Rooted to Rise
At our Annual Celebration this week, The Community Foundation announced that our next major initiative is Rooted to Rise: Supporting Work and Play in Hancock County. Why work and play? Earlier this year, our Foundation commissioned a report to assess these two vital areas in our community. The result is the State of Work and Play Report, a touchstone for positive change.
This report illuminates how interconnected work and play are and how critical they are to a thriving life here in Hancock County. It also highlights opportunities for us to strengthen our community. These systems are deeply intertwined. For instance, our workforce is significantly impacted by childcare, housing and transportation. Similarly, the joy of play is influenced by access to the arts, recreational opportunities, and the quality of our parks. When one of these systems isn't working effectively, the others are impacted.
The State of Work and Play Report shows that while Hancock County boasts a commendably low unemployment rate of 3.6%, many families still face challenges with the actual cost of living. A single average income isn't enough to afford basic housing in our county, and a family of three would need to earn almost 2.5 times our median household income to comfortably afford childcare. This often leads to difficult choices between essentials. During Community Conversations, we heard heart-wrenching stories from our neighbors about making tough decisions, like choosing between laundry and attending community events. Through our role in the childcare collaborative, we've also learned of friends and neighbors waiting months, or longer, for access to childcare.
Rooted to Rise is about more than just covering the basics. A truly fulfilling life blossoms with pursuits outside of work, like enriching cultural, creative, and recreational activities. The report emphasizes that when families cannot afford these enriching experiences, it affects their well-being and connection to the community.
Recognizing these significant, addressable barriers, The Community Foundation has made Rooted to Rise: Supporting Work and Play in Hancock County our next major initiative and fundraising campaign. We are proud that our commitment to supporting work and play is not new; it's part of the Foundation’s legacy. Your generous giving has helped the Foundation award over $95 million to Hancock County over our 33-year history, with millions specifically supporting work and play. More than 100 funds are already established at the Foundation to support this vital effort, but there’s more work to be done.
Rooted to Rise is more than just a project; it's a vision for the future of our community. We envision a Hancock County that is not just a place people pass through for work, but a place they are proud to call home; a place where children can grow up surrounded by learning and opportunity; and where adults have access to careers, culture, and community without compromise. That is the future we are diligently building together – a Hancock County where everyone can put down strong roots and continually rise.
We have already raised more than half a million dollars toward our goal of $2 million for Rooted to Rise. We are confident that, together, we will reach this goal to support work and play in our community, aligning perfectly with our mission to improve the quality of life for all. We invite you to learn more about Rooted to Rise here.
This editorial was originally printed in The Courier on June 21, 2025.
