Kiwanis Projects

Club President Gerry Smith greets Treasurer Patric McClarnon.

Kiwanis Treasurer, Patric McClarnon reported on the financial results and distributions from the annual fundraising projects.  From 2012 through 2018 they raised $142,450 and we disbursed $140,785.  Fundraising projects include Easter Candy Carrots, Concessions at Butler and Indianapolis Indians, Poinsettia Sales, Plaza Entertainment Concessions, Santa's House,  Christmas Auction and members contributions through weekly collections.

Disbursements include over $29,000 to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.  The club funds three Scholarships to Hancock County students in the amount of $1,250.00 each.  Other support includes Hancock Regional Hospital, $9,750;  Boys and Girls Club, $6,000;Meals on Wheels, $6,000; HCCF for Imagination Library, $5,000; Nameless Creek Youth Camp, $3,738, and Kiwanis International Foundation, $2,160.

The Club sponsors K-kids, Builders Club and Key Clubs in the Greenfield-Central Schools.  The club spent over $6,000 sponsoring the four clubs.

In addition to weekly collections of food for the Food Pantry and Butler Soup Kitchen, Kiwanis provided over $8,000 in direct cash support.  Additional cash collections are made by members at the holidays.  Birthday bags are special projects for the Food Pantry. 

Additionally the club has provided contributions to Mental Health Partners, Franklin Sports Park, Santa's Helpers, Cystic Fibrosis, Hancock Senior Services, Chirldren's Theater, HCCF- Women's Fund, Edelweiss, FUSE, G-C School Foundation, and other miscellaneous community needs.

Over $100,000 is invested with Hancock County Community Foundation to provide for the Robert Eagleston , Dr. William Griffing, and J.B. Stephens scholarships.

Zoey's Place

L-R:  Louise Thompson, Board member; Marciann McClarnon-Miller, Board Member;  Brent Eaton, Hancock County Prosecutor; and Detective Bridget Foy, Hancock County Sherriffs Office

 

Zoey’s Place, a Child Advocacy Center, recently received a grant of $25,000 from State Farm Insurance that will help with the startup costs for the not-for-profit.   Bridget Foy, Detective with the Hancock County Sheriffs office spoke to Kiwanis about the center which would help children and victims of abuse to be in a friendlier environment than the lobby of a police station or a prosecutor’s office. 

Foy has 29 years of law enforcement experience and is currently an investigator.  She works with Hancock County Prosecutor, Brent Eaton who also shares Foy’s vision for Zoey’s Place.  The mission of Zoey’s Place is to minimize the trauma to child victims of sexual abuse and neglect by providing a centralized, safe and child-friendly facility where a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) conducts investigations and intervention activities.

The name came from Zoey Wagner,  a 1-year-old, who died three years ago after a short life marred by physical abuse.  Prosecutor Eaton explained that after the incident, officials pleaded with the public that if they saw something to say something.  The public responded and the number of calls about child abuse and neglect soared.   

Zoey’s Place Board members, Lousie Thompson and Marciann McClarnon-Miller, were also present.  Thompson mentioned that she was amazed at the number of incidents reported and investigated.  For additional information on how to help or donate to Zoey’s Place, contact Detective Foy at bfoy@hancockcoingov.org or call 317.477.1178 x3118.

New Members and Spelling Bee Team

September 18 was a busy night for Kiwanis.  New members were inducted after which the membership went to the Hancock County Public Library to observe local spelling bee benefiting the Hancock County Adult Literacy Coalition.   Kiwanis sported one of the five teams. 

Mary Grossman, new Kiwanian with her sponsors Don and Marcy Hoffman. Gordon Grossman also joined but could not be present .

Bill and Penny Smith, new Kiwanians with their sponsors, Denny and Evie Chapman.

Charlie Shelby, new Kiwanian with his sponsors Denny and Evie Chapman.

Clara Starkey, new Kiwanian with her sponsors Judy and Joe Crist.  Clara was a member of the GC Key Club and served as Lt. Gov, of the Citcle K in college.

Greenfield Kiwanis Spelling Bee Team, Sue True, Ellen Manolopoulos, Sandy Miller and Coach Patric McClaren.

