Published: July 08, 2008 11:09 am         

Foundation doubles Shawn Hensel scholarship fund

The Cass County Community Foundation has doubled the Logansport Rooster Club’s Shawn Hensel Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Deanna Crispen, the foundation’s executive director, said the club was the first to take advantage of the foundation’s dollar-for-dollar match incentive for new endowments.

“Their starting contribution of $14,000 was immediately doubled, for a total of $28,000 to endow their scholarship fund,” Crispen said.

The fund, which will provide an annual award to a graduating Cass County senior, was established in memory of Cpl. Hensel, who was killed in action in Iraq in August 2007.

The Roosters Club raised money for the scholarship through a “Salute to the Armed Forces Gala” last November.

“The Roosters Club was organized from past Jaycees from the late ’70s and early ’80s,” said Steve Russell, the club’s treasurer. “Everything we do is for the community. That’s our number one goal.”

Rooster Darr Shively added that the club was planning another fundraiser in November.

“And we ask everybody to make an effort to contribute if they can,” he said.

Rooster Ed Wilkinson said the club was pleased with what it had accomplished so far.

“Our goal was to create a scholarship that will last for eternity, after we are gone,” he said, “and we’ve already accomplished that.”

The community foundation has pledged $100,000 to match new funds dollar-for-dollar.

Crispen said the response to the match had been overwhelming, creating more than 10 new funds, but she said there was still a small pool of matching funds available.

For more information, contact the foundation at (574) 722-2200.