Bethany Supports Local Schools

Thanks to the generosity of the Lilly Endowment, Bethany Theological Seminary has been has allocated funds from its Bethany BOLD program to benefit teachers and schools in Wayne County, Indiana.

The Seminary has donated a total of $5,000 in supplies to local schools and teachers. The donations included wish list items to two recent graduates of the IU East who are beginning their teaching careers in Wayne County schools. Bethany also donations of basic school supplies to all five public school districts in the county — Centerville, Nettle Creek, Richmond, Northeastern, and Western Wayne. 

Each of the teachers received items worth $500. The school districts received such items as notebooks, pencils, post-it notes, sharpies, glue sticks, markers, and more. The Seminary worked with Dr. Jerry Wilde, dean of the school of education, and Stephanie Kitchin, administrative assistant, to coordinate, organize, and deliver the donation packages.

“Bethany is extremely grateful to the Lilly endowment which gave us the ability to share these resources with the community,” says Mary Parrett, coordinator of Bethany BOLD. Parrett, a graduate of IU East, worked as a public school teacher before Bethany.  “I am personally so thankful to both Lilly and Bethany for this opportunity to give back to public schools, which hold a very special place in my heart. IU East my Alma Mater was such a big help with this project, and I am thankful for Stephanie and Jerry’s help and guidance.” 

Bethany BOLD is service-based program for exceptional, residential students. Participants work with low non-profit organizations while completing their graduate studies and receive full-tuiton scholarships, free housing, and a stipend for living expenses. The program is made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment. During the 2025-26 academic year, also as part of the BOLD program, Bethany provided grants totaling $19,500 to organizations closely aligned with its mission.

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