Meeting #2 Was For The Heart
Talk about a fantastic meeting. Our second meeting of 2024 was inspiring and heartfelt. With 30 members in attendance, it did not reflect the 8 nominations that were submitted! Several members mentioned that this meeting was one of the most impactful that we have had. Not because of the nonprofits nominated, but of the heartfelt speech by Board President, Mr. Harmless, Russellville Community Center President, Darrell, and prayer from Terry Hood for Chuck Shroder.
Chuck Schroder was a founding member of our organization and a champion for our county. Our most recent presentation recipient, Putnam County Special Olympics, was presented by Chuck during our first meeting of 2024. Chuck was unexpectedly diagnosed with late-stage 4 leukemia last month. Although the fight was strong, Chuck passed away on Friday, July 12th. As we share the highlights from our meeting and continue to make a BIG impact in our community, please keep Chuck’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Darrell reflected on the impact our donation has had on the Russellville Community Center since receiving it during our 3rd meeting of 2022! As a long-time activist for the Russellville Community, Darrell reflected on his life, at Russellville Elementary School, and the memories the community has made in the building. Our donation of $10,200 was well received by the community and they used the funds for a matching grant to repair the weather-worn roof of the building. For a small community, Russellville was able to raise $125,000! Now that the roof has been repaired, they can continue renovation projects to keep the community center a thriving venue!
For the business side of our meeting, Mike revisited the impact we have had in our community since the organization’s founding in 2015. We have awarded $450,400 to 28 different nonprofit organizations! Through our endowment, we have awarded $19,926.00 to local projects and organizations under the direction of the Putnam County Community Foundation Community Grants Fund! If that is not a BIG IMPACT, then we don’t know what is!
Of the 8 nominated organizations, we were able to use our new nomination process! The organizations selected to present during meeting number 2 were Greencastle Scouting, Park Fest by the Greencastle Civic League, and The Putnam County Humane Society. For the “new” draw method, there is a possibility to nominate an organization for the following meeting. The 2 organizations that WILL present during the 3rd meeting are the Putnam County 4H Fair Association and the Putnam County Non-Food Pantry!
First up to bat was Daniel with the Putnam County Humane Society.
Daniel told a great story of a pup that he found with a broken leg. He immediately took it to the humane society. Daniel was amazed at the care and compassion the pup received, even though his chances of survival were slim. The dog, sadly, passed away shortly after receiving care. Daniel’s story was inspiring to many of the members who could associate the care received for a pet. His goal was not to necessarily win the big check but to promote the outstanding service the Humane Society displayed for an animal that had a very unlikely chance of surviving.
Second, Vince presented for Park Fest by the Greencastle Civic League!
Park Fest is a weekly event throughout the summer at Robe Ann Park. The annual estimated cost of Park Fest is $2700. This budget is solely to pay the artists/bands that perform at the park on Tuesdays throughout the summer. With a donation from 100+ Men, Park Fest could continue for the next 4 years without the annual stress of finding funding. Vince also noted that anyone interested in upcoming performances to read the Banner Graphic for Park Fest Updates!
Last, Tom presented Greencastle Scouting.
Greencastle Scouting is the umbrella for Troop 999, Cub Scout Troop 99, and Boy Scout Troop 99, with kids ranging from Kindergarten to age 17. Tim informed the group that Greencastle Scouting will be hosting a “Breakfast For Scouting” event with Mayor Linda Dunbar on August 1st as a fundraising event and promotional event for the benefits of scouting! With the drastic increase in operating costs and scout fees, the scouts are struggling to maintain their packs and troops. While local fees have not risen, Covid has caused the cost for one scout to soar to $250 each! With a donation from 100+ Men, Greencastle Scouting would be able to upgrade dated equipment and increase their ability to provide financial assistance to scouts. Tim highlighted the lifelong benefits of having scout experiences and encouraged all of us to learn more about the projects and skills they teach!
The votes were tallied shortly after the end of his presentation. With an unmatched count, Greencastle Scouting was victorious! They received a check for $10,700! Both Park Fest and the Humane Society received $250 each. We eagerly look forward to our 3rd meeting on September 11th!
