Chautauqua 2016: World War I, Legacies Of A Forgotten Wa

One of the most valuable assets of the Hastings community is the Hastings Community Foundation because it is all about community.

“The 2016 Chautauqua says so much about the value that the Hastings Community Foundation places on the people of this area. There is no doubt that Chautauqua 2016 would not have become the major “happening” of the summer without the initial commitment of financial support from the Hastings Community Foundation. It provided the assurance that allowed the local Chautauqua committee to commit to exciting, engaging educational programming that would come to involve a multitude of local organizations and community volunteers, all successfully working together. This is a prime example of how the Hastings Community Foundation finds ways to bring people in this community together; and people working together provide this community with remarkable experiences—the 2016 Chautauqua being one of the finest.”

– Betty Kort, Co-chair Chautauqua 2016

4-H Saddle Up Club

One of Dr. Jack Yost’s passions was the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Club. This club was formed so that children with challenges could benefit from the therapeutic effects of horseback riding, as well as learning about the horses and how to care for them. Some of the benefits of therapeutic riding include improving balance, strengthening various muscles, and building self-confidence.

After Dr. Yost’s passing, his family, knowing his passion for the program, set up a fund with the Hastings Community Foundation, in memory of their dad. The Saddle Up Club Fund helps to offset the costs of these specially trained horses, their care, tack, and maintenance. What a nice legacy for Dr. Yost.

The Lark

The Lark is a performance and event space in downtown Hastings. In addition to being home the beloved Listening Room Concert Series, The Lark develops in-house arts programming and hosts visiting organizations as well as a variety of community and family meetings and events.

In the Fall of 2011, The Listening Room Board of Directors was exploring the possibility of renovating a vacant building in the heart of downtown Hastings. The Community Foundation heard of our plans and offered help finding a donor that could help us “jump start” our capital campaign. They connected us to Dr. Lloyd ( Sandy ) Ellis and his wife Eva, who are interested in music and historical renovations. It was the perfect fit and I enjoyed talking many times, long-distance, with Sandy and Eva, telling them our plans to save this beautiful building and fill it with music !!!

“The money we received from the Jeffrey Wallace Ellis Foundation via the Hastings Community Foundation, combined with other local gifts gave us the foundation we needed to brave a $1 million capital campaign. We are very grateful. Our beautiful performance space is named in honor of Idilla Jeffrey Wallce and Lura Lou Wallace Ellis.”

– Robin Harrell. Director

Hastings Area Habitat For Humanity

An easy way to think about a donor-advised fund is like a charitable savings account: a donor contributes to the fund as frequently as they like and then recommends grants to their favorite charity when they are ready. HCF handles the rest!

“WOW! What a ‘hand up’ and not a ‘hand out’ Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity received from the Hastings Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund.  In 2017 Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity received a substantial donation from a Hastings area family through their Donor Advised Fund administered by the Hastings Community Foundation.  Using this donation, Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity will fund a additional house to be built in 2018.

“Through 2017 we have constructed 22 houses in Hastings and Kenesaw.  Each house gives a family a “hand up” and not a “hand out.” The house is built using volunteer labor wherever possible and we require the family to work 200 hours to put in their sweat equity.  We loan the family the cost of the home with a 30 year no interest mortgage.  Thanks goes to the Donor Advised Fund.”

– Neal Hoff, Volunteer Coordinator Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity

Good Samaritan Society

Sinking a putt was impossible!

Seniors at Good Samaritan Village had been staying active and having fun on the par-3 golf course at the Hastings Village since its beginning in 1957. Originally built with sand greens, artificial turf was first installed in 1999. By 2015, these same artificial turf green had turned hard as concrete.

Hastings Village began the campaign to renovate the greens and tee boxes by participating in Give Hastings Day on May 1, 2015. Through the generosity of donors and a $5,500 grant from the Hastings Community Foundation, work started in the spring of 2016. By the end of the season, all nine greens plus the tee boxes had been recovered in artificial turf. Sod was placed around the collars of each green that fall and the course was ready for play by spring of 2017.

In June, the Village invited Big Brothers/Big Sisters youth and their mentors out to learn some golf fundamentals. While putting and chipping were fun, the highlight of the morning was being able to ride in a golf cart!

“Thank you, Hastings Community Foundation for your continued support of GSS – Hastings Village. These grants have truly enhanced the lives of those who call the Village ‘home.’”

– Karen Doerr, Devlopment Director, Good Samaritan Society—Hastings Village