The Community Foundation of Crawford County (CFCC) is pleased to announce a significant sponsorship from its longtime business associate, First Savings Bank. The relationship goes back decades; even as banks merged in English, Leavenworth, Marengo, and Milltown; the two organizations have remained committed to serving Crawford County.  

First Savings Bank stepped up early in the CFCC’s new capital campaign to renovate a recently acquired building on Goodman Ridge Road in Marengo. Their sponsorship is for $30,000. Their gift ensures a named sponsorship of what will be a nonprofit resource suite. This space with its own entrance will include a furnished shared office and resources such as books and training materials, a meeting room that will double as an education room, as well as upgraded restrooms. The plan includes utilizing fiber optic cable, once it is installed in Crawford County, to provide video conferencing and simulcasting opportunities for nonprofits and Crawford County individuals. The reasoning is clear: increase the capacity of the nonprofit sector and assist in educating and empowering individuals of the community.  

The CFCC hopes to expand educational opportunities that are slightly different from traditional models. They know that it is very difficult for working families to achieve certifications and degrees when they have to drive so far away. Costs add up quickly. It acknowledges the wonderful opportunities afforded an hour away in Jasper and in Sellersburg, but an hour’s drive in a vehicle that is meant to be for work and family use may not live up to the challenge of a long commute. There are many online course offerings from various educational facilities, and several places offer the simulcasting of classes from the college/university setting. Students could be in Crawford County and virtually attend classes with people from all over the region in real-time, as well as at-will classes that fit with their work/life schedules.  

Pictured L to R: Laken Fraime, CFCC director of finance and programs; Christine Harbeson, CFCC executive director; Ashely Allen Bullington, CFCC Board member; Eric Gilmore, First Savings Bank senior vice president – regional manager; and Angela Leonard, CFCC board chairwoman     

These upgrades will allow for in-person training as well. And, if the group becomes larger than the current space can facilitate, a larger meeting room is already in the planning stages and could potentially be scheduled for specific needs. More information on the larger room will become available at a later date.   

Larry Myers, president/CEO; and Eric Gilmore, senior vice president-regional manager of First Savings Bank (FSB), were quick to respond to these needs. FSB may even offer family financial planning or a tutorial on how to purchase a home in this space. Their sponsorship of this renovation proves their dedication to the future of Crawford County. By partnering together with the CFCC, we all know we can do more to grow Crawford County!  

The CFCC was founded in April 1998 by a volunteer Board of Directors representing various interests from Crawford County. To date, the CFCC has awarded more than $8 million in grants for programs/projects supporting Crawford County children and youth, education, housing, health, and human services, the environment, history and culture, science and technology education, literacy, and the arts; and has awarded well over $2 million in scholarships benefiting Crawford County students. The CFCC currently manages more than 100 charitable funds on behalf of families, individuals, corporations, and non-profit organizations and has more than doubled its annual grantmaking over the past five years.  

Go to https://www.fsbbank.net/ or call First Savings Bank at 1-833-FSB4YOU (1-833-372-4968) for all your banking needs.  

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