Pike County Endowment Fund Launches ‘Invest in Pike County’ Initiative to Foster Long-Term Community Impact

Residents, families, and businesses opting to ‘Invest in Pike County’ by December 31, 2023, will receive special recognition. This acknowledgment will be prominently featured in the grants awarded from the fund in 2024. Additionally, participants will be highlighted in a media release showcasing the grant recipients and will receive an invite to next year’s grant presentation in Pike County.

Established in 2008 by Pike County residents, the Pike County Endowment Fund aims to secure local assets to perpetually support charitable needs and opportunities in the region. Over the years, the fund has generously granted to more than a dozen local nonprofits, thanks to the contributions of over 100 individuals, organizations, and businesses.

The ‘Invest in Pike County’ campaign seeks to amplify this impact. As a permanently endowed fund, gifts are strategically invested for growth, with annual grants distributed from a portion of the earnings. This approach creates a consistent, renewable source of charitable resources.

Kathy Iftner, Pike County Endowment Fund Chair, expressed enthusiasm about the campaign's potential impact, stating, "What the 'Invest in Pike County' opportunity provides is a way to grow these resources and increase these grants not just for today, but for generations."

Notable past grant recipients from the Pike County Endowment Fund include:

• Barry Food Pantry

• Barry Public Library

• Pike County Senior Citizen’s Council

• Two Rivers Resource Conservation & Development

• Western Community Center YMCA

To contribute to the ‘Invest in Pike County’ campaign, donations should be directed to the Community Foundation, specifying their allocation to the Pike County Endowment Fund. The Community Foundation accepts a variety of gifts, including cash, stocks, grain, livestock, IRA distributions, and other assets.

For more information, contact Iftner at (201) 314-3624 or kiftner@gmail.com or the Community Foundation at (217) 222-1237, kmcfarland@mycommunityfoundation.org.