Pittsboro’s Eric Hessel named Hendricks County Community Foundation VP of Programs
By Lindsay Doty
The Hendricks County Community Foundation has named staff member and Pittsboro native Eric Hessel as vice president of programs. Hessel, who currently serves as the foundation’s program officer will now oversee all HCCF grantmaking and community leadership programs.
HCCF is a nonprofit that partners with generous donors to realize their charitable goals while addressing community needs.
“It’s been an honor to serve the community in which I grew up,” said Hessel.
“Hendricks County has given me so much, and I’m glad I get to give back to it in this way. This promotion is exciting both personally and professionally and will allow me to expand my role at the foundation as we’ve expanded how we meet the needs in Hendricks County.
Hessel is being recognized for his hard work in the past year, including leading the community engagement portion of the Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT VII Community Leadership Initiative.
“Eric is a highly skilled grantmaker. He brings a great wealth of knowledge and is a community asset as well,” said HCCF President and CEO William Rhodehamel.
Hessel started working with the foundation in 2003 as a youth grantmaker and has since served as an intern, program administrator, and program officer since 2010. Prior to joining HCCF full time, Hessel worked in youth programming and with the US Census Bureau.
With the ongoing pandemic and social justice movements, HCCF leaders say there are many challenges ahead.
“It is s a unique time in our county, state, and country. It is incumbent that all around our on nonprofits step forward and lead the community together,” said Rhodehamel.
The foundation currently has a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund to help provide grants to local nonprofits who have lost revenue or increased expenses due to the pandemic.
HCCF manages assets of over $18 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for a charitable purpose.
The Hendricks County Community Foundation has named staff member and Pittsboro native Eric Hessel as vice president of programs. (Submitted photo)
