Get Connected
See what’s going on with news and blogs below!
Get connected with others by checking out events on the community calendar!
Featured Article
A Front Door to Local Resources: Jasper Newton Community Support Network
Rensselaer, Indiana — The Jasper Newton Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the Jasper Newton Community Support Network, a new initiative designed to serve as the community’s front door to local resources by helping individuals and families throughout Jasper and Newton Counties find the support they need to build healthier, more stable lives.
Read on to learn about this exciting initiative led by Support Specialist Katie Surma
Building Community Connections with Matt Walsh
Growing strong communities requires collaboration—both among residents and with those beyond their neighborhoods. As a family man in Newton County, Matt Walsh is thrilled to be part of the new connections sprouting in his hometown and making it stronger than ever.
Read Matt’s story and learn how you, too, can build bridges within and beyond Jasper & Newton Counties.
Catch & Release – by Shelby Neely
The 2026 chapter of the Newton County Soil & Water Conservation internship has come to a close. With it is a series of stories written by this chapter’s students about how the opportunities it gave them shaped their futures.
Read on about Shelby’s adventures in this internship.
Forest Nyberg: Improving Himself to Impact His Community
We’re proud to welcome Forest Nyberg as JNF’s 2026 Summer Intern! Driven to learn the skills he needs to best serve his community, Forest has been a true inspiration with us.
Learn more about him in the story here…
Community Driven Living with Renee Overbeck
Serving your community doesn’t have to be a big undertaking. For JNF Board Member, Renee Overbeck, it’s the small acts of kindness that help make her community better every day.
Read on to learn how community service is part of Renee’s routine and can be for you, too.
3 Memorable Mentors – by Jackson Strain
For over a century, Kristina’s family has put down roots in Newton County, passing down a tradition of pride and care for their community—a tradition Kristina now upholds.
Read Jackson’s full story about his
Take Pride In Your Community with Kristina Mitten Sanders
For over a century, Kristina’s family has put down roots in Newton County, passing down a tradition of pride and care for their community—a tradition Kristina now upholds.
Read on to get to know Kristina and what makes our communities special.
Returning the Favor with Mitchell D. Mullen
Mitchell D. Mullen is on a mission to ensure future generations in Jasper and Newton Counties have the same opportunities he once received. Having grown up in these communities, he credits his success to the support and resources found here—and now, he’s determined to give back.
Read on to get to know Mitchell and how you can give back to our community.
Getting Things Done with Jacob Shufflebarger
Why wait for someone else to do it? That’s the question JNF board member, Jacob Shufflebarger, asks right before diving in to help.
Read on to get to know Jacob and how you can join his efforts to make our community better each day.
Creating a Shared Future with Lana Zimmer
For Lana Zimmer, “loving where you live” means investing in the future of the place you call home. As Governing Board Chair of the Jasper Newton Foundation, Lana believes community strength comes from people who choose to contribute their time, skills, and passion today so that others can benefit tomorrow.
