TRI-CREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC.

TRI-CREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. ANNUAL REVIEW - 2004 * * * * * Everyone can help...create a spark in the mind of a child. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Officers: President: Mrs. Cheryl L. Rosevear Vice-President: Mr. Michael L. Grant Treasurer: Mrs. Lynn Bochart Co-Secretaries: Mr. Gregory Brown Mr. Dennis Keithley Members: Mr. Everett Budd Ballou Mrs. Janice Bruce Mrs. Cheryl K. Gibson Mr. Thomas J. Lump Dr. Alice Neal Mr. Donald Smith Inside this issue: Meet Our New Directors 2 A Message From The President 2 Honor-A-Colleague Grants Awarded Scholarships Awarded 2 3 3 Founders Club Members 4 2004 Contributors 5 Memorial and Honor Gifts 6 2004 Financial Summary About the Foundation 7 8 January, 2005 $7,500.00 Matching Grant Is A Success! For the third consecutive year, the Foundation was offered a matching grant opportunity. Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, this year s matching grant, in the amount of $7,500.00, was matched in record time! The matching grant was announced on September 13 th and on October 5 th (less than one month later) $7,500.00 in donations were received by the Foundation, thereby fulfilling the grant. The donations received during the dollar-for-dollar matching grant were doubled resulting in the amount of $15,000.00 being available for funding. The gifts received benefited the following Foundation funds and school programs: Foundation Funds: Operating Fund: $ 540.00 Endowment Fund: $ 600.00 Scholarship Fund: $7,000.00 Donor Directed Fund: $6,860.00* * The donations directed to the Donor Directed Fund were disbursed to the following: Lowell High School Programs: Academic Teams: $2,140.00 Band Program: $3,320.00 Choir Program: $ 150.00 Softball Program: $ 800.00 Theatre Program: $ 150.00 Lowell Middle School Programs: Band Program: $150.00 Choir Program: $150.00 During our matching grant, your tax deductible donations had twice the impact on the educational experiences of our students!!! Since our inception in 2001, we have raised over $160,000.00 which has allowed us to provide many enriching educational opportunities for hundreds of Tri-Creek students. We would like to thank the members of our community who continue to support us in our efforts to provide excellence and innovation in education for all Tri- Creek students. Foundation Awarded Second Professional Development Grant The Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations (INAPEF) provided the Foundation with its second Professional Development Grant in the amount of $2,000.00. Selected from applications submitted to INAPEF by its members, the Tri-Creek project, teaching reading comprehension strategies to all Lowell Middle School Language Arts, Social Studies and Science teachers, was chosen to receive funding. The goal of the project is to improve student reading scores on the I-STEP+ test. Since reading is an essential part of success, the Foundation was pleased to be able to provide the opportunity to obtain funding for this project. Because of this grant, our teachers are helping students become better readers which will make them better leaders.

If we did all of the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves. - Thomas A. Edison Meet our new Directors! The Foundation s Board of Directors welcomed three new members to the team. Alice A. Neal, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Tri-Creek School Corporation, is a veteran educator with experience as a secondary teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. She has a strong background in instructional leadership, the Baldrige Management System, and successful grant writing. Dr. Neal served for two years on the Marshall County Community Foundation Board prior to her move to Lowell in 1994. Dennis Keithley graduated from Indiana University with BS and MS degrees. While teaching in the Tri-Creek School System for 34 years, Dennis served in various elected positions in the Tri-Creek Teachers Organization. Recently retired from teaching, Dennis is now a full time Realtor with McColly Real Estate in Lowell. Everett Budd Ballou has been involved in education since 1945 when he began