FOUNDATIONS
A NEWSLETTER TELLING HOW THE CORNERSTONE YOUTH
CENTER IS CHANGING LIVES IN SOUTHEAST ALLEN COUNTY
March 2007
Executive Director
New grants supplement donations
Kent Castleman Local foundations continue to grant funding to the Cornerstone Youth Center, supplementing the
Kevin House ever-important donations from local individuals and groups.
Foundations Editor Cornerstone Executive Director Kent Castleman recently announced that the center obtained
grants from the Foellinger Foundation, Edward M. and Mary McCrea Wilson Foundation and the
www.cornerstoneyc.org
Staehle Foundation (National City Bank discretionary funds). In all cases, the money is earmarked
for Cornerstone’s overall youth development programming and general operating budget. In addi-
School Year tion, St. Mark’s and Antioch Lutheran Churches recently gave donations toward operating funds.
Center Hours Castleman adds that Cornerstone continues to receive increasing financial support from local
individuals and organizations, the lifeblood of any agency. The goal this year is to collect $15,000
Monday – Thursday in donations from individuals. In 2006 a total of $11,600 was donated. “The more money we
3:30-6 p.m. receive locally, the less we’ll need from grants as they will be harder to obtain the longer we
operate,” he says. “We will always need individual donations for operating support regardless of
Friday how much we receive in grant money for programming.”
3:30-11 p.m. For example, some grants provide program start-up funds only. Last summer a grant from Arts
United of Greater Fort Wayne funded the center’s Summer Music Crew program. However, this
Saturday year the grant will provide just 60 percent of the funding, followed by 30 percent the following
7-11 p.m. year, and then the entire budget will be responsibility of Cornerstone to absorb if the program is to
continue. “We plan to appeal to those who years ago were involved in a similar program. The goal
*Note: Junior high this year will be to raise just over $2,300, then $3,800 in 2008 and thereafter around $5,000.”
students leave at 10 p.m. Therefore, local funding will be necessary to continue this popular program. Support the center by
Friday and Saturday. completing the enclosed donation form or by visiting www.cornerstoneyc.org.
Children benefit from Cornerstone
Ladies Night service project
Approximately 30 children are more warm and comfortable as a
result of the most recent Ladies Night community service activity of
making no-sew blankets. The blankets were delivered to patients of
Parkview Hospital’s Pediatric Unit on December 23, and the
remaining supply were delivered to the Project Linus office in Fort
Wayne.
A non-profit organization, Project Linus has resulted in
1,806,791 blankets being donated to terminally ill children throughout
the country. The young ladies raised the money needed to purchase
the materials through individual and business donations, as well as a
raffle with donated items at last year’s Harvest Festival. They then
purchased the materials and made the blankets throughout the year. Warmth & Comfort. (L to R) Chelsey Klinker, Alisha
Participating youth included Brittany Musselman, Alisha Stakelbeck, Brittany Mussleman and Program Director
Stakelbeck, BreAnn Johnson, Sarah Heimann, Kristin Hormann, Ashley Sigafoose are shown holding blankets they made for
Chelsey Klinker, Alyssa Hockenberry and Leslie Ryan. Project Linus.
Castleman chosen for
Executive Journey Fellowship
Cornerstone Executive Director Kent
Castleman recently was accepted into the
Executive Journey Fellowship, a statewide
program offering youth workers opportunities
for renewal and personal development.
“I can go to four three-day, all-expense paid
retreats at Indiana state parks throughout the Castleman
year,” Castleman says. “They’re also creating
state standards and doing advocacy work for youth workers and with
universities for them to offer degrees in youth work. All of this also
helps to professionalize the career field.”
Castleman says he will receive $750 for youth worker renewal
training, which he hopes to use for youth workers in Southeast Allen
Winter Jam. Thirteen Cornerstone members attended the
County. In addition, he will receive $1,000 in personal renewal money
Winter Jam at the Allen County War Memorial
to purchase something that will help with his own renewal.
Coliseum. Eight Christian artists and bands performed at
“They have a youth workers exchange program where you can go to
the event.
foreign countries, and I hope to take part in that in the future,” he says.
Donate by logging on to www.cornerstoneyc.org
Board retreat slated
The Southeast Youth Council board
members will gather for their annual retreat
March 10 at Hope United Methodist Church
in Hoagland.
Dave Sternberg will be the retreat
presenter. He is the Associate Director of
Public Service and Strategic Initiatives for
the Fund-Raising School at Indiana
University’s Center on Philanthropy. Sternberg
The goal of the retreat is to provide
educational tools the board can use to more effectively manage
Let there be Light! Volunteers raised three light poles on
the organization. This year’s retreat will specifically focus on
the property of the youth center in December. Thanks to
fund-raising and sustainability. The board prides itself on
Kurt Van Horn and Steve Castleman for volunteering their
emphasizing board education, and past retreats have focused on
time and equipment.
creating a strategic plan and focus as the organization grows.
Cornerstone lands
Technology grant
Cornerstone’s Tech Team will face a big challenge, as well
as a big opportunity, over the next several months by
purchasing and installing new technology for the organization.
The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne recently
granted Cornerstone a $30,115 grant to update its computer and
communications systems.
The Tech Team meets every Wednesday night from 7-9 and
partners youth with adults to learn about technology while
maintaining and growing the center’s computer and
communications networks.
Specifically, the youth center plans to purchase the
following: 15 computers, a laptop, copy machine, extension
phones for a donated phone system, paper folding machine for Ready for some foosball? Sarah Heimann and Josh Boggs
newsletter mailings, network server, two network switches, team up for a foosball battle during the 2007 New Year’s lock
color printer, black-and-white printer, network back-up -in at Cornerstone.
supplies and software.
These equipment purchases will benefit the community by
providing young people with more work stations for
educational purposes and the ability to run certain job skills
Bulls & Barrels set for June 2
software. Plans are also underway to create adult basic Cornerstone’s annual Bulls &
computer classes for the wider community. The center plans to Barrels fund-raiser is scheduled for
start offering these classes as early as this fall. June 2 at the Monroeville
Community Park Arena starting at
Geek 6:30 p.m. Hat Creek Ranch and
Squad? Rodeo Company is contracted once
Adult Tech again to operate the event.
Team The youth center currently is
Volunteer seeking sponsorships to supplement the cost of the rodeo
Scott Lay contract which will help make the event profitable.
(left) works Sponsorship banners available are as follows. in the following
with youth sizes and costs: $125 for a 1 1/2-by-4-foot banner, $250 for a 3
member -by-4-foot banner and $500 for a 4-by-6-foot banner.
Cameron Bulls & Barrels is Cornerstone’s largest community
Mock trou- fund-raiser of the year, so please mark your calendars now to
bleshooting support this fun event. To volunteer or request more
a computer information, please call Cornerstone Executive Director Kent
issue. Castleman at 623-3972.
Non-Profit Org
US Postage Paid
Monroeville, In
Permit #6
Southeast Allen County
Friend & Neighbor