Fund Story

John and Dorothy Sieb Carstens’ connection to the Michigan City business community spanned three generations. Dorothy’s grandparents owned the Star Market. John’s grandfather established the Carstens Brothers department store in the 1870s. For many years John owned and operated Carstens and later the Mayfair department store.

Together the Carstens witnessed years of the city’s growth and history, while immersed deeply into family and community. They raised a daughter, Carla Carstens Herr, and two sons, Bert and Jack.

Dorothy loved art. She was active in numerous Long Beach and Michigan City organizations, among them as co­ founder of the John G. Blank Center for the Arts Guild and Dunes Area Panhellenic Association. John served as president and board member of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce and board member of the First Citizens Bank, currently Horizon Bank.

John Carstens passed away in 1995. In 1999, Dorothy established The John A. and Dorothy Sieb Carstens Fund for Michigan City, an endowment fund in Unity Foundation. Later that year, Dorothy lost her courageous fight with cancer.

“My parents believed in the future. They wanted to help Michigan City. But they felt that today’s community needs may not be tomorrow’s community needs,” explains Carla. “They did not really believe in giving a sum for one cause in the present. That money would be spent in one place and gone forever. With an endowment, the money will always be there helping the community, while tuning into the community’s changing needs.”

Through their gift, their endowment in the Unity Foundation, John and Dorothy Carstens will continue to be a power for good in Michigan City forever!

  • Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
  • You will receive a tax receipt electronically for your records once your donation is processed.
  • Gifts by credit card incur a processing fee for each transaction which will be deducted from your gift. The current fee is 3.5% per transaction. When donating online, we invite you to select the option to increase your gift to cover this fee so that your charitable intent can be fully realized.
  • If you would like to make a one-time or recurring payment from a bank account, please contact the Unity Office at (219) 879-0327 or unity@uflc.net.
  • If you prefer to donate by check, our mailing address is 422 Franklin St, Suite C, Michigan City, IN 46360. Please include the fund name(s) you wish to donate to in the memo line.