(L) Ansonia Elementary Principal Krista Stump, Ami McClurkin, Ami’s mother Gini Stuckey, Ansonia Elementary art teacher Chrissy Cox and daughter Vera Cox.
(R) Front: Ami McClurkin. Back: Verd Stuckey, Anita Carr (Strides ‘n Stirrups Executive Director), Torri Brown (Ami’s sister), Shelley and Mike Meckes (Strides volunteers).
(L) St. Mary’s Principal Vern Rosenbeck, Ami McClurkin, HOPE Foundation President Christy Prakel.
(R) Verd and Gini Stuckey (Ami’s parents), Ami McClurkin, Hattie Hunt (United Way board member), Lauren Henry (United Way Executive Director).
Friends and family of Ami McClurkin gathered at the Brethren’s Retirement Community on Sept. 13 to honor her birthday and celebrate a legacy of community giving.
For the third year, the Ami McClurkin Community Grants were awarded to four organizations that are dedicated to enriching the lives of Darke County residents. Established in 2008 through the HOPE Foundation of Darke County, the Ami McClurkin Community Fund awards $5,000 in grants each year at the time of Ami’s birthday.
The 2011 recipients include Ansonia Elementary School, which will use its grant to provide art instruction to students in grades 5-7. The grant to Darke County United Way will help buy postage to send children monthly reading books provided by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. St. Marys School in Greenville is using its money to buy technology equipment for the classroom. The grant to Strides ‘n Stirrups Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center will help provide equipment for riders with special needs.
Ami’s parents, Verd and Gini Stuckey, and her sister and brother-in-law, Torri and Mike Brown, all of Greenville, felt that the grants are the perfect way to create a tribute to Ami and the community she loves. The family set up the fund in honor of Ami, who was severely injured in an automobile accident in 1985 and remains a quadriplegic.
“We are so grateful to these groups that do such wonderful work in our community,” said Gini. “We’re proud we can help in a little way,” she added.
This is the second HOPE fund established by Ami’s family. The first fund, set up in 2006, provides scholarships to Greenville H.S. graduates who have been involved in the GHS music program. Ami was an accomplished musician in high school and at Ohio Northern University. She still enjoys attending concerts and supporting Darke County productions.
Through the generosity of Ami and her family, non-profit organizations can continue to enrich the lives of Darke County residents for years to come. Any non-profit group serving Darke County is eligible for these grants. The applications are available in April each year by calling the HOPE Foundation at 548-4673.
The HOPE Foundation (Helping Other People Excel) is the Darke County Community Foundation. The Foundation assists donors in meeting their charitable objectives and helps non-profit organizations provide the services and programs so essential to our community.
Krista Stump, One of the nicest leaders I ever worked for. Keep Smilling Krista!
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