Hancock County Community Foundation Family Strengthening and Youth Development Funds

The Boys and Girls Club Endowment is an operating fund established to provide perpetual financial assistance to the organization in its ability to fulfill its mission to provide character building experiences for the youth of Hancock County through educational and recreational activities.

Brody Wallace Stephens was born Dec. 19, 2008, in Indianapolis, the fourth son of Jason and Celia Stephens. In his short life, Brody fought leukemia not once but twice and, along the way, became a superstar in his own right.

He was small but mighty, a standout basketball player and a lover of all things sports, especially trading cards. Brody’s dream was to one day open his very own sports card shop.

Brody’s strength and his spirit touched everyone – from doctors, nurses, family members and friends, other small children battling the disease to NFL and NBA superstars, and college athletes who, once they met Brody, couldn’t forget him.

Brody’s favorite athletes and special friends were Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, Indiana Pacers guard Glenn Robinson III and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry. Warriors Coach Steve Kerr also held a special place in Brody’s heart.

Basketball was Brody’s first love and, in the hospital, he could often be found in hallways practicing his dribbling skills. When asked, not so long ago, what advice he would have for other kids who just found out they had cancer, Brody quickly replied: “To fight.” His two favorite mottos were “Never Give Up, We Got This” and “Fight. It’s what we do.”

The Brody Strong Fund provides perpetual funding to Southern Hancock Elementary Schools to offset costs related to youth sports including uniforms, equipment, and participation fees required of elementary students in need.

The Ora V. Callahan 4-H Award Endowment was established by Ora’s family to continue the legacy of the prestigious Ora V. Callahan 4-H Awards. It is the desire of the Callahan Family to grow the Ora Callahan Endowment Fund so that it may award scholarships that will honor 4-H achievement, citizenship, and leadership to Hancock County 4-H members.

This fund provides perpetual operating income to the organization to further its mission of supporting 4-H youth and the Hancock County 4-H Fair.

Donald and Lois Hanson were married in 1950. During their 47 years of marriage, they raised ten children, all of whom live across the United States. Home could have been identified in any number of places since Donald and Lois were born in the Midwest and traveled the world during Donald’s career with the Army. Fortunately, Colonel Donald Hanson retired from the Army and made his and Lois’ permanent home in Hancock County. Donald started and owned a successful business and seven of their children graduated from Mt. Vernon High School. Donald passed away in 1997 and Lois knew that he would have approved of establishing a fund at the Community Foundation.

Lois first established the Donald F. and Lois M. Hanson Family Endowment Fund in 2008. Its defined purpose reflected her and her late husband’s desire to provide support for educational attainment initiatives such as literacy enrichment programs and family strengthening services such as retreats and recreation opportunities. In 2015, Lois learned that HCCF had identified the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library as the  program to address kindergarten readiness improvement efforts in Hancock County.   Imagination Library provides accessibility to literacy materials through the delivery of quality age-appropriate books that are delivered monthly to the home of enrolled Hancock County children.  Since Don and Lois practiced  spending quality time with their children by reading to them regularly, the Imagination Library program spoke to Lois’ heart.  She revised the Donald F. and Lois M. Hanson Family Endowment fund agreement, designating it specifically for the purpose of funding books for pre-school aged children.  “I love this program!” shares Lois.

Lois inspires her family by continuing a tradition of organizing retreats that bring together her children, 27 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren from all over the United States.

Monica Kucan was passionate about her career as a Mental Health professional at the Adult & Child Mental Health Center in Indianapolis. She was devoted to helping others who struggled with disabilities or mental health problems.

Monica and her family have lived in Hancock County since 2007. Monica served as secretary on the board of directors for Families United for Support and Encouragement (FUSE). Monica and her family became familiar with the Hancock County Community Foundation (HCCF) through their involvement with FUSE.

Monica envisioned a program in Hancock County schools that would allow children with disabilities an opportunity to learn social skills at the elementary/middle school age. With the support of a $25,000 Big Impact Grant from HCCF, the Building our Social Skills (BOSS) program was launched in Hancock County. Today, the program is offered in 9 schools with 45 students served.

Monica Kucan passed away on April 20, 2018 at 34 years old. To continue her vision, Monica’s family created the Monica A. Kucan Memorial Endowment Fund. It will provide financial scholarships to children that need assistance to attend the BOSS program in Hancock County schools.

Let’s go hiking! Let’s sit by a bonfire! Let’s find a beautiful area where we can have a church picnic, a scout outing, etc. right here in Hancock County! Nameless Creek Youth Camp creates recreational and camping opportunities for all and provides a profound appreciation of nature and the enjoyment of outdoor activities for Hancock County and East Central Indiana. This agency endowment fund creates a sustainable stream of operating funds for the Camp. Established during the Pathlight Initiative when every $2 contribution made to the agency’s endowment fund was matched with $1 from the Hancock County Community Foundation.

In 2014, those who call themselves wife, daughter, brother, colleague and friend to the Honorable Richard Pasco, established an endowment fund to recognize leadership traits that exemplify the qualities and the integrity that they feel all public officials should strive to achieve. In doing so, they honor those traits in the man who served the community most of his adult life. “Dick was a tireless advocate of creating opportunities for engagement of citizens in the local government process, particularly young people,” says Beverly Gard, long-time friend and colleague.

Born on September 15, 1947, Dick followed in his family’s footsteps and, along with his brother David, became the fourth generation of Pascos to serve the community as Pasco Funeral Home in Greenfield. He did so following his military service in the U. S. Navy where, during the Vietnam War, he served on the USS Trumpetfish SS-245. Dick spent years serving on nonprofit boards dedicating many hours of volunteer service. He held a multitude of leadership positions with Kiwanis and his dedicated service was recognized with Indiana District’s Distinguished Lt. Governor Award and Outstanding Lt. Governor of the Year Award, and the International Distinguished Governor Award. In 1995, Dick received the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Bayh.

Dick dedicated over 20 years of public service on the City of Greenfield and Hancock County Councils. His community service culminated with his election to the office of Mayor of the City of Greenfield in 2011. His term was cut short upon his passing in December 2013.

The Mayor Richard J. Pasco Youth Citizenship Endowment will generate grants to organizations with a focus on youth programs that emphasize civic involvement. “Dick’s life was a lifetime of service,” said David Pasco, who considered his brother an inspiration. He desires that others be inspired to replicate Dick’s passion. It is the hope of the fund’s founders that others will donate to the fund, and through the community’s generosity, empower others to become outstanding leaders and citizens, much like the devoted servant for whom the fund honors.

Established to celebrate the lives of William and Lola Reason, this fund supports programs and initiatives in an effort to educate the youth of Hancock County about the sacrifices men and women made in protecting the United States during World War II.

A member of HCCF’s Spirit of Community fund family, grants support programs that proactively strengthen and grow our youth and encourage the betterment of our families in Hancock County.