From left are Baker Youth Clubs employees Miranda Braddock, Tracy Furnivall and Tamara Drake are presented with a grant from the William and Helen Dye Endowment Fund, a component fund of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Presenting the grant are KCCF employee Stephanie Overbey and the late Bill Dye’s trust officer, John Elliott. (Photo provided)

Baker Youth Clubs was presented with a grant from the William and Helen Dye Endowment Fund, a component fund of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. BYC received $9,845 for general support of their youth program.

The late William (Bill) Dye was a car mechanic in Warsaw. He and his wife, Helen, also owned several apartments in the Warsaw area. The Dyes raised their two disabled children in the house Bill’s grandparents built after they immigrated from Germany.

According to his 1st Source Bank Trust Officer, John Elliiott, “Every time Bill got a $1,000 in his checking account, he bought a CD. By the time he created a trust, he had about 300 of those CDs.”

Bill named his trust officer, John Elliott, and his neighbor, Janice Blosser, as advisors to the fund. Annually, John and Janice recommend grants to charities they believe Bill would want to support. Since 2001, the fund has awarded over $109,000 in grants to charities impacting the Kosciusko County community.

“Bill’s story is a great example of how ordinary people can leave a legacy,” said Community Foundation Executive Director, Suzie Light. “Bill and Helen didn’t live in a fancy house or drive the latest car. They lived quiet lives committed to their family and communities. That commitment lives on through the fund in their name.”