school. Mrs. Ruth Weinberg, Budd s 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher, had such a great influence on him that he became a teacher! A graduate of Lowell High School and Indiana State University, Budd taught for many years at the elementary, junior and senior high school levels, was an assistant principal, and A Message From The President... As 2004 came to an end, the world became aware of the needs of others as a result of the tsunami disaster which struck in Indonesia on December 26. Having family, friends, food and shelter began to take on more importance in our lives and many of us realized how blessed we are. People around the world opened their hearts and contributed to many charities in order to help the victims of the tsunami. Because of the vast amount of money donated, officials warned people to know the charities they were supporting. has coached a variety of sports teams. Budd is currently an assistant Geography professor at Indiana University Northwest. Alice, Dennis, and Budd all share a passion for education and we are delighted to experience their enthusiasm and their vision for our students. New Directors (left to right) Everett Budd Ballou, Dennis Keithley and Alice Neal. Our Foundation was established to allow you to help Tri- Creek students achieve excellence in their educational experiences. Our operating costs are only 3%, meaning that 97 cents of each dollar given goes to the students. You can be assured that your gift will benefit Tri-Creek students and will have a positive impact on their future. To learn how you can help, please visit our website at www.t-cef.org or call me at 219.696.6661, extension 118. Please consider helping us help your children. After all, the scientist who will discover how to accurately predict global emergencies may now be sitting in one of our classrooms. Cheryl Rosevear Page 2 Honor-A-Colleague Event Creates Smiles and Raises Funds The Foundation holds one fundraiser each year which is known as our "Honor-A- Colleague" Event. Offered to all employees of the Tri-Creek School Corporation, the event gives employees an opportunity to thank a co-worker for making their school year a memorable one. For a $5.00 gift, an employee can order a personalized card to be delivered to his/her honoree(s). A $10.00 gift supplies the honoree with a card and candy. For $25.00 or more, the honoree receives a card, candy and flowers. During the week of May 10th, Foundation Directors distributed personalized cards, candy and flowers to all of the honorees, raising $980.00. The proceeds were directed to the Foundation's Endowment Fund to fund future grants for Tri-Creek students and staff. Foundation Director, Janice Bruce, (r) congratulates teacher, Lisa Patton, during the Honor-A- Colleague event. Beginning in 2005, this event will be open to the public allowing parents to thank a teacher, aide, bus driver, etc. for making their child s school year special.

Hundreds of students impacted by Grants Awarded What a successful year we had! In 2004, we awarded $13,340.00 in competitive, donor directed, professional development, and general grants. Competitive grants, totaling $2,500.00 were awarded to: $220.00 - Oak Hill teachers, Jane Fedler and Betty O Neill, for their project Creating Communities - Conner Prairie Distance Learning, $500.00 - Three Creeks Elementary School teachers, Douglas Wiseman, Patrice Martin and Mary Stinnett, for their project The Challenger Learning Center, Rendezvous with a Comet, $700.00 - Lowell Middle School eighth grade Language Arts teachers, Megan Iussig and Kim Kirin, for their project Raising the Bard: Eighth Grade Merit Students Experience Shakespeare, and $1,080.00 was awarded to Lowell High School teacher, Barbara Luevano, for her project Fiction Frenzy. We awarded $8,540.00 in donor directed grants funding the following: $1,500.00 - dental health education for Three Creeks, Oak Hill and Lake Prairie Elementary Schools, $50.00 - Lowell High School Girls Soccer Program, $2,270.00 - Lowell High School Academic Teams, $3,320.00 - Lowell High School Band Program, $150.00 - Lowell High School Choir Program, $150.00 - Lowell High School Theatre Program, $800.00 - Lowell High School Softball Program, $150.00 - Lowell