Pictured, from left, are Suzie Light, Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO; Rebecca Bazzoni, Joe’s Kids executive director; Alan Alderfer, Joe’s Kids board president; Michele Bickel, Joe’s Kids director of community relations; and Brenda Rigdon, Kosciusko County Community Foundation development director.

KOSCIUSKO — In May, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation announced that, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, 10 youth-serving nonprofit organizations were selected to participate in the “Endowment Challenge 50,” or EC50. Joe’s Kids is the sixth organization to have successfully completed the fundraising portion of the challenge.

Participating organizations committed to raising $10,000 for their endowment and to participate in multiple trainings focused on sustainability and donor development. In return, the youth-serving organizations would receive $40,000 in matching funds for a total of $50,000 for their endowment funds.

“Joe’s Kids provides critical services for the special needs kids of Kosciusko County to reach their full potential,” said Suzie Light, Community Foundation CEO. “It’s exciting to see this organization take what they’ve learned from the training workshops and develop a successful campaign.”

“This will help make Joe’s Kids a sustainable non-profit, ensuring that our care remains available to the children who need us for many years to come,” said Michele Bickel, Joe’s Kids director of community relations.

Endowment funds provide a charity with a consistent annual stream of revenue. The principal is not spent. It is invested and the earnings from that investment support the work of the charity forever.

The EC50 was made possible through the generous financial partnership of Dekko Foundation, the Ruth Lily Philanthropic Foundation, the Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation, and Kosciusko County Community Foundation.