Community hero and leadership project recognized with awards

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing the winners of awards for a community hero and a leadership project of the year.

Rob Gaskill, former director of Community Corrections for Bartholomew County was chosen for the Jurgemeyer Community Hero Award. Jill Tasker, president and founder of Sandi’s Closet received the Jurgemeyer Community Leadership Project of the Year Award.

The Community Hero Award recognizes those who have performed life-saving measures, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety, security and resiliency of our community. Gaskill was praised for implementing two residential substance abuse treatment programs. The award recognizes that Gaskill encouraged participants to live productive lives while in recovery from addiction and said he has been committed to making the community safer by helping to change lives.

The Community Leadership Project of the Year Award recognizes a project in the community that exemplifies the Columbus community leadership values. Tasker created Sandi’s Closet, which allows those with dementia to enjoy pop-up shopping experiences in memory care units and adult day care settings. It replicates the experience of shopping at a department store which can stimulate memory recall of past purchases. Sandi’s Closet also had started Sandi’s Singers, a choir program for those living with dementia and their caregivers.

The awards were established by the estate of Donald W. & Catherine G. Jurgemeyer. The couple were long-time Columbus residents with Donald Jurgemeyer, an attorney in the community for 29 years, serving as legal counsel for the community foundation in its early years. Catherine Jurgemeyer served as president of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation and chaired the American Bar Auxiliary and the Indiana Lawyers Auxiliary.