Brent & Melissa Courter
“Brent and Melissa Courter are very busy but still manage to give back to their community in so many ways,” says Curt Johnson, MCCF Director. Brent and Melissa Courter are not lifelong residents of our community, but they have made Martin County their home. Melissa is originally from Mitchell, IN. She studied pharmacy at Purdue University and practices at Memorial Hospital. Brent grew up in Freelandville near North Knox High School. He studied finance at Indiana University and serves as a local financial advisor for many community members at Edward Jones. The couple met in 2000 on a blind date set up by their colleagues. They now have two daughters, Kyleigh and Breanna, with a busy history of softball, cheer, volleyball, and showing their sheep in 4-H. Kyliegh is studying bio-chemical engineering at Purdue University where she is also a cheerleader. While their free time is little to none, the couple uses what time they do have to attend the girl’s activities and going boating, hunting, and traveling.
Brent and Melissa are involved in our community in many ways. Melissa serves on the local Youth First board to help with fundraising, is a member of Tri Kappa, and held a seat on our very own Martin County Community Foundation Board as the Secretary. Brent is on the Vincennes University Board, East Fork Water Board, Loogootee School Board, and was on the Martin County Community Foundation Finance Committee. Melissa stated, “If we are here, we might as well be involved,” and we are so thankful they are. They established an endowment fund for community grantmaking and have identified specific MCCF funds as beneficiaries upon their passing, including the MCCF General Unrestricted Fund. This unrestricted fund allows the foundation to grant money to qualifying charities through our grant cycle. Through the Courter’s generosity, their beneficiaries will receive a steady, renewable source of income to use in perpetuity to support their missions and that MCCF will use to support the needs of the community now and in the future.
When asked what motivated them to establish their fund, Brent listed three reasons. First and foremost, giving back to the community is also giving back to their church, which for them is the Redemption Christian Church. Second, Martin County has blessed the Courter’s by giving their business to Edward Jones and this is a way to pay it forward. Lastly, others have shared with the Courter’s the importance of giving back to the community, and they are following in the footsteps of their successors. Their funds have created a way for the Courter’s to leave their legacy within Martin County and help out for good, forever. Thank you, Brent and Melissa, for giving your hearts, time, treasures, and efforts to our community and the Martin County Community Foundation.