Decided by 1 For Meeting #1
Our first meeting of 2024 was held on Wednesday, April 10th! Thank you, again, to the Inn at DePauw for their fantastic venue, staff, and support of 100+ Men Who Care! We had a total of 32 members in attendance. After visiting with fellow members and enjoying appetizers, we began the business section.
Our first presentation was for Putnam County Special Olympics.
The Putnam County Special Olympics is working towards being able to provide new equipment, gear, and help alleviate the stress of fees associated with events and training. Their goal is to raise funds to cover these expenses, so the athletes have the best opportunity for success. Chuck shared that these athletes are so proud (and rightfully so) of their accomplishments and hard work . Many of the medal recipients wear them throughout the year to show what they have been able to overcome and achieve. This message was something all of our members could appreciate and relate to!
Our second presentation was for Isaiah House.
The Isaiah House organization is constructing a facility here in Greencastle to assist children during the crisis of being removed from their homes by Child Protective Services. This time is excruciatingly stressful for anyone involved, but the kids are often uprooted from any comforts they may have. Isaiah House is the solution for this. They provide 24/7 care and comfort for any child who is removed from an unsafe situation. There, the children can be closely monitored by CPS while enjoying food, snacks, drinks, and games. Isaiah House quite literally makes the best of a traumatic experience for these children. The Greencastle location will be Isaiah House’s 17th home. The plans are in place to begin operations by the end of the year. They requested a donation from 100+ Men to help fund their building projects at this time.
Our final presentation of the evening was for the Putnam County Museum.
Dr. Macy presented on behalf of the Putnam County Museum. As he stated in his presentation, the museum is a great resource for the history of the county. It celebrates local artists, historic milestones, the county’s notable events throughout the years. He highlighted recent exhibits and future ambitions for the museum. Dr. Macy concluded his speech by thanking 100+ Men for the opportunity to present but encouraged the members to choose one of the other two presentations for the BIG check.
With a near tie of 16 to 15. The Putnam County Special Olympics organization was victorious! They received a check for $10,700! Isaiah House and the Putnam County Museum received $250 each.
We cannot wait for our 2nd meeting! Be sure to join us on Wednesday, July 10th at the Inn at DePauw! We hope to have more nominations and members present!
THAT'S A WRAP!
Congratulations, Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry! ($11,400)
Our final 2023 meeting was held November 15th at the Inn at DePauw. Great networking and even better food assisted in the excitement of giving away another $11,400 to a LOCAL nonprofit! As the meeting was called to order, 15 nominations were submitted for 6 organizations. Of the 6, 3 names were drawn to present. Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, Troop 999, and Kinetic Change. After hearing the great stories shared by our three selected nominations, the votes were cast.
After the votes were tallied and the check was written, the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry was victorious! Through the first 10 months of 2023, there were 2,068 household visits to the pantry, and they distributed more than 62,000 meals to Putnam County residents. As the cost of food continues to rise, our community is blessed to have an asset like the Emergency Food Pantry to help those in need.
As we come to a close for 2023, we would like to share some great achievements since our founding in 2015.
$428,000 has be given to LOCAL NONPROFITS of PUTNAM COUNTY.
27 DIFFERENT organizations have received a portion of these funds to further their missions.
We have also created a Community Grants Endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation that will provide over $5,000 a year for the Foundation to utilize in their community grant making process, and it has already provided over $15,000 since its inception.
The 100 Plus Men of Putnam County was created based on two principles: There were men who wanted to give back to the community but lacked the time to do fundraising or serve on boards, and the process needed to be fun and easy. As we look towards 2024, our goals remain consistent with our founding principles. We keep the process as simple as we can, reach out to any qualifying organizations as often as we can, and encourage other men that want to make a BIG impact in their community to join us!
Stay tuned for upcoming information and meeting dates for 2024!
A TIEBREAKER FOR (#3)!
Congratulations to Putnam County CERT ($11,500)
This year is flying by! We had our 3rd meeting of 2023 on September 13th. With a fantastic attendance of over 30 members, we had a great showcase of nonprofits. For the first time, we had a TIE between two of the three presentations!
