Clinton Frame Church Endowment Funds
The Clinton Frame Endowment Funds receive gifts to provide long term financial sustainability to benefit the mission and vision of Clinton Frame Church.
Endowment fund contributions are tax deductible by the donor and bring the satisfaction of helping sustain the rich legacy of Clinton Frame Church. For more information about any of these funds and to learn about ways to contribute to them, contact the church office: office@clintonframe.org or 574-642-3165.
1. Mission Fund
2. Facilities Fund
3. College Tuition Fund (read about the history of this fund below)
4. Board Discretionary Fund
Endowment fund contributions are tax deductible by the donor and bring the satisfaction of helping sustain the rich legacy of Clinton Frame Church. For more information about any of these funds and to learn about ways to contribute to them, contact the church office: office@clintonframe.org or 574-642-3165.
1. Mission Fund
2. Facilities Fund
3. College Tuition Fund (read about the history of this fund below)
4. Board Discretionary Fund
CLINTON FRAME COLLEGE TUITION ENDOWMENT FUND
College students of Clinton Frame Mennonite Church who attend a Mennonite College have been receiving and will continue to receive an annual check toward tuition expenses. This has been made possible by the interest accruing from two major gifts by Esther Miller. These gifts are the basis of the Clinton Frame College Tuition Endowment Fund.
Esther passed away February 13, 1989, at the age of 71. Even before her death she began this fund with a gift of $25,000. Much of this amount came from the inheritance she had received from her sister, Erma Miller, who died in 1987, about a year and a half before Esther's death. In her will Esther bestowed an additional $50,000 to the fund, increasing it to $75,000. The first payment to students were made in August 1989. The yearly amount for each college student is determined by the total accrued annual interest which is then divided by the number of students attending Mennonite colleges that year.
The gifts from this endowment fund, of course, are in addition to the amounts that are being given to students each year from the congregational budget. The Clinton Frame Finance Committee, the pastor, and one member-at-large are responsible for administering this endowment fund. Esther's family recalls that Esther requested that the fund be open to other contributors who may also wish to help students in our congregation. Either funds or property may be transferred to this endowment.
On the basis of many interviews with Esther's relatives and friends in this community, a beautiful picture of her life and character has emerged. Esther always enjoyed school. Even though she was the youngest in her family, when she talked about going to college to become a teacher, there was no jealousy among her siblings. Instead, her college education became a united family effort. Close relatives were able to borrow on her behalf, and also gave of their own money. The Millers believed in Christian education. Almost all the children of her brother, Gid, went to Mennonite colleges. In fact, Kathleen Troyer, Esther's niece, became interested in teaching because of Aunt Esther's enjoyment of her profession and the encouragement she gave.
Esther started taking courses at Goshen College in 1936, taught for a time in the Clinton Community School District, and then completed her college work, graduating from Goshen College in 1943. After some years of teaching, in order to take a break from educational work, Esther was employed for five years in the accounting office of Montgomery Ward. Later, she attained a Master's degree from Indiana University by taking summer courses. Esther was a first grade teacher almost all of her 30 years of teaching - and a very good one. Most of these years she served at Concord West Side in Elkhart, Indiana.
Friends remember Esther as a serious person, a hard worker, and one who was devoted to Clinton Frame Mennonite Church and its Women's Missionary and Service Commission. They also recall her great concern for young students with their heavy college expenses. She was well-known for her loving, meticulous, creative work in making "Quiet Books" for Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sales and as gifts to small children. These books were an educational project for her and she believed learning should be fun. Amid all these serious qualities exemplified in her life and service, her friends clearly remember that Esther herself was a lot of fun. She enjoyed playing games at the monthly "game night"--an organization of single women in the Goshen area.
As a result of sending a Christmas bundle to Germany through an MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) project, Esther developed warm personal contacts with the recipients. On several occasions she visited the family in Germany, and they returned her visits with trips to Goshen. During Esther's final illness these German friends came to Goshen to see her one last time.
May God continue to bless those at Clinton Frame who have received-and who will receive--monetary help for their education because of Esther Miller's vision.
-Researched by Doris Shenk
College students of Clinton Frame Mennonite Church who attend a Mennonite College have been receiving and will continue to receive an annual check toward tuition expenses. This has been made possible by the interest accruing from two major gifts by Esther Miller. These gifts are the basis of the Clinton Frame College Tuition Endowment Fund.
Esther passed away February 13, 1989, at the age of 71. Even before her death she began this fund with a gift of $25,000. Much of this amount came from the inheritance she had received from her sister, Erma Miller, who died in 1987, about a year and a half before Esther's death. In her will Esther bestowed an additional $50,000 to the fund, increasing it to $75,000. The first payment to students were made in August 1989. The yearly amount for each college student is determined by the total accrued annual interest which is then divided by the number of students attending Mennonite colleges that year.
The gifts from this endowment fund, of course, are in addition to the amounts that are being given to students each year from the congregational budget. The Clinton Frame Finance Committee, the pastor, and one member-at-large are responsible for administering this endowment fund. Esther's family recalls that Esther requested that the fund be open to other contributors who may also wish to help students in our congregation. Either funds or property may be transferred to this endowment.
On the basis of many interviews with Esther's relatives and friends in this community, a beautiful picture of her life and character has emerged. Esther always enjoyed school. Even though she was the youngest in her family, when she talked about going to college to become a teacher, there was no jealousy among her siblings. Instead, her college education became a united family effort. Close relatives were able to borrow on her behalf, and also gave of their own money. The Millers believed in Christian education. Almost all the children of her brother, Gid, went to Mennonite colleges. In fact, Kathleen Troyer, Esther's niece, became interested in teaching because of Aunt Esther's enjoyment of her profession and the encouragement she gave.
Esther started taking courses at Goshen College in 1936, taught for a time in the Clinton Community School District, and then completed her college work, graduating from Goshen College in 1943. After some years of teaching, in order to take a break from educational work, Esther was employed for five years in the accounting office of Montgomery Ward. Later, she attained a Master's degree from Indiana University by taking summer courses. Esther was a first grade teacher almost all of her 30 years of teaching - and a very good one. Most of these years she served at Concord West Side in Elkhart, Indiana.
Friends remember Esther as a serious person, a hard worker, and one who was devoted to Clinton Frame Mennonite Church and its Women's Missionary and Service Commission. They also recall her great concern for young students with their heavy college expenses. She was well-known for her loving, meticulous, creative work in making "Quiet Books" for Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sales and as gifts to small children. These books were an educational project for her and she believed learning should be fun. Amid all these serious qualities exemplified in her life and service, her friends clearly remember that Esther herself was a lot of fun. She enjoyed playing games at the monthly "game night"--an organization of single women in the Goshen area.
As a result of sending a Christmas bundle to Germany through an MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) project, Esther developed warm personal contacts with the recipients. On several occasions she visited the family in Germany, and they returned her visits with trips to Goshen. During Esther's final illness these German friends came to Goshen to see her one last time.
May God continue to bless those at Clinton Frame who have received-and who will receive--monetary help for their education because of Esther Miller's vision.
-Researched by Doris Shenk