July 27, 2009

At a national conference on Rural Philanthropy in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, Beverly
Santicola, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc. (or CROPS), had the opportunity to meet former President Bill Clinton and give him a Growing Rural DVD that features the San Pierre Revitalization Project. The conference, held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum and hosted by the Virginia-based Council of Foundations, was attended by approximately 150 leaders from philanthropic foundations, federal government agencies, and nonprofit organizations from throughout the United States. “I found out about the conference from the Ball Brothers Foundation only about a week before the event” said Santicola “and signed up at my own expense in hopes that I could garner some financial support for San Pierre. I had no idea President Clinton was going to be there until I arrived in the conference hall the morning of his speech.”

In his speech, Clinton said he thought that rural areas could end up benefiting more than larger cities from the federal stimulus package, specifically mentioning funds that have been set aside to deliver broadband Internet to underserved areas. He also recommended that rural areas focus on ways to invest in alternative energy, such as wind and solar power. Clinton said, “Investments in alternative energy could spark one of the largest job booms since World War II and we wouldn’t have to shoot anyone to do it.”

The 42nd president said that he believed that charities that work in rural areas should find more ways to work with charities in urban areas. When asked about the state of rural areas, Clinton said that charities in those areas should find ways to create hope for the people living there.
When asked, "Why do you think people in rural America are so dismal? He quickly responded, “Because they think that tomorrow is going to be just like yesterday.  It’s not because they're poor, but because they're stuck in a rut they can't get out of."

Positioning herself in a front row seat, Santicola had the opportunity to shake Clinton’s hand before he took the stage, take many photos, and get a copy of Growing Rural in his hands. “While he may never take the time to look at the Growing Rural DVD, it was my one big chance to tout the work we are doing with our urban and rural youth volunteers in San Pierre and I went for it!”  For more information on the San Pierre Revitalization Project or CROPS, and how you can get involved contact Beverly Santicola at 866-843-3493 or visit our websites at www.ruralgrants.org and www.healthnetworkcenter.org.  

July 27, 2009

For the third year in a row, a team of young athletes from the International Boxing Club in Toledo, Ohio are spending a week in Starke County to help the Center for Rural Outreach and Public Services (or CROPS) with the San Pierre Revitalization Project. This year’s main project includes an “Extreme Makeover” of the San Pierre Lions Club Building. During the week of July 27th to August 3rd both adult and youth volunteers will transform the building into a Community Education Center. Service learning activities that are taking place include interior and exterior painting, landscaping, cleaning, and ceiling tile replacement. Barbara Rausch, Angelique Milo, Julalak and Coach Harry Cummins are providing vocational instruction to the youth. Volunteers participating in the project shown above from front to back are Ernest Smoot, Larry Jones, , Trayvone Mathis, Mark Farren, and Jeff Michalak from IBC and Brant Howard from Winamac. Local youth and adult volunteers are encouraged to participate in this exciting project. For more information, contact Beverly Santicola at 281-224-1443 or Angelique Milo at 574-772-7012.

Northwest Indiana Area Health Education Center
Purdue University North Central and Starke Memorial Hospital
present…

 “GROW OUR OWN”
Future Healthcare Professionals
by sowing seeds for success early

 PRINTABLE .PDF FLYER

Funding to support this project provided by Starke County Community Foundation