After socializing, networking, and catching up with members, we began the business side of our meeting. Competition was great as always! Our first presenter was Vince, with Putnam County CERT and their Project Lifesaver program. His presentation was heartfelt, educational, and intriguing. The program is dedicated exclusively to locating people who have Alzheimer's, Dementia, Autism, Down Syndrome, or any other cognitive condition that includes an uncontrollable urge to wander. The goal of Project Lifesaver’s presentation was to use the donation from 100+ Men to purchase more equipment needed for locating individuals.
Our second presenter was Wes with Greencastle School’s DECA program. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. The four components of the organization's Comprehensive Learning Program are that DECA integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business, and promotes competition. DECA prepares the next generation to be academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. Their goal with the donation from 100+ Men was to purchase laser engraving equipment for students to use in their business models. The program has a long-term goal of implementing into the other Putnam County schools.
The final presentation for the evening was by Paige for the Putnam County Non-food Pantry. The non-food pantry is unlike any other pantry organization. They make sure individuals have amenities and necessary items for everyday life. Items such as householder cleaners, paper products, and personal hygiene items. These necessary items are typically not included with food assistance programs. With the program costing approximately $2,500 per month to cover the needs for these individuals, the donation from 100+ Men would cover those expenses for several months and would assist even more individuals in need.
After the presentations, the votes were cast and tallied by our board. In a first, we had a tie between two of the three organizations. For a tiebreaker, the men voted a 2nd time. This time, between the two that tied. Ultimately, it was another close tally, but Putnam County CERT with Project Lifesaver was victorious! They will receive a check for $11,500! Putnam County Non-Food Pantry and DECA for Greencastle Schools will receive $250 each for their presentations and be eligible for presenting at our November meeting!
WE HAVE CONFIRMED OVER 110 MEN FOR 2023! THE BEST PART IS THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO STOP THERE. OUR RECORD IS 129!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE DURING OUR
4TH & FINAL MEETING, ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023
Great Attendance for Meeting #2!
Congratulations to Recovery Raw ($11,300)
What a great night of philanthropy for Putnam County! July 12th was fantastic for our organization with members filling all seats. The competition was entertaining, insightful, and tough as always. Having so many impactful organizations in our county and so many members that are enthusiastic for the work they do is always a great problem to have!
Our meeting began with a presentation from first year member, Garrett, with Beyond Homeless. His speech was great! Beyond Homeless is looking to rebuild several dorms that were destroyed from a recent fire. They are also seeing an increase in need for amenities, funding, and resources for their individuals. The donation from 100+ Men would go into their general fund and be dispersed throughout the organization.
Next, we heard from Dave Murray with the Putnam County Non-Food Pantry! The non-food pantry is unlike any other pantry organization. They make sure their individuals have amenities and necessary items for everyday life. Items such as householder cleaners, paper products, and personal hygiene items. These necessary items are typically not included with food assistance programs. With the program costing approximately $2,500 per month to cover the needs for these individuals, the donation from 100+ Men would cover those expenses for several months and would assist even more individuals in need.
Our last presentation was nothing short of exceptional. Recovery Raw’s Eric Rippy spoke about the continued need for counseling and rehabilitation for Putnam County residents experiencing addiction. He was excited to share that the Putnam County Prosecutor’s office approved a criminal diversion program with Recovery Raw beginning August 1st! Eric updated the group on weekly attendance and noted that their children’s program is now up to thirty kids a week. The donation from 100+ Men would be used for building renovations to house more meetings and events. It would also go to meals for the attendees and support resources for the individuals recovering from their addiction.
At the end of the meeting, the secret ballots were cast. Each member navigated through the fantastic presentations to determine who would receive the check for over $11,000! After the votes were tallied, Recovery Raw was victorious! This year, 100+ Men made the decision to give a consolation prize to each presenter’s nonprofit that did not receive the BIG check. Beyond Homeless and the Non-Food Pantry each received a check for $250. They are eligible to present again during our September meeting. Congratulations to Eric Rippy and his incredible efforts to better Putnam County. We cannot wait to see what the next accomplishment will be!
