Care is coming

The Portland Foundation is moving forward with plans for a child care facility.

Executive director Doug Inman announced Wednesday during the organization’s annual meeting that The Portland Foundation has entered into an agreement with Westminster Preschool of Marion to operate Jay County Early Learning Center, a child care facility that will serve approximately 150 newborns through 5-year-old children.

It also honored a local food pantry volunteer with the Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism during its annual meeting Wednesday.

In 2022, The Portland Foundation purchased the former Judge Haynes Elementary School to convert into an early learning center. Hopes are to select a contractor and begin renovations this fall, with the facility to open in fall 2024.

The total estimated cost for the project comes to around $3.5 million. Inman noted the organization has applied for three grants to cover a portion of the cost, but overall, it will be paid for using The Portland Foundation’s reserves.

“This is the largest expenditure for a community project in the foundation’s 72-year history,” said Inman. “Quite simply, the Jay County Early Learning Center project is an investment — an investment in our children, and in the future of our community. The people of The Portland Foundation are tremendously excited for this … project to become a reality.”

Inman explained The Portland Foundation wrapped up work in June on the GIFT VII Initiative of the Lilly Endowment. During that process, he said, individuals noted the “lack of high quality early learning opportunities” in Jay County.

“According to Early Learning Indiana, Jay County is a child care desert,” said Inman.

“As a community, we are serving only 24% of the approximately 1,000 children ages 0 to 5 who may need care.”

The former Judge Haynes Elementary building was deemed worthy of renovation after an architectural and engineering feasibility study, he added. The Portland Foundation sought proposals in February for an organization to lead the new child care facility and recently selected Westminster Preschool, which operates three facilities in Marion and currently serves more than 200 children. (More about the company’s programming is available at westminsterpreschoolmarion.com.)

“We are very eager to provide high-quality childcare to Jay County,” said Danielle Svantner, Westminster Preschool’s executive director, in a press release. “We look forward to meeting everyone and forming these important relationships, we can’t wait to serve your community.”

Inman also acknowledged Pioneer Warehousing’s plans for initiating an early learning center for its employees and the general public. Groundbreaking for the $1 million, 8,100-square-foot child care facility at the north end of Wayne Street is expected to begin in June. It will be operated by the company’s daycare entity Pioneer Toddler Town and will serve up to 48 children from infants until they are ready for school. (Portland City Council approved a five-year tax abatement for the company’s project, saving Pioneer an estimated $80,300 in taxes.)

“We feel that their project and our project marry together very nicely and provide … an opportunity for children to be educated at a young age and be prepared for kindergarten,” said Inman.

The Portland Foundation also honored Antiville resident Connie Henkle with the Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism for her contributions to the food pantry at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Henkle, 75, has attended the church for her entire life. She and her husband, Paul, have been volunteering with the food pantry since 2008. Community and Family Services’ food pantry stopped operations last year, resulting in the church’s reach nearly doubling to 158 families.

Henkle worked at Family Dollar for about six years and at Marsh for 18 years. She explained there’s a need for volunteers to help with the food pantry, and as a retired individual, she’s able to dedicate her time as needed.

“It takes a lot of people to run the food (pantry) that we do, and we couldn’t do it if everybody wasn’t willing to give it help,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of it.”

Kay Rohrer, last year’s recipient of the Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism, nominated Henkle for her hard work, reliability and devotion to the food pantry.

“This one is my right hand,” said Rohrer. “I couldn’t do it without her.”

Cole helped with a food distribution in Florida a couple weeks ago. He spoke about the importance of food pantries in any community.

“I learned first-hand in what appears to be a community of wealth and immense resources, there is a great need by a growing number of individuals living there for food as part of their daily necessities,” he said. “I share this because no matter where we live, we must be aware of how difficult it is for individuals and families to meet their daily needs to survive.”

Also Wednesday, Inman reported the foundation’s assets totaled $41.5 million at the end of 2022, down from the record high of $50.7 million in 2021. He noted the stock market decreased, meaning the foundation’s investment performance decreased by 15.8% last year.

“But, as I said before, we’re not here to really talk about how many assets we have. What assets that we do have allows (us) to give back to the community,” continued Inman.

He noted the foundation has given more than $12.7 million in grants and $7.6 million in scholarships since its founding in 1951.

The Portland Foundation received 13 new endowments in 2022, bringing its total to 424. It received $603,000 in gifts and granted $1.6 million in grants and scholarships.

Also, outgoing foundation board president Tammy Hanlin and board member John Moore were recognized for their years of service. Hanlin served as president from 2015 to last year, after which she moved to Wisconsin. Moore had served on the board since 2013.

Board member Jeremy Gulley also noted Chuck Huffman recently joined the board.