Women’s Fund Celebrates 14 Years at Brunch and Auction
Everything was just peachy as the Women’s Fund of Randolph County hosted its annual Brunch and Auction on Saturday, August 10, 2024. With more than 105 people in attendance, the “Life’s A Peach”-themed event provided an opportunity for food, fun, and fellowship as the Women’s Fund celebrated its 14th year of enhancing the futures of women and children in Randolph County.
The attendees were treated to a brunch buffet, catered by Roots Catering and Events, and enjoyed plenty of opportunity to socialize, with mothers and grandmothers introducing their daughters and granddaughters to longtime friends and sharing updates on the successes of children and grandchildren who were unable to attend.
The featured speaker for this year’s event was local business owner Cheryl Fisher. A lifelong resident of Winchester, the owner of Matchett & Ward Insurance shared stories covering the breadth of her experiences from teenage motherhood through her years of working for businesses on the courthouse square in Winchester to her recent marriage to Rick Fisher. Throughout her stories, Ms. Fisher connected how, despite the bruises that life might cause, anyone can be picked up from the ground to be useful and productive similar to the life of a peach.
“Cheryl Fisher is an inspiring and leading figure in our community, so passionate about the importance of involvement, she knows community development is not a spectator sport. She is a visionary who can see the potential for our county and she continually uses her talents to help others all while managing her successful company”, said Lisa Jennings, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “She referenced our county’s current efforts with Cultivating Community as an important opportunity for citizens to engage.”
The primary purpose of the Women’s Fund structure is the grant awards to local nonprofit organizations that are committed to improving the lives of women and/or children in Randolph County. For 2024, the grant recipients were as follows:
- Art Association of Randolph County to support its Two Languages Together programming;
- Monroe Central Elementary for the creation of an All-Pro Moms program to mirror All Pro Dads;
- Prevent Child Abuse of Randolph County to support the launch of The Laundry Project;
- Randolph County Law Enforcement Youth Leadership Camp to support the 2024 camp;
- Randolph County YMCA to support the Girls on the Run program; and
- Secret Families of Randolph County to support in-kind bags.
During the event, representatives from those organizations shared the impact of the recent grant awards. The Women’s Fund grants are funded through memberships and the proceeds associated with the annual Brunch and Auction.
The event also included recognition of the individuals behind the winning entries in the art contest. JoAnna Price’s entry, “Ocean Breeze,” was selected for the Grand Prize Art Award, earning a $500 prize. The Cherie Isakson Art Award, and a $250 prize, went to Joy Murphy’s “GIMME-A-CUPCAKE NOW,” while the Ruth Mills Art Award, and a $250 prize, went to Della Massey’s “Chillaxing.” This year’s art contest was judged by abstract artist Jaylie Osting, a Winchester native who now resides in Indianapolis.
The live auction portion of the event was conducted by Jentry Flesher, of Flesher Brothers Auctioneering & Real Estate. A highlight of the event, auctioned items included several pieces of artwork, including each of the prize-winning entries; tickets to various cultural events in Richmond, Muncie, and Indianapolis; gift baskets including overnight hotel stays; and packages for adventures in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
This year’s Auction and Brunch had proceeds in excess of $11,000. “We were blessed with a beautiful Saturday to come together and savor the sweetness of community in action,” stated Jessi Clark, chair of the Women’s Fund Steering Committee. “Working together we turned a fruitful theme into a bountiful success to nourish the hearts and hopes of children and families in our community.”
Sponsors of the 2024 Women’s Fund Brunch and Auction included Old National Bank, LifeStream Services, an anonymous supporter, Farmhouse Creative, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, the Randolph County Recycling District, Wayne HealthCare, and the Winchester Rotary Club.
The Women’s Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Randolph County, was established in 2011 by the late Rev. Cherie Isakson and the late Ruth Mills, the former Executive Director of the Community Foundation. While Isakson passed away in 2013 and Mills passed earlier this year, their legacy lives on through the Women’s Fund.
If you are interested in joining the Women’s Fund or have questions about the Women’s Fund Grant Cycle, please contact Ashley Stephen at (765) 584-9077 or astephen@randolphcountyfoundation.org.