Starke County Community Foundation Plans Over $100,000 in Grant Funding for Ancilla College

Jim Hardesty’s nephew Chuck Hardesty, niece Joan Hardesty, and SCCF Director of Development Sarah Origer, following the official naming of Hardesty Hall
Jim Hardesty’s nephew Chuck Hardesty, niece Joan Hardesty, and SCCF Director of Development Sarah Origer, following the formal naming of Hardesty Hall

Ancilla College is getting a boost with its efforts to provide on-campus student housing. The Starke County Community Foundation has announced plans to provide a total of $105,000 in grant funding from its Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund over the next five years. That includes an initial grant of $25,000 for the college’s new dorm building.

The Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund was begun by James Hardesty in 2005. He was an Ancilla College trustee, as well as a founder of the Starke County Community Foundation.

The grant announcement comes just after the college officially named its first residence hall after Hardesty. His family members joined college officials for the unveiling of the new name Monday, during a blessing event for the college’s new dining hall and second dorm. In a statement, family members and Community Foundation officials say they feel Hardesty would have been pleased with the college’s efforts to provide student housing on campus.