The Putnam County Community Foundation is proud to congratulate Alivia Moore, the grand prize winner of the 2023 Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest.

Moore is a student in Kat Hamstra’s class at North Putnam Middle School.

In recognition of Moore’s accomplishment, Reading Improvement Center, the charity of her choice, received a $150 grant. Additionally, North Putnam Middle School received a $500 grant. Her essay highlighted the philanthropic work of her cousin, Jessica Moore. Moore’s essay can be read in its entirety on our blog.

The Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest was established in 2006 by Darrell Wiatt, a passionate community member and former educator at the North Putnam Community School Corporation. Through the program, the Community Foundation hopes to recognize a few of the everyday philanthropists in Putnam County and to ensure that no child will graduate from high school without knowing the meaning of the word “philanthropy.”

Entries were accepted from seventh-grade students throughout the county. Students were instructed to write a 500-word essay about “The Philanthropist I Know Personally and Admire the Most.” The essays were reviewed by four judges at the county level and scored on criteria such as spelling, grammar, organization, content of essay, and understanding of philanthropy. 

Eight finalists were chosen from the participating middle schools in Putnam County. Each finalist had the opportunity to designate a local organization to receive a Finalist Grant Award.

Adryana Oberkrom, a student at Cloverdale Middle School, chose the Humane Society of Putnam County to receive a Finalist Grant Award and wrote about her grandmother, Mary Miller.

Nick Shepherd, a student at Cloverdale Middle School, chose the Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department to receive a Finalist Grant Award. His philanthropist is his grandfather, Kerry Shepherd.

Charles Knuth, a student at Greencastle Middle School, chose 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County to receive a Finalist Grant Award. The philanthropist he admires most is his mother, Emily Knuth.

Chiara Seaman, a student at Greencastle Middle School, chose Care Net Pregnancy Center to receive a Finalist Grant Award. Her neighbor, Joe Ferguson, is the philanthropist about whom she wrote.

Vaughn Wyatt, a student at North Putnam Middle School, wrote about his grandmother, Joan Witt. He chose the Humane Society of Putnam County to receive a Finalist Grant Award.

Mia Boruff, a student at South Putnam Middle School, chose Beyond Homeless, Inc. to receive a Finalist Grant Award. Her philanthropist is her grandmother, Elaine Boruff.

Liana Nascimbene, a student at South Putnam Middle School, chose the Putnam County Cancer Center to receive a Finalist Grant Award. Her philanthropist is her mother, Lana Nascimbene.

These grants are made from the Darrell Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest Endowment, which was established in 2012 by the Wiatt Family to promote philanthropic education and award grants for the essay contest.

For additional information about the Wiatt Family Philanthropy Essay Contest or other opportunities at the Putnam County Community Foundation, individuals may contact Sarah Stone at sstone@pcfoundation.org or call the office at 765.653.4978.