Donate to a Fund
David R. and Norma L. Blank Memorial Fund
Fund Number: 152
Fund Purpose
Provides support to St. John's Lutheran Church in Lanesville, Indiana.
Fund Story
David R. Blank passed away February 16, 2006. To honor his memory, the Blank family established the David R. Blank Memorial Fund at the Harrison County Community Foundation in December 2010.
This memorial fund provides support toward equipment purchases and repairs at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lanesville, where David was a lifelong member. He served as its president and held other offices numerous times.
“Dad would be happy with our making an $11,000 donation and it becoming $33,000 to benefit the church that he loved so much,” David’s son, Donn, said. The 2:1 match program offered in November 2010 by HCCF made this possible.
David was a Harrison County councilman and Indiana Fair Board director. He was also a founding member of the Lanesville Heritage Weekend Festival Committee, a 4-H leader, and an officer and chairman of the Association of Indiana County Councils.
In 1996, David was presented Indiana’s highest distinguished service award, the Sagamore of the Wabash, by the former Harrison County Democratic Central Committee Chair Herbert Woertz, now deceased. At the time, Herbert said David had made “solid contributions to the state and the community. He gets the job done.”
David served 22 years on the Harrison County Council, and though many of today’s county employees may not have known him, they will see the results of a major accomplishment when they retire. David helped establish PERF (Public Employee Retirement Fund) as a benefit for employees.
David gave up his seat on the council in 1983 after he was elected to the Indiana State Fair Board, where he continued to serve for 13 years. During that time, he served on the executive committee and as treasurer. For three years, David served as director of the Pioneer Village, an exhibit at the state fair where people can literally walk through American agriculture with a series of well-marked paths that guide them through growing crops, old-time chores, and displays of antique farms and home artifacts.
After David had retired from the fair board, he continued to supply the Pioneer Village with red cedar to be sawed into logs and split into shingles. He was also the head of the cattle barn at the Indiana State Fair each year. David helped get the Dairy Beef Steer category started in 1993.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation to the David R. Blank Memorial Fund or start their own endowment should contact HCCF at 812-738-6668. Donations may be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $50,000 per household or single source per year. Visit www.hccfindiana.org for more information.
"I'm hopeful more families will consider such an endowment to benefit their church or charity,” Donn said. “It's a great way to ensure the principal remains intact and earnings are available for years to come.”
Fund Impact
2013 - Purchased various equipment and building repairs
2014 - Purchased a security camera, mats, time clock, and to perform septic system maintenance.
2015 - Purchased and installed new doors.
2017 - Supported operations.
2019 - Replaced roof on the school building.
2020 - To support salary expenses for the Director of Christian Education.
2021 - To support the salary of Director of Christian Education at St. John's Lutheran Church
2022 - To install new heat pump in teacher's cottage at St. John's Lutheran Church and to support the salary of Director of Christian Education at St. John's Lutheran Church
2023 - To support the salary for Director of Christian Education; to help pay the salary of St. John's Lutheran Church's Director of Christian Education
2024 - To seal a major crack in the St. John's Lutheran Church parking lot in Lanesville, Indiana
Stay in the Loop.
Sign up for the e-newsletter to receive regular updates from Harrison County Communty Foundation.
Make a Difference. Donate today.
You can give in any amount to
any existing fund.