'Mellon Patch' fund will support community needs for years to come
- Details
- Published: Friday, 12 February 2016 20:07
Two lifelong educators and tireless community servants, Chuck and Darlene Mellon have chosen to extend their positive impact on Francesville and Pulaski County far into the future.
The Mellon Patch Community Fund is a permanent fund established by the Mellons through the Community Foundation of Pulaski County. This unrestricted fund will provide charitable support for community needs for years to come, and will help ensure that the Mellons' spirit of community involvement lives on.
Inspiration for the name of the new fund came from the “Mellon Patch” boys’ cheer block, well-known in the mid to late 70s when Chuck was junior varsity basketball coach at Winamac.
Mellon's career in education spans over 40 years, beginning at Rossville, Ind., before coming to Winamac. From there, he went on to become principal of John Glenn Middle School; then assistant principal, principal, and later superintendent at West Central Schools where he retired in 2014.
Darlene’s life was changed when she was awarded a $200 scholarship as a high school senior. She became the first person in her family to graduate from college, and she went on to earn a master’s degree from Purdue University.
Her first teaching position was as a kindergarten teacher in Michigantown, Ind. She then initiated the kindergarten program at North White schools, and helped create, oversee, and teach at a nursery school in Walkerton before coming to Francesville. Her 30 years of teaching at West Central concluded with her retirement in 2011.
In addition to their passion for education, both Chuck and Darlene are deeply committed to their community, serving on numerous church-related efforts and community service organizations, both in Francesville and county-wide. Each has served as director on the Community Foundation of Pulaski County board, with Chuck serving for 12 years and Darlene currently in her second term.
“We felt this was the perfect time to create the Mellon Patch Community Fund and to give back to Pulaski County because we could take advantage of Lilly Endowment’s GIFT Phase VI matching program,” they said.
Through Lilly Endowment Inc., the GIFT VI initiative offers matching dollars for contributions through March 31, or as long as matching funds last.
"The Mellon Patch Community Fund is sure to bear much fruit for Francesville and Pulaski County in the years to come, thanks to Chuck and Darlene Mellon," said CFPC executive director Wendy Rose.
For more information about this or any other community foundation fund, contact CFPC at 574-946-0906, stop by the CFPC office at 127 E Pearl Street, or visit www.cfopc.org.
