LOOGOOTEE — The opening evening of the annual Loogootee Summerfest served as the backdrop for a major leadership transition within Martin County, as Megan Hawkins was officially introduced as the new Executive Director of the Martin County Community Foundation (MCCF).
The announcement was made public from the Summerfest main stage at the Loogootee Gathering Pavilion. Local radio personality Greg Bateman of WRZR shared the news with the festival crowd alongside Loogootee Mayor Brian Ader, jokingly noting that the hiring had become “kind of the worst kept secret over the last week or so” before being finalized.
Hawkins steps into the executive role following the retirement of Curt Johnson, who stepped down this year after managing the foundation for the past 11 years. Under Johnson’s more than a decade of leadership, the community foundation experienced phenomenal growth, expanding its permanent asset base and widening its local impact.
“As everybody knows, I have big shoes to fill from Curt Johnson and previous directors, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Hawkins said as she addressed the Summerfest crowd. “I have a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to that continuous growing and continuing the work in the county.”
Hawkins is uniquely prepared for the role, having previously served closely with the foundation, including a tenure as the chairperson for the MCCF Grants Committee.
During the introduction, Bateman and Mayor Ader praised the profound, tangible footprint the Martin County Community Foundation has left on regional infrastructure. Over the years, the foundation has been a vital engine for community improvement, providing crucial funding for the city swimming pool, public parks, local Little League field renovations, new pickleball courts, and the arrival of the Martin County Alliance Group.
Operating under the umbrella of the Community Foundation Partnership, the MCCF utilizes flexible, unrestricted endowments to meet the evolving philanthropic needs of Martin County residents, providing grants to local schools, historic preservation efforts, and health services.
