Sense of connection

There was a shared sense of community Thursday in Hordville that was hard miss.
Gathered together for Hamilton Community Foundation’s Spirit of Philanthropy celebration, a crowd of nearly 200 people enjoyed a feel-good evening focused on a theme of giving back to your hometown. Indeed Hamilton County’s culture of giving is unique, with assets accumulated over the years in various foundations which benefit local residents in incredible ways.
Something else struck me as I looked around the Hordville Event Center Thursday, which by the way is a wonderful facility, yet another example of how community pride and vision can create something special for all to enjoy. That something was the broad representation of the entire county, and the fact that everyone in the room had something in common to share and celebrate.
For this special occasion, there were no school colors, logos or mascots defining where people live or which teams they root for. Instead, there was a sense of unity for any and all who call Hamilton County home or have some local connection from their past. 
It’s certainly not surprising that so many area residents from all corners of the county know each other well and have a lot in common, but this event was different in that it celebrated the county as a whole and highlighted examples of how past generations have enjoyed success here and made it a priority to pass it on in some way.
It’s hard, if not impossible, to quantify the impact the Hamilton Community Foundation has had dating back to 1965, but this emotional celebration brought the story to life in a very real and meaningful way. 
We often focus on and report the numbers, which are impressive, but there is so much more to this story. For the record, a foundation that started with a single fund back in 1965 has grown to more than $20 million, generating $1 million in grants and more than $200,000 in scholarships each and every year.
That story is well known here in a county that truly embraces the concept of philanthropic giving. In fact, several other sizable foundations have grown here over the years, which when combined with HCF have cash assets valued at more than $45 million, as well as another $55 million that has helped build facilities like Memorial Hospital and the Edgerton Explorit Center. 
That is a staggering sum, reflecting a commitment to giving back to your community that ALL of Hamilton County can and should celebrate.
Kurt Johnson