The five recipients of the 2021 Lucas Fund have been announced. The Fund is managed by the Clinton County Foundation and the Lucas committee meets annually to make its selections.
The awardees are:
• Blanchester Special Education Department, $3,160, Chromebooks for middle school students
• Clinton County History Center, $3,000 for a Museum in a Box program
• Clinton County Youth Council, $4,000 for an expansion and accessibility of the disc golf course
• Imagination Library, $2,500, sponsoring 100 preschool children with free books for a year;
• Murphy Theatre, $2.500, after-school music program.
“The impact of the Lucas Fund this year will be truly amazing,” said Jan Blohm, executive director of the Clinton County Foundation.
“We are fortunate to have a great committee that cares about our community and wants to fund programs that are sustainable and involve the community. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to learn more about our county history, play disc golf and sing in an after-school choir. Our Imagination Library Fund is a monthly friend to preschool children. Blanchester special needs students will have the Chromebooks they need.
“The committee is thoughtful and empathetic in their approach to grant funding.”
The Clinton County Foundation committee for the Lucas Fund — which consists of Kathleen Blake, Joyce Kelly, Cindy Neanen, Lauren Raizk and Dave Tingle — awarded $15,160 to Clinton County nonprofit organizations that serve children and youth.
Additionally, they honor Robert Lucas and Lorraine Carey with two scholarships available to graduating seniors at Blanchester High School, where both Carey and Lucas were high school friends and graduates.
Two of the committee are family members of the Lucas family — Dave Tingle, a grandson of Lucas, and Cindy Neanen, a niece.
“They guide us in their commitment to Bob Lucas’s legacy,” said Blohm. “It’s great to have their input into this decision, as they have learned much about our community,” she said.
“The Lucas Fund was our first granting organization. We have learned so much from their thoughtful approach to competitive granting and the process that all of our committees follow,” she said.
The 2022 grant cycle for the Lucas Fund opens on Oct.15, 2021 and the deadline is Jan. 31, 2022.
