2013 Grant Winners

Unity Foundation of La Porte County will support 55 local nonprofit projects by awarding more than $107,000 in community grants at its October 14 Annual Meeting luncheon.

Seventy three applications were received in the areas of human services, youth development, home repair programs, animal care, etc. The grants are evaluated by a committee of dedicated members from throughout La Porte County.

The support is possible due to the generosity of visionary donors who left unrestricted funds to Unity. Those community funders include: John P. and Anne H. Daley; Ernest and Mildred Delco; Charles T. and Pauline Dye; Ruth W. Pollingue; and Phillip A. Sprague. The Unity Community Fund is made up of additional unrestricted donations from multiple donors.

Funding assistance for the grants also was provided by the Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund; La Porte County Mental Health Fund; Polad Animal Care Endowment Fund; and Charles Westcott Youth Fund.

Several new organizations are receiving grants this year, including Frontline Foundations to establish a certified treatment center program expansion in La Porte County, State Street Community Church’s food pantry program, the Rebuilding Together effort to provide a day of home repairs in La Porte, and the development of community improvement conversations in Hanna.

The grantee organizations will be recognized at Unity’s Annual Meeting, which will be held October 14 in the lower level banquet hall at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. To register, please go online at www.uflc.net.

Also at the gathering, Unity will share details about an exciting new Lilly Endowment match opportunity. The Indianapolis-based endowment has generously offered a statewide match to community foundations in an effort to boost their unrestricted funds – which is how Unity provides this annual grant cycle.

The complete list of 2014 community grant awards includes:

A Hand Up Inc. – The Changing Room $1,800
American Red Cross La Porte County Chapter – Technology Upgrades $1,700
Arts for Learning, The Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences – School Partners in Michigan City, $1,000
Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City – Club Tech $1,800
Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council – Safe Harbor After School Scouting Program $1,800
Catholic Charities – Diocese of Gary, Inc.- Preventing Homelessness through Financial Assistance & Self-Sufficiency Workshop $2,250
Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. – ABC’S to Self-Sufficiency $1,800
Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. – Grace Learning Center’s Job Preparation and Retention Program $1,800
Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. – Sand Castle Shelter Learn and Earn Program $1,800
Committee for Garner Foundation – Holiday Meals $1,000
Dunebrook, Inc. – Stewards of Children $3,000
Dunebrook, Inc. – Body Safety $2,250
Dunebrook, Inc. – Family Depot $1,800
Frontline Foundations, Inc. – Certified Treatment Center Program Expansion in La Porte County $3,000
Hailmann Elementary School – Together We Achieve $1,800
Hanna Lions Club, Inc. – Community Improvement Conversations: Hanna Tomorrow $375
Harmony House/CASA Program of La Porte County, Inc. – Community Training Opportunity $1,350
Housing Opportunities Inc. – Michigan City Housing Security Lighting $1,800
Independent Cat Society – Community Cats: Spay and Neuter $1,705
Junior Achievement Serving La Porte County – 3rd Grade Elementary Program $2,150
Lake Hills STEM Magnet Elementary School – Implementing an Integrated, Innovative STEM Curriculum with iPADS $2,250
La Porte Family YMCA – Child Care and Learning Center Enhancement $1,800
La Porte County Meals on Wheels – The Meals They Are A Changin’ $500
Leadership La Porte County, Inc. – High School Program $2,000
Marquette Catholic High School – Marquette Community Garden $500
Michiana Marine Detachment #1348 – 2014 Toys for Tots Campaign $1,000
Michigan City Area Schools – Hours for Ours High School Program $2,250
Michigan City Area Schools – Dress for Success Program $1,800
New Prairie Middle School – Mentoring Program $2,595
Open Door Adolescent Health Center – Student Success Team: Violent Behavior Intervention $3,000
Open Door Community Alliance Inc. – Medication Assistance Program $3,000
Parents and Friends, Inc. – Residential Living Day Camp & Y Membership $1,800
Parents and Friends, Inc. – Nonviolent Intervention Program $1,800
Purdue University North Central Center for Early Learning – Library Sprouts $1,800
READ La Porte County, Inc. – English Language Classes $2,250
REAL Services, Inc. – Neighbors Helping Neighbors $2,500
Rebuilding Together La Porte County Inc. – Startup Costs – $2,250
St. Francis Ministry of Sacred Heart Catholic Church – Food Pantry $1,000
The Salvation Army of La Porte – Christmas Food Boxes $1,800
The Salvation Army of La Porte – Backpack Food For Kids $3,000
The Salvation Army of La Porte – Senior Feeding and Fellowship Program $2,665
The Salvation Army of Michigan City – Homeless Men’s Shelter Program $3,000
The Salvation Army of Michigan City – Salvation Army/MCAS Backpack Feeding Program $3,000
The Salvation Army of Michigan City – Diaper Bank $500
Samaritan Counseling Centers, Inc. – Counseling for Student Behavior Modification and Success $2,250
The Social and Learning Institute – Music Therapy Program $1,800
State Street Community Church – Health Choice Food Pantry Program $3,000
Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc. – Strengthening Families $3,000
Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc. – Shelter Food Assistance $3,000
Supplemental United Pantry, Inc. – Winter Full Pantry $1,000
Swanson Center – Emergency Housing $500
Worthy Recovery Inc. – Domestic Violence Intervention Training $2,250
Youth Service Bureau Big Brothers Big Sisters of La Porte County, Inc. – School Buddies $2,250
Youth Service Bureau Big Brothers Big Sisters of La Porte County, Inc. – Kids On The Block $2,250