Middle School Choir Program, and $150.00 - Lowell Middle School Band Program. A $2,000.00 professional development grant was awarded for a project teaching reading comprehension strategies to all Lowell Middle School Language Arts, Social Studies and Science teachers to improve student reading scores on the I-STEP+ test. A general grant, in the amount of $300.00, was awarded to Lowell High School's Foreign Language Department to help three foreign language students participate in the Indiana University Summer Honors Program, a summerabroad program. Due to the generosity of our community, our grant program impacted hundreds of students! $13,850.00 in Scholarships Awarded in 2004 No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop In May, 2004, the Foundation was pleased to award 13 scholarships totaling $13,850.00 to graduating seniors at Lowell High School. Following are the scholarships awarded and the scholarship recipients: The Ryon Business Kristina Bougie - $3,000.00 Jason Corns - $3,000.00 Class of 1977 Adam Holley - $500.00 Class of 2002 Luke Reed - $250.00 The Tri-Creek Education Foundation, Inc. Community Service Brooke Bell - $500.00 The Ruth Dahl-Weinberg Mary Erpelding - $1,000.00 The Fanning/Howey & Associates Robert McLellan - $500.00 The Tri-Kappa Nathan Cundiff - $400.00 The Doug Pratt Memorial Mike Miller - $200.00 The Kelly Adams Tina Arnold - $500.00 Rachel Voss - $500.00 Athletic Directors Leadership/Citizenship Garrett Thiel - $500.00 Girls Basketball Leadership Brooke Bell - $500.00 McKensey Wietbrock - $500.00 Lettermen s Club Leadership Johanna Hess - $500.00 McKensey Wietbrock - $500.00 The Pepsi Leadership Brooke Bell - $500.00 Ashley Lukasik - $500.00 We wish all of the scholarship recipients success as they continue to pursue their dreams. Page 3

Founders Club Members Established in 2001 and ending in December 2003, the Founders Club Campaign invited donors to become members of this prestigious group by making a gift of at least $200.00. Members of the Founders Club are recognized as community-minded educational visionaries and will be listed in each Annual Review. Because of the overwhelming generosity of the Founders Club members, the students in Tri-Creek have been, and will continue to be, offered excellent educational opportunities. Thank you all for your dedication to education! * * * * * Ursula Andrews Anvil Awards (in the name of Brian and Betsy Vance) Connie Bales Bank One, N.A. Margery Beier (in the name of The Davis Store/R.T.W., Inc.) John and Ivonne Birkhead (in the name of Janice Bruce and John Birkhead, Jr.) John Black (through the Rick Thomas Charity Golf Outing, in the name of Mrs. Jetha Black) Susan Blubaugh Brown and Brown, Attorneys-at-Law, P.C. Gregory Brown Ron Brown (in the name of B.T.E., Inc.) David and Marti Caldwell Cargill AgHorizons Theresa L. Smutniak Promotional Centier Bank City Securities Corporation C.L. Vending, Inc. (in the name of Tim and Connie DeVries) Edgar and Darlene Corns Crown Point Community Foundation Jim and Doris Curless Mary Cusic Mary Lou DeLong James and Abigail Downey Fanning/Howey & Associates, Inc. Dr. Ellen Feitz (in the name of The Feitz Eye Clinic) Tom Felder (in the name of RTL Systems, Inc.) FFC Fencing Company Jack and Barbara Foss Wanda Frank Cheryl K. Gibson, C.P.A. Joe and Cheryl Gibson Sandra Goss Michael and Emogene Grant Lynne Haberlin John, Kristina and Jesi Hamm Hardings, Inc. David and Cynthia Herz Randall Hyle, M.D. Hitzeman, Langen and Russel Gregg and Audrey Holley and Family Bob Hopper and Alice Neal Ned and Doreen Horney Stan and Sandy Hurst Kevin and Renee Huseman Gino and Joyce Iussig Pete Iussig Kappa, Kappa, Kappa, Inc. Zeta Chi Chapter John and Mary Jo Keithley Nathan and Kathy Kleefisch and Family Mia Kouros Senator Sue and William Landske James Langen (in the name of Langen Realty, Inc.) Debra Laumeyer James and Marguerite Leininger Mark and Barbara Lindemer Lowell High School Athletics Lowell Athletic Booster Club Lowell High School Class of 1977 Lowell High School Girls Basketball Lowell High School Letterman s Club Lowell High School Red Devil Football Lowell High School Student Council Lowell Improvement Team Jane M. Lump Leon and Leona Lump Thomas, Lorraine and Maggie Lump