic and Hive Chairwoman Andrea Cox started the event out by sharing a bit about the organization and past grant recipients.

Northern Indiana Community Foundation Associate Director Corinne Becknell Lucas also took to the podium.

She highlighted how a portion of the dues collected from the Hive members goes to fund the annual grants and how another part is set aside in an endowment fund.

She also shared a recent development that will bring more funds into The Hive to help fund future projects.

She explained, “We are pleased to announce that the Starke County Legacy of Women, a former giving circle of the Starke County Community Foundation, has agreed to move their endowment dollars into the Hive Giving Circle.”

A powerful presentation from ‘The Giving Gal’ Stephanie Jones was another element of the event. She spoke about the importance of giving and living a grateful life.

“The Hive” Gives Starke County Women Something to Bee-lieve In

Posted on August 9, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Have you heard the buzz about the “The Hive?” The members of this ladies’ giving circle work together to fund local charitable projects and organizations.

Representatives say the name “The Hive” comes from a comparison between the giving circle and the way honey bees work.

They shared that similar to the way that bees work together to produce honey that helps sustain the entire hive, the giving circle works together by pooling their resources in order to enhance the quality of life in the community.

The group was established through the Starke County Community Foundation by Co-Founders Andrea Cox and Jessica Martinovic. Cox serves as the Chairperson of the organization.

At their inaugural gathering, held in February of this year, the group gave away a total of $5,000 to four different nonprofit organizations. The recipients were the Kid’s Closet Ministry, Starke County Community Corrections, Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center and the Prairie Trails Club.

Approximately 60 women were in attendance for their first gathering, and the group is hoping to reach at least 100 members by their 2019 event. Individuals can sign up to be a “Hive” member online or through the mail (click to download Hive flyer).

The group is open to all Starke County women who are sixteen-years-of-age or older. Members who are 16 to 22 would pay monthly dues of $5 or $60 per year while members who are older than 22 are asked to supply a monthly contribution of $10 or a $120 yearly donation.

The monetary contributions from members are pooled together to give annual grants to charitable organizations in the county.

Half of the dollars are awarded in the current grant cycle and the other half is put into The Hive Giving Circle Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation to ensure the group will be able to provide grants well into the future.

If you have any questions, contact the Starke County Community Foundation at 574-772-3665.

2/22/2018 The Hive: Ladies Giving Circle for Starke County

Save the date! Come learn about The Hive, the new ladies' giving circle for Starke County. During this first annual social gathering, we will learn more about The Hive, hear from local non-profits and award $5,000 in grants, and we'll promote positivity in our community. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

After the first annual event, those who wish to join The Hive will be able to do so by paying $10 per month or $120 per year in membership dues. Members who are 22 years old and younger will pay just $5 per month or $60 per year. Half of this amount will make next year's grants possible. The other half will be put into The Hive's endowment fund with the Starke County Community Foundation, which will help make future grants possible. The Hive will meet once yearly for a social gathering during which grants will be awarded. We hope you will join The Hive and help to create some positive buzz in our community!

RSVP to the Community Foundation at 574-772-3665. Thank you!