John and Debbie Clarke Establish Two New Funds to Support Fayette County’s Animal Shelter and Volunteer Fire Departments
The Fayette Community Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of two new charitable funds created by long-time Bentonville residents and community advocates, John and Debbie Clarke. The John and Debbie Clarke Fayette County Animal Shelter Endowment and the John and Debbie Clarke Fire Department Support Fund will each provide ongoing support to essential services that make Fayette County a safer and more compassionate place to live.
The John and Debbie Clarke Fayette County Animal Shelter Endowment was established to provide annual support for the Fayette County Animal Shelter’s operations. Lifelong cat lovers, John and Debbie have spent decades helping control the stray cat population in Bentonville by personally funding the spaying and neutering of dozens of community cats. Through this endowment, they hope to ensure the shelter continues to thrive and that funds may be used, in part, to relieve the cost of spay and neuter surgeries for adoptable cats—ultimately improving population control efforts countywide.
The John and Debbie Clarke Fire Department Support Fund was established to honor John’s decades of service as a volunteer firefighter with the Bentonville Volunteer Fire Department. In 2023, John was recognized with the Golden Hoosier Award, one of Indiana’s highest honors for community service. This fund will provide support for Fayette County’s volunteer fire departments that apply for grants through the Foundation, with priority given to requests that assist with the training and certification of firefighters and EMTs.
Abigail Roszell, Executive Director of the Fayette Community Foundation, expressed her gratitude for the Clakes’s generosity and vision. “John and Debbie embody what it means to invest in your community’s well-being,” Roszell said. “Their thoughtful approach to giving ensures that both people and animals in Fayette County will benefit for generations to come.”
To learn more about how you can support these or other local charitable funds, visit www.givetofcf.com or contact the Fayette Community Foundation at (765) 827-9966.
About Fayette Community Foundation:
The Fayette Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Fayette County through impactful philanthropy, strategic grantmaking, and collaborative partnerships. Our mission is to inspire a spirit of philanthropy and leadership in Fayette County to enhance the quality of life in our community.