Event benefits 10 local nonprofit organizations

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GREENFIELD — Five local nonprofits have a shot to receive as much as $5,000 in grant funding from the fifth annual Steak’n Bake’n Raffle hosted by the Greenfield Rotary Club.

Greenfield Rotary Club members aim to raise $25,000 — topping last year’s $22,500 — through this year’s Steak’n Bake’n Raffle, which includes a steak dinner, drinks, musical entertainment, a $2,000 reverse raffle, photo booth and games, said event chairman Dave Anders.

While there will be 10 nonprofits represented at the Oct. 29 charity event, five will be selected by guests through a penny-wars-type contest throughout the evening to receive the top grant awards. The other five nonprofits will get to keep the money donated toward their organizations as votes, Anders said. The final five will be tabulated at 9:30 p.m. for the big announcement, he said.

The event, which kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds exhibit hall, 620 N. Apple St. in Greenfield, serves as a way for Rotarians to highlight their local efforts, such as donating their time and money to local projects like Cops 4 Kids and the Hancock County Veterans Park.

The organizations selected to benefit from the fundraiser this year provide vastly different services to the community, from helping families raising children with disabilities to working to honor the county’s servicemen and women.

Love in the Name of Christ of Greater Hancock County, an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for local church-related ministries, is in the running for the top five grant prize.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of it,” director Jim Peters said.

Love INC could put the grant money toward several different programs, from an effort to build wheelchair ramps at homes and businesses around the county, to incentives provided during money management and job skills workshops, Peters said.

“We really appreciate the support of Rotary and the community in general,” he said. “Without that financial and volunteer support, we wouldn’t be able to do near what we do for our neighbors in Hancock County.”

Rotary members selected the 10 nonprofits to be a part of the Steak’n Bake’n Raffle earlier this year. About 40 different community nonprofit organizations have benefited from the raffle event in its five-year span, Anders said.

Rotarians work to find organizations serving diverse needs in the community, he said.

The Hancock County Veterans Park also made Rotarians’ list this year. The park, at the corner of South State and West South streets in downtown Greenfield, was built in 2010 at the site of the former city hall.

If the organization receives one of the grants from the raffle, it will use the money toward upkeep of the park and its landscaping, said director Rick Walker.

The aim of the park is to pay tribute to all county men and women who served in the armed forces, Walker said.

“I want them to be remembered by us, by our grandchildren, by our grandchildren’s grandchildren,” Walker said. “I don’t want them to be names that disappear in time.”

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The fifth annual Steak’n Bake’n Raffle will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds exhibit hall, 620 N. Apple St., Greenfield.

Tickets for the event are $35 until Monday, when the price rises to $40. Tickets are available from any Rotary member; as well as at Forty Financial, 812 E. Main St.; or Bernzott State Farm Agency, 1279 N. State St. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the night of the event.

The event is restricted to 500 people, and those who attend must be 21 years old or older.

Eight or more people may reserve a table before Oct. 28 by calling Deb Low at 317-467-2228.

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The 10 local nonprofit organizations up for the people’s choice votes are:

  • Families United for Support and Encouragement, which provides information, resources and support to Indiana families raising children with disabilities
  • Greenfield Central School Foundation, which provides financial support and programming to Greenfield Central Schools Corp.
  • Hancock Hope House, the county’s sole homeless shelter
  • Hancock County Senior Services, which provides assistance, transportation and social events to the growing senior population
  • Hancock County Food Pantry, a 4,000-square-foot facility that feeds more than 600 Hancock County families a month
  • Hancock County Special Olympics, whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities
  • Hancock County Veterans Park, a downtown Greenfield location honoring the county’s military legacy
  • The Landing, a safe place for at-risk teens age 13 to 18 to speak confidentially about their challenges and concerns
  • Love In the Name of Christ of Greater Hancock County, which mobilizes church members to create and maintain programming helping others in the county

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