Student essayists win right to become philanthropists

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Six students in Grundy County have had their essays selected as winners in the “What Charity and Philanthropy Mean to Me” essay contest.

The Community Found-ation of Grundy County sponsored the contest in honor of National Philanthropy Month, which is in November each year.

The first place winner in both the junior high and high school categories will each receive $200 to give away to charity.  Second place gets $100, and third place gets $50, for the same purpose.

Junior high winners are:

1) Maddy Feeney, 8th grade at ICS, daughter of Melissa Feeney

2) Lindsey Schmidt, 6th grade at ICS, daughter of Charles and Lori Schmidt

3 ) Alex Cook, 8th grade at Shabbona, daughter of Calynn Cook

High school winners are:

1) Christina Zettek, senior at Morris Community High School, daughter of Renee and Darren Zettek

2) Hannah Hall, freshman at Coal City High School, daughter of Mark and Jacque Hall

3) Brianna Mooney, senior at Morris Community, daughter of Rita and Charles Mooney

“We are overwhelmed and excited at the number and quality of the essays we received,” Jack Hynds, chair of the Foundation’s Philanthropy Committee, said.

“It was great to see that many teachers used the essay contest as an opportunity to discuss the topic and its meaning during class time.”

Teachers who used the contest as a teaching tool include Mrs. Vlk and Mrs. Dransfeldt at Immaculate Conception School, Mrs. Anderson at Shabbona School, and Mrs. Squellati and Ms. Eungard at the Grundy Area Vocational Center.

“We had many reasons for launching this new essay contest,” Julie Buck, Foundation executive director, explained.

“We wanted to introduce the concepts of charity and philanthropy to young people, plus get their thoughts on what is important to them.

“Come to find out, many students in Grundy County have already been exposed to charity and philanthropy through their families and school projects – the way the kids told the story of these experiences is what made the selection process so difficult!”

The Community Foundation will set a date in the near future to meet the kids and present their prizes – plus learn which charities they want to support with their prizes.

To celebrate National Philanthropy Month, the Community Foundation of Grundy County, in partnership with the United Way of Grundy County and the Morris Hospital Foundation, hosted a conference, “An Introduction to Philanthropy: The Linking of Charity with Passion,” today, Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the First Christian Church.

Guest speakers Tracy Gary, Richard Klopp, and Randy Fox presented to over 50 guests from the donor, non-profit, church, and professional advisor fields.

 

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