Hancock Health Foundation

Nancy Davis of Hancock Health Foundation (Formerly Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation) spoke to Kiwanis about the foundation and future activities.   Hancock Health and the hospital receive no tax dollars.  The foundation is a non-profit foundation that raises money to support specific hospital needs and community needs. 
In 2017 the foundation gave 22 scholarships to the community in the amount of $65.000.   Women Helping Women began 20 years ago to help pay for 26 mammograms.  In 2017, Women Helping Women helped 168 women with the $77.000 raised.  The Women Helping Women program will be held Oct 23, at Adagios.  The second source of funding is the golf outing which raised $44,000 for scholarships and other needs.
The foundation is a part of the successful campaigns to create the Anderson Women's Center, the Hospice program, and the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center.   Current activities are centered on Population Health including a new mental health initiative.    For more information see https://www.hancockregionalhospital.org/foundation/.

Talitha Koum Recovery Home

Donna Franklin, Treasurer, Friends of Recovery

Donna Franklin of the Talitha Koum Women's Recovery House in Greenfield spoke to Kiwanis about the house which will open this month at 527 East Main Street. Talitha Koum offers a recovery program for women eighteen and older who desire to live free from addiction.  Talitha is a home that will give women a safe, family-like environment to rebuild their lives and learn how to live sober.
Their goal is to help change the client's people. places and things in their lives.  The House will have 9 beds 2 of which are reserved by the Hancock County Courts and 2 of which are reserved for Hancock Health.   The residents will all be post detox stage.   All of the staff is taking counselling training under the direction of licensed counselors.   Residents will be Hancock County women who are over 18 years of age.  

For more information see https://www.talithakoum-for.org/

David Heller, Star of stage

David Heller, retired Principal at Mt. Vernon with Steve Burt, retired Weston Principal,

Dave Heller, a local retired educator and lifelong resident of Hancock County, entertained Kiwanis with various Hancock County facts and personal trivia.  Mr.Heller first appeared on stage in Greenfield in 1943 at age 3 and said his only other time on stage was at Ex Caliber in Las Vegas. 

Among the facts shared by Mr. Heller were the most common birthdate in Northern Hemisphere is September13 and in the Southern Hemisphere is March 13.  The least common birthdays in the United States are Christmas Day and the Fourth of July.

Harry Truman, President of the United States gave a speech in Greenfield in October, 1948.  Dave had to gain permission of his Republican father to attend.

Dave told us that at one time there were restaurants on every corner in Greenfield.  One, Faris  Lunch was a stag establishment that specialized in wet tenderloins and brain sandwiches.  He remembered that there were spittoons everywhere including the bank.  In 1958, Dave met his wife at Crider’s Drive In. 

Many notables were mentioned including the late Jack New who served as Chief of Staff for the Governor and was State Treasurer; Dick Strickland, grocer who delivered to your home; and National Defense Attorney Melvin Belli.

Kiwanians in Cuba 2017

Kiwanians Susie Broome and Sandy Miller traveled to Cuba in 2017 and shared pictures and reminisces of their trip with the Kiwanis Club on Tuesday evening.  They left in late January and returned early February, 2017.  They stayed in private residences that were outfitted for tourists.  Sandy stayed in a 4 bedroom home that had their two "house mothers" who took care of the breakfast, cleaning and provided happy hour.  Susie stayed in a separate home with 6 bedrooms a short distance away. 
They visited many sights in Havana as part of cultural visa program.  Among those are Hotel Nacional de Cuba, San Cristobal Paladar (restaurant), an architectural tour of the old Havana, a Catholic Cathedral, a Muslim Mosque, and the Revolution Museum. 
Only cars manufactured and purchased prior to 1959 are permitted to be privately owned.  Classic 60 year old US cars are tenderly taken care of and passed down in families.  These cars are available for tourists to rent as taxis and usually driven by an owner or part of the owner's family.
They visited many areas in Havana including an art colony named Fusterlandia and some towns outside of Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinadad.  They visited the Hemingway hotel and the Hemingway house.  They spent three hours at the Copocabana nightclub.  They noted the average Cuban is grateful to Castro for the educational system and healthcare he brought to the common man.  They summed up their trip with the quote, "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind."