Help wishes come true
Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County will soon begin its annual Grant a Wish campaign to help local nonprofit organizations assist local residents. The program officially begins Monday and continues until Dec. 25.
Last year, 45 nonprofits presented 126 wishes that people could fund with gifts from as little as $10 for a music CD for a Columbus Indiana Philharmonic music student to $1,000 for a professional cleaning of the Book Express for the Bartholomew County Literary Task Force. Support was strong. The program hit a record in donations of $34,865 — and a near-record of $49,865 in donations and matching money.
Since its inception, the Grant a Wish program has raised more than $200,000 to benefit local nonprofits. Grant a Wish is a perfect opportunity for local residents to lend their support and help the community.
Community support
Hope Volunteer Fire Department received a much-appreciated boost from Bartholomew County residents and local firefighters when they helped raise an estimated $25,000 — before expenses — during a fish fry fundraiser Nov. 7 at Hauser Jr./Sr. High School.
The money will help keep the financially challenged fire department operational. Delays in getting a firefighting contract with the town of Hope and a pending lawsuit from the builder of a new fire station put the department in a financial pinch.
However, a perfect example of a community call to action has given the department breathing room. The more than 60 firefighters from fire departments countywide who volunteered and the estimated 3,000 people who came to eat deserve a round of applause for their support.
Great backing
A sellout crowd of 500 people attended the 20th annual Reverse Raffle fundraiser for Volunteers in Medicine on Friday. That level of attendance is commonplace because it routinely sells out ahead of time, but it’s significant because it represents great support for the clinic, which serves the uninsured in Bartholomew County.
The need is great considering that more than half of its 600 clients work full time but don’t have health care insurance.
Those who attended Friday and supported Volunteers in medicine through donations for the event are to be commended.