McNally Dental Center Melody Lysek (in the name of The Hair Shaak) Lillian McLellan (in the name of Seth McLellan) Kirk and Sue McQuiston Midwest Accurate Grinding Service, Inc. (in the name of Jack and Carol Conley) Julie Min William and Lois Mitchell Linda Pancini Lisa Patton Penske Truck Leasing Company Tom and Sherry Peters William and Sharon Poer Charles and Grace Roberts Henry J. and Helen Rae Rosevear Roger and Diane Ryon Randy Santy (in the name of Randy s Plumbing Service) Jim and Kathy Sickinger The Skillman Corporation Donald J. Smith, C.P.A. Swanson Construction Company Wayne and Tracy Swanson and Family Betsy Thiel (in the name of Lowell Physical Therapy) Three M Development (in the name of Roy and Sandra Mason) Vauterbuilt, Inc. Mike and Judy Walters Waste Service, Inc. (in the name of Sara and Natalie Bruce) Gordon and Mary Zoe Weaver Joseph Weinberg (in memory of Ruth Dahl-Weinberg) James and Marie Wietbrock Donald and Janice Yeoman Russell and Laura Zea Zuni s Restaurant Page 4 The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving. - Albert Einstein

2004 Contributors PLATINUM DONORS: $5000 OR MORE Roger and Diane Ryon GOLD DONORS: $2,500 - $4,999 SILVER DONORS: $1,000 - $2,499 Ned and Doreen Horney Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations Lowell High School Athletics BRONZE DONORS: $500 - $999 Cheryl K. Gibson, C.P.A. Mary Cusic Donald J. Smith, C.P.A. Kappa Kappa Kappa, Inc., Zeta Chi Chapter Lowell High School Choir Boosters Lowell High School Class of 1964 Dr. Alice Neal William and Sharon Poer BLUE RIBBON DONORS: $200 - $499 Area Garage and Towing, Inc. Connie Bales Susan Blubaugh Bob and Janice Bruce and Family Wanda Frank Patricia Gianotti Lynne Haberlin Gino and Joyce Iussig Megan Iussig Andrew and Heather Killion Lowell High School Class of 1977 Lowell High School Class of 2004 Student Council Maple Grove Greenhouse and Nursery Lisa Patton United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Waste Service, Inc. SCHOLAR DONORS: $100 - $199 Gary and Louise Albrecht Ursula Andrews Leonard and Nancy Anglis Elizabeth Talley Arient Don and Beth Bales Jerry Boyd C.L. Vending, Inc. Edgar and Darlene Corns Jim and Doris Curless David and Karen Dejnowski Marilyn Elkins David and Karen Frizzell Joseph Gianotti Mike and Emogene Grant Kathryn M. Hamm Russell and Janet Hamm Donald and Gwen Huseman J.T.M. Home and Building, Inc. SCHOLAR DONORS - CONTINUED Dennis Keithley Nathan Kleefisch Mia Kouros Phillip and Sherri Kuiper Mark and Barbara Lindemer Tom, Lorraine and Maggie Lump Julie Min Linda Pancini Linda Shourek Mary Skurka Donald and Janice Yeoman HONOR ROLL DONORS: $1- $99 Anonymous Susan Bakker Albert and Barbara Benecki John and Yvonne Birkhead Patricia Blank and Dorothy Warran Larry and Tracey Bright Christopher Bulla James and Suzanne Burge Melissa Charters Jeanette Davis Daniel and Cynthia Denhartog Steve Dmitrovich Harry and Susan Dokulil Jane Fedler Valerie Giacomin Joseph and Cheryl Gibson Sandy Goss Daniel and Margaret Hamm and Family David and Carol Hamm and Family Madelyne Hamm Kay Harness Amanda Haskins Nancy Hedlund Pamela Herman David and Cynthia Herz Robert Hielkema Bill Holland Robert Hopper John S. Huber Pete Iussig Chris and Trisa Johnsen John Kirk Kennedy Mary Kersey Shawna Lamar Richard Larson Leona Lump Ginger Marinkovich D Ann McDermott Timothy and Terri McInnis Dorisann McNeill Kirk and Susan McQuiston Kimberly McRae William and Lois Mitchell Judith Morrow Bill and Lisa Muirhead Charles and Gale Norton Katherine O Neill HONOR ROLL DONORS - CONTINUED Kent Parker Linda Pastuszak William Patmore Mark and Carol Pflughoeft Sue Pflughoeft William and Barbara Ping Jacob Rakoczy Laurie Reed Scott and Sheri Reed Amanda Schilling Joseph and Karen Seberger Tom and JoAnne Sharkey Barbara Spencer The Symons Family Amanda Tubbs Mary Ellen Vaandrager Michael and Judith Walters Sandra Watson Pete Weiand Vicki Wietbrock Mary Jo Zatorski Gary Zuchowski * Thank you very much for your generosity and continued support * If we have inadvertently omitted your name, we extend our apologies and thank you for your overwhelming generosity. We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. Page 5

