Foundation Created In Memory of Warsaw School Corporation Employee
WARSAW — A recent Grace College graduate has been working on finding a way to commemorate the memory of Kelby Jones, a former staff member at the Warsaw School Corporation who recently passed away.
Earlier this year, Eric Sorensen was taking a course at Grace College to complete his bachelor’s degree. One of Sorensen’s professors, Matt Metzger, assigned the students the task of finding a project they could work on to help others. “He wanted us to do something beyond ourselves,” said Sorensen.
Sorensen works in the tech department at the Warsaw Community School Corporation. When he learned about the assignment, he thought this would be the perfect opportunity to help the community remember Jones, who worked in the technology department at Warsaw schools.
Sorensen approached his boss, Brad Hagg, Chief Technology Officer for WCS, about creating a fund for Jones to be remembered. With the help of Metzger and Hagg, Sorensen was able to create a fund to help students in poverty offset the costs of the iPads that students fifth grade through twelve grade are required to purchase.
Jones was a level-one technician district support person at WCS. Jones had worked his way up from a part-time, lower level position, to eventually obtaining full-time work with the school corporation. He had been struggling with finances but was determined to wanted to make a better life for his family.
Hagg, who worked with Jones said, “This is the kind of story that makes this country great,” in reference to Jones’ drive to make a better life for himself. Jones decided to go back to school, and graduated from IPFW with his B.S. degree in Computer Science. At age 37, Jones passed away after battling a chronic illness. Jones left behind his wife LaDonna and four kids.
The proceeds of this fund will go to help offset the costs of iPads for kids in the Warsaw School Corporation. This will help with additional costs such as insurance and repairs kids in poverty may need, but might not be able to afford. Individuals can donate to the Kelby Jones Technology Endowment Fund by writing a check to the Kosciusko County Foundation and designating Kelby Jones Technology Fund in the memo line and mailing it to Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E Market St. Warsaw, IN 46582. Individuals can also donate online here by designating the donation to the Kelby Jones Technology Fund.