Fund Purpose
Provides support as directed by the HCCF Board of Directors for programs or activities that fulfill charitable or other exempt purposes benefiting Harrison County.

Fund Story
In February 2016, the Pat and Cheryl Book Builder’s Fund was established. The fund provides support as directed by the Harrison County Community Foundation Board of Directors for programs or activities that fulfill charitable or other exempt purposes benefiting Harrison County.

Pat and Cheryl met through a mutual friend and married on July 19, 1985. They have been lifelong residents of Harrison County, and they believe it’s important to support the county.

“It’s a good place to raise a family,” Pat said. “It’s got good schools. We have good neighbors around us. We also have good parks. The kids have enjoyed being in the community and so have we. It’s been good to us, and we’d like it to continue to progress forward.”

Pat and Cheryl have three children: Richard, Kelly and Dan. They graduated from North Harrison High School (NHHS) in 2006, 2009 and 2012, respectively.

Richard earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Louisville (U of L) in 2010. Kelly graduated from U of L in 2013, and she teaches science at NHHS. Dan earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from U of L in 2017.

Pat farms in the northern end of the county. Farming runs in Pat’s family, as his father, Charles, and grandfather, Edward, farmed before him, and Richard farms with him. Pat and Richard grow corn and soybeans, and they raise hay.

Meanwhile, Cheryl works at Morgan Elementary School in the special education department. She previously worked as a teacher’s aide at the school. Pat said Cheryl loves working with and being around children.

Pat serves on the Harrison REMC Board of Directors and the HCCF Board of Directors. He was a community volunteer at HCCF for one year before joining the foundation’s board in 2017. Pat said he enjoys seeing where HCCF’s money is being spent and what the needs are in the community.

Additionally, Pat and Cheryl have been involved in other civic and philanthropic work in Harrison County. Pat served on the advisory committee for the NHHS Future Farmers of America (FFA) program, and he was a precinct committeeperson for Morgan Township for several years. Pat and Cheryl are involved in their church, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Bradford, and they donate to their church and other organizations.

“It’s important to give back to the community,” Pat said. “You always want to leave a place better than how you’ve found it.”

Before establishing their builder’s fund, Pat and Cheryl talked to several people, who told them about the benefits of builder’s funds and how they support HCCF and Harrison County.

“It was a pretty easy decision to make for us,” Pat said. “We feel it’s important to give back to the community. We felt like the unrestricted builder’s fund would be a good way of doing that. The board can spend it however it sees fit.”

Pat and Cheryl believe HCCF effectively addresses community needs, and they are confident that the money in their builder’s fund will help meet those needs. They encourage others to create builder’s funds to support the county.

Fund Impact
2017: Arts Midwest World Fest, Manhu
2018: Provided an accessible garden and landscaping at the Boys & Girls Club facility; provided Meals on Wheels for Harrison County clients on the waitlist
2019: To rehabilitate women's transitional housing (Genesis House; Harrison County Cultural Pass 2019; 2019 Repair Affair annual project; new roof for Hayswood Theatre