-Our Mission-

The Foundation's Annual Dinner was held at the Miller Building on May 13, 2009. 

Community Philanthropists gathered for the evening to mingle with friends and celebrate the accomplishments of 2008.  The walls were lined with displays from the 14 grant recipients of the competitve spring, summer, and fall grant cycles.  Last year the Fayette County Foundation awarded a total of  $124,620 through grants to improve our community.

 

Guest speaker Steve Davis talked of starting an endowment with the Fayette County Foundation this year.   The Fayette County Wildlife Heritage Endowment is meant to preserve and maintain the wildlife in Fayette County.   Areas of emphasis are; hunter education safety courses, restocking fish in public lakes and ponds, purchase of trees for restoration of forests for wildlife habitat, to purchase wildlife property, to help preserve and clean the Whitewater River, and to help with cost for college students through scholarships.

 

Next, guest speaker Ted McQuinley, President of the Fayette County Free Fair Association, spoke about the $20,000 matching grant his organization received this fall. This grant was used to build a new bathroom and shower facility on the 14 acres at the fair grounds.  The addition of four family shower pods will be ready for use by campers in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

 

Rich Pflum, President of the Fayette County Commissioners spoke about his role in keeping Fayette County involed in HTC.  "We have seen many accomplishements through HTC and we only have more to come."

 

Joe Gesell, 2005 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient and 2009 Butler graduate wrapped the evening up by giving an account of his experiences in the past four years.  He gave a description of the "Butler Way" as it pertains to life in and out of school.  "It's all about teamwork, working hard, giving selflessly, having fun and making a difference."