WE loved seeing everyone AND HAVE CONFIRMED OVER 110 MEN FOR 2023! THE BEST PART IS THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO STOP there. OUR RECORD IS 129, AND WE HOPE TO BREAK THAT THIS YEAR!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE DURING OUR
3rD MEETING ON september 13TH, 2023!
Tough Competition @ Meeting #1!
April 12th was our first meeting of 2023! We welcomed a great number of new members and have 114 committed men, so far, for 2023! The competition did not disappoint at the meeting. Ballots were cast for multiple nonprofit organizations from our existing, and new, members.
The meeting began with the presentation of Recovery Raw by one of our new members, Eric Rippy. He discussed the need for a positive experience in recovery that is led through experience and understanding. The presentation was RAW, emotional, and inviting. He focused on the need for their children’s program where they teach ways for building character. They provide the kids with an opportunity to build a suit of armor in confidence to handle things kids should never have to experience. Eric highlighted the program’s upcoming events and ended the presentation with a little information about his past and reasoning for starting Recovery Raw.
Our second presentation was for Sustainable Housing through Family Support Services of West Central Indiana. Scott Monnett stressed the need for domestic abuse advocacy through providing housing accommodations for victims and their families. Family Support Services’ Supportive Housing Initiative seeks to provide survivors of domestic violence weekly supportive mobile advocacy services. This level of support will assist survivors and provide opportunities to help them successfully reach their goal in re-establishing their lives and becoming self-sufficient. Scott’s presentation enlightened the members on a few of the many difficult obstacles that come with a victim attempting to re-establish their life after domestic violence.
Our final presentation of the night was for the Cloverdale Lions Club and their need for vision screening machines. Dakota Lanham spoke to the members and explained the urgent need for a blinq camera. The abilities of the camera allow a volunteer, through the club, to capture an image of the back of the eyes to detect potential abnormalities and damage to the eye that would otherwise go undetected. This technology would provide instant eye exams to children, ages 18 months to 6 years old. Dakota also highlighted that the Cloverdale Lions Club has been completing the state mandated vision screenings for 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade students in all 4 of our county schools for 2 years with the help of the Bainbridge and Greencastle Lions Clubs. The blinq camera is approximately $9,000.00 and the club would be able to provide these screenings at daycares, schools, religious groups, community events, and more with the help of volunteers.
At the end of the meeting, the secret ballots were cast. Each member navigated through the stacked presentations to decide who would receive the check for almost $11,000! After the votes were tallied, the Cloverdale Lions Club was victorious! This year, 100+ Men made the decision to give something small to each presenter’s nonprofit that did not receive the BIG check. Recovery Raw and Supportive Housing each received a check for $250. They are eligible to present again during our July meeting.
We were fortunate to see many new faces and have confirmed over 100 men for 2023! The best part is that we don’t have to stop at 100. Our record is 129, and we hope to break that this year!
We look forward to seeing everyone during our
2nd meeting on July 12th, 2023!
2022 - Another Successful Year!
Believe it or not, 2022 was our seventh year! In that time, the 100 Plus Men of Putnam County group has distributed over $380,100 to 23 different Putnam County organizations. That is thanks to a bunch of guys who have been willing to invest $500 a year in our community and have fun doing it!
We have helped impact many different areas, such as COVID relief, economic development, the arts, literacy, homelessness, opportunity housing, education, help for the needy, and job creation.
Our winners for 2022 included: (Click the winner to learn more!)
The Russellville Community Center ($10,200)
The Mural Project ($10,200)
Putnam County Dollars for Scholars ($10,200)
Patty Packs ($10,200)!
In addition to that, our Community Grants fund at the Putnam County Community Foundation has grown to over $121,000, and that fund will provide over $5,000 annually to the Community Grants Committee at the Foundation to fund community opportunities and needs.
Whether you are a current member, past member or an interested party, we would love to have you join us in 2023. We only meet four times a year! The meetings are short, fun and you might meet some new friends while learning about more opportunities to help make Putnam County an even better place!