Memorial Gifts The Foundation offers an opportunity to remember loved ones through MEMORIAL GIFTS. Notification of your thoughtfulness can be sent to the family, letting them know that their loved one is being remembered in a very special way. In Memory of Sally Allen: Dennis Keithley In Memory of Chuck Aylesworth: Bill Holland Mary Kersey D Ann McDermott Kent Parker Sue Pflughoeft Amanda Schilling Mary Ellen Vaandrager In Memory of Karen Brooker: Leona Lump In Memory of Amy Cantwell: In Memory of Gene Denton: Janice Bruce In Memory of Gordon Elliott: In Memory of Mal Elliott: In Memory of Robert Gunning: In Memory of Jacob Hamm: Gary and Louise Albrecht Susan M. Bakker Dorothy Blank and Patricia Warran In Memory of Jacob Hamm (Cont) Harry and Susan Dokulil Russell and Janet Hamm Kathryn Hamm Madelyne Hamm Russell, Janet, Tyler and Aaron Hamm Dan and Margaret Hamm and Family David and Carol Hamm and Family Donald and Gwen Huseman Chris and Trisa Johnsen Phillip and Sherri Kuiper Richard Larson Charles and Gale Norton William and Barbara Ping Joe and Karen Seberger Tom and JoAnne Sharkey Linda Shourek The Symons Family Michael and Judith Walters Sandra Watson Area Garage and Towing, Inc. In Memory of Helen Herlitz: In Memory of Jack Hielema: Bob, Janice and Natalie Bruce Ben and Sara Fornet In Memory of Sam Kingma: Henry and Helen Rae Rosevear Honor Gifts In Memory of James Leininger: Valerie Giacomin Robert Hielkema Bill Holland Mary Kersey D Ann McDermott William and Lois Mitchell Kent Parker Mary Ellen Vaandrager In Memory of Joyce Milakovic: In Memory of Mary Mlynarczyk: Bob, Janice and Natalie Bruce Ben and Sara Fornet In Memory of Ruth Dahl-Weinberg: Leonard and Nancy Anglis Mark and Barbara Lindemer In Memory of Erin Wentworth: David and Karen Dejnowski In Memory of Stephanie Werner: Dennis Keithley In Memory of Ray Yeoman: Joseph and Cheryl Gibson Mike and Emogene Grant Tom, Lorraine and Maggie Lump Linda Pancini Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other important events can be celebrated with HONOR GIFTS. Let us know what special person or event you are celebrating and we will notify the recipients of your kindness and generosity. In Honor of LHS Class of 1964: Beth Talley Arient Jerry Boyd Mike and Emogene Grant Dennis Keithley Members of the LHS Class of 1964 In Honor of LHS Students: In Honor of Stanley Swanson: Ned and Doreen Horney In Honor of Don Yeoman: Jim and Doris Curless Page 6

2004 FINANCIAL SUMMARY Following is the Financial Summary for the Tri-Creek Education Foundation, Inc. for the period of January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004. TOTAL ASSETS: Total Cash on Deposit: Total Endowment Fund Deposits: Total Marketable Securities: * $ 34,007 $ 71,027 $ 10,452 $115,486 REVENUE: Endowment Fund: Donor Directed Fund: Operating Fund: Scholarship Fund: Competitive Grant Contribution: Interest Income: Dividends - Stock: EXPENSES: Awards and Grants: Scholarships Awarded: Insurance: Operating and Miscellaneous: $ 8,612 $ 8,740 $ 1,659 $ 15,450 $ 2,000 $ 262 $ 357 $ 37,080 $ 13,362 $ 12,900 $ 307 $ 1,205 $ 27,774 NET CHANGES IN FUNDS: $ 9,306 BEGINNING FUND BALANCE: $106,180 NET FUND BALANCE: $115,486 * Value of marketable securities on December 21, 2002 (date of gift) Page 7

The mission of the Tri-Creek Education Foundation, Inc. is to encourage community philanthropy in order to promote and fund excellence and innovation in education for all school-age children residing TRI-CREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. 195 West Oakley Avenue Lowell, Indiana 46356 PHONE: 219.696.6661, Extension 118 FAX : 219.696.2150 E-MAIL : info@t-cef.org W E RE ON THE WEB! www.t-cef.org within Eagle Creek, Cedar Creek and West Creek Townships, in Lake County, Indiana. The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. It is governed by an independent voluntary Board of Directors consisting of community leaders representing diverse sectors of our community. All contributions are tax deductible to the maximum amount allowable. On behalf of all of the children in Tri-Creek, thank you very much for your continued support! "Everyone can help...create a spark in the mind of a child." TRI-CREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. 195 West Oakley Avenue Lowell, Indiana 46356