Foundation Announces Matt & Karissa Ditzler Family Community Fund

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Matt & Karissa Ditzler Family Community Fund. The fund exists to support local charitable organizations, projects and initiatives through the Foundation’s yearly grant cycles. Matt and Karissa are passionate about investing in the local community and hope to instill those values in their children. Check out this fun family video announcing their fund, and keep reading to learn more about how it will impact the community forever.

“Matt and Karissa are taking an opportunity to give back to the Huntington community with the creation of this fund and plan to involve their whole family in the process,” said Janelle Pflieger, Community Foundation Board President. “I know they are looking forward to engaging their children to help them learn about local organizations and projects they want to support with their fund. As the Executive Director of the Foundation, Matt has already given much of his time and talent to the organization for the past 13 years, so it is an honor for him to invest his own financial resources with this new fund.” 

Together, Matt and Karissa chose to establish an unrestricted fund as this type of giving adapts to the community’s needs for generations to come. They expressed that the Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT VIII $2 for $1 match made starting a fund more attainable for them and their young family. 

Matt and Karissa first met and became friends through their college cross country and track team and started dating a few years later in 2010. The couple became engaged in 2013 at the Historic Forks of the Wabash and were married in September 2014. Together, they reside in Matt’s childhood home outside of the City of Huntington and have five beloved children: Ezra, Lucille (Lucy), Judah (Jude), Griffin (Finn) and Philomena (Phillie). 

Matt has been dedicated to his work with the Community Foundation since 2012 and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2020. Karissa worked in early childhood education before transitioning to a private, home-based daycare provider and home-school teacher.  

Matt has served and actively serves on a variety of non-profit boards, has helped with the creation of several community initiatives and organizations and has enjoyed coaching girls track and field at the high school for twelve years and counting.  

The couple’s family attends St. Mary’s Catholic Church and their children are involved in a variety of local activities throughout the community, including Parkview Huntington Family YMCA and Huntington Catholic School. Matt and Karissa consider Huntington County their home and could not imagine living and raising their family anywhere else.  

Those interested in contributing to the Matt & Karissa Ditzler Family Community Fund can donate here.  

Thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc., when donors start an unrestricted fund, or donate to an existing unrestricted fund, their investment will triple in value. To secure the full matching grant by December 31, 2025, the Community Foundation must raise $375,000. The Foundation is pleased to share that we are now 94% to our goal, with a total of $21,718 left to raise. Our dedicated team is eager to connect with new and current donors to achieve this target. Those interested in taking advantage of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT VIII $2 for $1 match are invited to contact the Community Foundation.