The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) hosted its Annual Meeting on June 18, 2026, at the Putnam County Museum, bringing together donors, community partners, and volunteers to celebrate a milestone year of local philanthropy. The event highlighted organizational accomplishments from 2025, key governance updates, and special recognition.
In 2025, PCCF total assets grew to over $56 million, with more than $1.7 million distributed in grants and scholarships for the year, bringing PCCF’s cumulative giving to over $27 million since its inception in 1985. Leaders also highlighted the ongoing Lilly Endowment GIFT IX initiative, which offers a $2-to-$1 match on all gifts to unrestricted funds through June 2028, effectively tripling the impact of local donations. To date, PCCF has raised nearly $160,000 of the $375,000 campaign.
The event featured several awards celebrating individuals with a profound commitment to Putnam County. PCCF’s highest honor, the Spirit of Philanthropy Award, was presented to Kate Knaul, Executive Director of Main Street Greencastle and co-founder of the Putnam County Mural Project. Knaul, who served on the PCCF board from 2018 to 2023, also established the Kate Knaul & Tim Cope Unrestricted Endowment. Though unable to attend, Knaul shared a message emphasizing that helping others is “just what you do,” a value modeled by her parents.
“I grew up with the understanding that if someone needed help, you helped. If somebody asked, you showed up,” Knaul’s statement read. “And if you saw a need, you didn’t wait for someone else to take care of it—you found a way to pitch in.”
Phyllis Rokicki was welcomed into the Corinthian Society, an honor recognizing 25 consecutive years of giving to the Foundation. Rokicki and her late husband, Mike, have championed local causes since 1990, establishing the Rokicki Foundation Fund in 2003. Both have served as Board members and are recognized as Honorary Board Members. Additionally, Mary Gould, Jennifer Jackson, and Marianne Savage received the distinction of Honorary Board Members in appreciation for their exemplary leadership and six-plus years of dedicated service to the PCCF Board and committees.
Special guest speakers included Rachel Barr, Executive Director of the Putnam County Museum, and Bailey Boggess, the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, who shared how the award will support her upcoming studies at Butler University.
“The scholarship is more than financial support—it is a vote of confidence from this community,” stated Boggess. “The Lilly is an investment, and investments should produce returns. I intend to return that investment to Indiana.”
During the business portion of the meeting, the membership also officially elected Tammy Keenan, Kathy Morgan, and Lane Hacker to serve their first three-year terms on the Board of Directors, beginning January 1, 2027.