Kosciusko County Community Foundation is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant to help Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee and Whitko School Corporations expand counseling services to students in all grade levels. The grant will benefit more than 13,000 students served by the four corporations.

Each of the corporations received a planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of their Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 Students. Each corporation has submitted an implementation grant proposal to Lilly Endowment in order to put into action the strategies developed during the planning grant phase.

The grant from Kosciusko County Community Foundation will help the school corporations demonstrate to Lilly Endowment local support for the expansion of counseling services, but can be used whether or not the corporations are awarded implementation grants from Lilly Endowment.

Superintendents expressed appreciation for the support of their initiatives.

“On behalf of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation I wish to sincerely thank the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for the grant to expand counseling services within our schools,” said Brett Boggs, Tippecanoe Valley Schools Superintendent. “Funds from the grant will assist in the development of a well-developed scope and sequence school counseling curriculum, providing the means and structure necessary to meaningfully impact students’ social-emotional health.  A robust mentoring program – supported by local businesses, churches, and community stakeholders – will provide students access to caring individuals who will support and encourage personal excellence while helping negate negative childhood experiences.”

“Warsaw Community Schools is so thankful to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for the generous investment in our greater community,” said Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools. “Throughout our strategic planning in the fall of 2016, it became evident mental health and wellness of students must become a priority for the greater good of our schools and community.  During the last nine months, intensive preparation has gone into the initiative.  This grant will help us get this critical initiative off the ground.  We are so thankful for the foundation’s foresight.”

“Wawasee Schools is excited about partnering with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation to address counseling and mental health services for our students,” said Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee Schools Superintendent. “We are fortunate we live in such a giving and caring county!”

“Whitko wants to thank the Community Foundation for the grant supporting our counseling efforts,” said Steve Clason, Superintendent of Whitko Community Schools. “The grant will further our efforts to create an early intervention process for students and families that are experiencing social or emotional trauma in their lives. The program supported will have three major aspects, family outreach by our schools, community resource coordination to assist our students and families and finally continued support. Truly the community is coming together to support our students and we appreciate the foundation backing our efforts as partners in making our communities stronger.”

The $100,000 grant was allocated based on school enrollment:

Since 1968, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. has helped donors achieve their charitable dreams. The Community Foundation is a public charity that grants over $2 million annually in the areas of education, health, arts and culture, recreation, civic projects, environment and human services. Gifts made to the Community Foundation are tax-deductible. For more information, visit www.KCFoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit 102 E. Market Street, Warsaw.

Pictured (left to right): Brett Boggs, Tippecanoe Valley Schools; Rob Parker, KCCF Board Secretary; Sally Mahnken, KCCF Board President; Jennifer Hollar, KCCF Grant Committee Chair; Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee Schools; and Dr. David Hoffert, Warsaw Schools.