Ask Kay Young what the best thing about living in Kosciusko County is, and she’ll say, “The Lakes, of course!”
To honor the lake she loves most, Kay and her husband, Jim Young, set up The Spurgeon-Young Family Fund for Lake Wawasee Water Quality. The fund will support programs and projects that provide research and development of water quality improvements, including education programs, at Lake Wawasee.
Kay, who is from the Muncie area originally, spent much of her life at Lake Wawasee. Her grandparents had a summer home on the lake where Kay spent her childhood summers. She says that she loved the area so much she stayed, marrying and raising her two sons in Syracuse.
Spurgeon is Kay’s maiden name and the Youngs named the fund in honor of her parents and grandparents.
Jim Young is originally from Marion, IN. Between them, Kay and Jim have five children, 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Both Kay and Jim agree that the lakes are their favorite aspect of living in Kosciusko County. Preserving water quality is vital to the legacy they want to leave. The Youngs have a shared interest in boating and spending time on the lake with their family and friends. “We want to ensure a long, healthy future of families enjoying the splendor of Lake Wawasee,” says Kay.
Kay has worked in various fields over the years, including time at Lake City Bank, Wawasee School Corporation and Todd Realty, where she continues to work as a real estate agent specializing in lake properties. Kay plans to contribute a portion of her earnings from every future house sale to the fund to ensure its growth.
Jim is self-employed in the tool business and currently trains new tool franchises. He is also known for his interest in antique tractors.
Both Jim and Kay credit their parents for teaching them important life lessons. “My parents taught me to be a person who gives back to others. My mother especially gave of herself to so many people and in so many ways. I hope I can be half the person she was and half as gracious as she was in her life,” says Kay.
Jim says that his parents showed him that with hard work you can be successful and that you need to live by the golden rule. “We have always wanted to give back to the community that has given so much to us, and it seemed that a gift through the foundation that would perpetuate itself for years to come was a perfect way to do so,” he says.
Kay serves as a board member at the Community Foundation. She is also involved in Syracuse Wawasee Trails and Wawasee Property Owners Association.