Unity Foundation Announces $150,000 in Community Grants

LA PORTE COUNTY, IN — Unity Foundation of La Porte County is supporting area nonprofit and community service
agencies with its most recent round of grants, totaling nearly $150,000 for nearly 75 local projects throughout La
Porte County. As the COVID‐19 pandemic continues to alter the way organizations serve others and the community,
these grants are helping provide vital access to education, literacy, prevention and supportive services.

“Right now the need to support community organizations is more important than ever,” said Shannon Walker, Unity
Foundation Vice President. “These programs are doing incredible work and Unity is proud to support their efforts.”

The applications were evaluated by a committee of dedicated members from throughout La Porte County. The
grants are made possible due to the generosity of visionary donors who left unrestricted funds to Unity Foundation.
Those community funds were established in the following names: AAUW La Porte , Backer Family Fund, Fred &
Helen Brust, Petrea Clark, John P. & Anne H. Daley; Ernest & Mildred Delco, Pauline M. Dent, Randy & Jane Dorman,
Charles T. & Pauline Dye, Mark E. Essling, Sanford Z. Friedman, David C. Gardner, Kabelin Family, Ruth W. Pollingue,
Purdue Federal Credit Union, Scott and Marianne Rice Family, Tom & Judy Ringo, Ruth C. Sabin, Phillip A. Sprague,
Thomas C. & Blanch G. Stokes, Tower/Oktoberfest, Unity Foundation Power for Good Fund, John & Jean Vail, and
Sandra L. Young.

Funding assistance for the grants was also provided by the Benz Family Advised Fund, John A. and Dorothy Sieb
Carstens Fund, Barry C. Dulyea Arts Fund for Children, Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund, Glick Foundation Fund,
La Porte County Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund, La Porte County Educational Advancement Fund, La Porte County
Mental Health Fund, Lorraine Gehrke Orlowski Fund, and Unity Foundation Literacy Fund.

The complete list of 2020 Power for Good grant awards includes the following:

Advancing Christ’s Kingdom Ministries‐Michigan City Food Bank, ThanksGIVING Turkeys

Arts in the Park, Arts in the Park Concerts 2020

Barker Middle School, STEM Class Mega Project

Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City, Inc., Cleaning/Sanitation for 2020‐2021 Year

Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City, Inc., Marketing Support

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, Rent and Mortgage Assistance

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, Utility Assistance Program

Center Township Trustee’s Office, Crock Pot Friday Classes/Food for Little Pantries

Center Township Trustee’s Office, Hotel Vouchers for the Homeless

Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc., Keys to Hope Education on Appearance, Behavior and Change

Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc., CCH Food Rescue Initiative

Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc., Grace Learning Center New Program for Self Sufficiency

City of La Porte, Clean‐up La Porte Continuation Program

City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Dept., Comprehensive Inventory of Trees

City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Dept., Kesling/Rumley Parks & Construction of New Court at Allesee Park

City of La Porte, Bike Route Stenciling and Wayfinding Signage

Community Food Pantry of Galena, Hudson, Kankakee, Wills Twps, Inc., Emergency Food/Nutrition/Resources

Community Reserve, Furniture Bank Helping Those in Emergency Need

Dunebrook, Inc., Therapist Support for Children of Suspected Abuse

Dunebrook, Inc., Child Abuse Prevention/Education Programming

Family Advocates, Inc., Racial Bias Public Training

First Congressional Church of Michigan City, Trash Pickup Support Program

Friendship Botanic Gardens, Eco‐Adventures Series of Free Educational Events

Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana, Inspire the Girls of Michigan City

Hanna Lions Club, Hanna Lions Club Park Basketball Court

HealthLinc, Inc., Virtual Care Kits for COVID‐19 Positive Patients

Healthy Communities of Laporte County, Suicide Prevention and Education

Independent Cat Society, Let’s Fix This 2020 Spay/Neuter/Care Program

Interfaith Community PADS, Inc., Interfaith Community PADS, Inc. Operational Support

La Porte Area Lake Association, Weed Treatment Program

La Porte County Habitat for Humanity, City of La Porte Home Build

La Porte County Symphony Orchestra, 32nd Annual Drayton Family Children’s Educational Program

Leadership La Porte County, Inc., Adult Scholarship Support

LOK Wishing Tree Foundation, LOK Young Artist Expo Program Support

Michigan City Area Schools, MCAS “Future Wolves” Elementary Sports Program

Michigan City Main Street Association, Celebrating Naomi Anderson Community Engagement Program Support

North Central Community Action Agencies, Inc., Health and Hygiene for Youth

Open Door Community Alliance, Inc., Open Door Community Alliance Medication Assistance Program

Open Door Community Alliance, Inc., Adolescent Health Center

Paladin, Inc., Group Home Mattresses

Pine Lake Land Owners’ Association, Pine Lake Shoreline Restoration Project

READ La Porte County, Inc., Learning Disability Program Support

Reins of Life, Inc., Equine‐assisted Program for Veterans

Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Biodiversity through Pollinator Habitat‐Style Gardens

Sacred Heart Food Pantry (St. Francis Ministry), Food Pantry Program

Social and Learning Institute, Inc., Science & Nature Exploration Program

Soul Steppers Drill Team, Inc., Soul Steppers Program Support/History Integration

South Central Jr. Sr. High School, Vex Robotics Program Upgrade

South Shore Skipping Stones, Online Prenatal and Infant Oral Health Class Support

Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc., Shelter Food

Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc., Anti‐Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Program

The Intrepid Phoenix, Inc., Support for Those in Recovery from Substance Abuse

The Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts Inc., LCA Community Program Support

The Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts Inc., LCA Scholarship Program Support

The Salvation Army of Michigan City, Pathway of Hope Program Support

The Salvation Army of Michigan City, Emergency Services

Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Church Food Pantry

United Way of La Porte County, VITA Program Support

Washington Park Zoo, Renovation of North American Raptor Exhibit

Washington Park Zoo, Water Foundation & Bottle Refilling Station/Signage

Westville ‐New Durham Township Public Library, Project LIT Westville Book Club

Westville Police Department, 21st Century Policing Webinar Series

Youth Service Bureau of La Porte County, School Buddies

Youth Service Bureau of La Porte County Inc., Kids on the Block

Thank you to Unity’s 2020 sponsors including: Horizon Bank, NIPSCO, Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc., 1st
Source Bank, Edward Jones, Franciscan Health Michigan City, Harbour Trust & Investment Management Company,
Kabelin Ace Hardware, Newby Lewis Kaminski & Jones, LLP, Rice Farms, LLP , Meridian Title Corporation, Walsh &
Kelly, Inc, Estep Burkey Simmons, LLC, Applegate & Company CPA’s, Fenker’s Furniture, Mayor Duane Perry & the
City of Michigan City, as well as the La Porte County community and Unity donors for their ongoing support and
celebration of the Power of Community in La Porte County.

Since 1992, Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As La Porte
County’s community foundation, it manages approximately $32 million in assets, administers more than 325
charitable funds, and has distributed more than $21 million through direct grants and scholarships. The Council on
Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating
standards for community foundations. Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever
by building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and, being a
catalyst for social and economic vitality. For more information, please visit www.uflc.net or call 219‐879‐0327.