Dietrich Jackson Memorial Fund

Year Founded

2008

Purpose of Fund

The primary purpose of the Fund shall be to provide financial support for educational and other charitable projects and organizations enhancing the quality of life of Putnam County African Americans.

History of Fund

Dietrich Jerjuan Jackson was born June 1, 1990 in Greencastle to Treva Jackson and Aaron Pankratz. He spent his first 6 years in Greencastle and attended Jones Elementary for kindergarten. When his father graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Dietrich went to live with him and attended elementary, middle school and high school in Atlanta until January of 2007. He returned to Greencastle to live with his paternal grandmother, Charity Pankratz, and attended Greencastle High School until his death December 15, 2007. He is mourned by his family and by his many friends in Atlanta and Greencastle.

Dietrich brought joy into the lives of all who knew him. Friends, relatives and teachers describe him as: caring, funny, sweet, full of life, fun-loving , always smiling, smart, kind, a good and loyal friend, a good listener, gifted artistically and musically, friendly, polite, and a young man who could reach out to everyone, who stood up for kids who were picked on and who, in his short time at Greencastle High School and in the Greencastle community, made an impact on everyone who knew him. As an African American in a white community, he contributed to improving the awareness and acceptance of students who are racially or ethnically different from the majority.

It is in his memory that we have established a fund which we hope will honor the kind of young man he was and might have been.

Dietrich was college bound and some portion of the fund is intended to be used to make a contribution to members of the AA community who are going on to college.

The primary purpose of the Fund shall be to provide financial support for educational and other charitable projects and organizations enhancing the quality of life of Putnam County African Americans. Grants from the Fund shall be suggested by the Fund Agent, and approved by the Foundation Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as the "Board") provided that grants and contributions are consistent with the exempt purposes and status of the Foundation.