The Greater Seymour Trust Fund board of managers met for their annual meeting Nov. 14 in the second floor board room of the Main Bank at Jackson County Bank.

The board consists of members of the community and the president and trust officers of Jackson County Bank.

The current board includes Robert VonDielingen, chairman; Jan Warren, secretary; Max W. Ernest, the Rev. Ralph Blomenberg with Immanuel Lutheran Church; Brett Hays, president of Seymour Jaycees; Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman; Marvin Veatch, president and CEO of JCB; George F. Spray, vice president and trust officer JCB; and Brandon L. Hunsley, assistant vice president and trust officer with JCB.

Hunsley reported the fund has awarded more than $6.26 million since it was established in 1969 by the late E.S. Welch to serve the cultural, scientific, religious, literary and educational needs of the community.

The trust receives funds from the public as gifts or bequests to be held by the trustee, Jackson County Bank. Hunsley further reported that 2,811 scholarships were paid in the amount of $4.68 million since the fund’s inception and $1.58 million in grants have been distributed.

Grants totaling $83,562 were awarded throughout the previous fiscal year. There also were 112 scholarships awarded for the 2016/2017 school year in the amount of $352,770. There currently are 40 individual funds within the trust, which continues to receive support from the community.

The board allocates money from the funds for a wide range of public purposes. It has an administrative cost of 1.25 percent, which allowed the board to allocate $436,332 in distributions for the year ended June 30. Contributions to the trust qualify as charitable contributions which can result in income tax and estate savings.

Information: Visit the greater seymourtrustfund.com or contact Hunsley at 812-522-3607.