ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — The future is looking brighter for a northern Indiana county that came to symbolize the Great Recession when its unemployment rate spiked to nearly 19 percent five years ago.

David Gundlach died in October 2011 and left his $150 million fortune to the Elkhart County Community Foundation, which distributes money to nonprofits. Foundation President Pete McCown says the bequest known locally as “The Gift” will write a different future for the county that depends heavily on the RV industry.

Church Community Services of Elkhart Executive Director Rod Roberson says the donation helped restore hope in Elkhart County. His group recently received a $100,000 grant to help provide life skills and employment training for men.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy says Gundlach's gift was the ninth-largest in the nation in 2012.