Event draws crowd of nearly 200 people to Hordville Thursday
Hamilton County celebrated its “Spirit of Philanthropy” Thursday with a feel-good event which honored several key contributors for the roles they played in helping foster and support a culture of giving through the Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF).
Honorees for the evening included the Phillips Community Foundation, which received the Community Champion Award; the late Valta Ross, who received the Community Impact Award; and Jim and Virginia Koepke, who were honored with the Lifetime Legacy Award.
Detailed, often emotional videos honoring each of the recipients highlighted an event which drew nearly 200 people to the Hordville Event Center.
“Tonight we celebrate you and honor the lifetimes of those whose dedication continues to shape our community, not only today, but for future generations yet to come,” HCF board president Jim Kreutz said in his welcoming remarks.
Tammy Morris, HCF’s executive director, traced the organization’s history back to 1965, when a single scholarship fund was established, planting a seed for what would become the Hamilton Community Foundation.
“As we celebrate 60 years of partnerships in progress, we are filled with gratitude for the generations of supporters who have helped shape our community into what it is today,” she said. “Sixty years ago, a vision for a brighter future was set in motion and every one of you has been a part of that journey.
“Now, we invite you to look forward as we enter our 60th year,” she continued. “We honor the past by believing in a stronger future, together. We ask that each of you consider how you might join us in this legacy of giving, whether it’s a gift, a volunteer commitment or even sharing your story. Every act of generosity makes a difference and every partnership moves us closer to a community where we can all thrive.”
Community Champion Award
The first honoree Thursday was the Phillips Community Foundation, which received the Community Champion Award.
The Phillips Community Foundation has worked with HCF to facilitate the Phillips Community Charitable Fund and the Phillips Community Scholarship Fund.
The Phillips Community Foundation started in 2012 and was incorporated in 2016. The foundation serves as a catalyst in Phillips for community outreach, volunteerism and community giving. Volunteer leaders are instrumental in raising funds to maintain the Phillips Memorial Hall and support the youth baseball program. They host the Triple B Feed every year and carry on the tradition of the 3rd of July celebration every year. These events draw huge crowds that more than double the number of people in Phillips.
Community Impact Award
The late Valta Ross was honored as the Community Impact Award recipient, with Morris noting that Ross created four scholarship funds, including the Ross Family Charitable Fund, Blanche M. Ross Memorial Scholarship Fund, Valta and Cindy Ross Memorial Scholarship, and the Kelly Ross Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a son who died at the age of 6.
Valta’s son, Ryan, accepted the award on behalf of his family, recalling that his father loved Aurora and served the community in many ways, including terms on both the Aurora City Council and Aurora Chamber of Commerce, as a veteran’s service officer, and as a long-time member of the Hamilton Community Band.
“My father would have never expected this,” Ryan concluded. “He would have been shocked to be considered, but he would have been deeply honored. I just want to say how appreciative his family is of this honor.”
Lifetime Legacy Award
Jim and Virginia Koepke moved to Aurora 54 years ago and have been active supporters of the Hamilton Community Foundation for many years. Jim was named as a personal representative of the Frank Farr estate in 1985 and shared the story of how he and the late Tim Otto visited with Mrs. Farr after her husband died, encouraging her to direct Frank’s $3 million estate to the benefit of Hamilton County.
“Until I became a trustee of it, I hardly knew what the word philanthropy meant,” Koepke said. “When you look back at the $3 million estate, last I checked the trust now has $6.7 million and during the last 35 years the trust has given away $8.7 million throughout the county in scholarships and community grants to various communities. So that’s the impact a foundation can have on our community.”
Koepke, who along with his wife have created the Koepke Family Fund, recalled serving on the HCF board years ago, reporting assets of only $200,000 at that time.
“But over the years a culture of giving developed, when people starting giving back,” he said. “We had a saying. ‘If you made it in Hamilton County, if you don’t leave it, then they are going to talk about you when you’re gone,” he joked. “… and so I guess I want to say thank you for the recognition that you have given to our family, and if you have it, don’t need it, leave it to Hamilton County.”