As Unity Foundation of La Porte County gears up for Give Local America on May 6, the effort is backed by its 21 years of good works - supporting our residents and communities in areas from the arts to education to youth projects.
More than 45 local partners will join Unity in benefiting from online donations during this special giving event. Nationally, 82 foundations will participate in the Give Day, celebrating the centennial of the first community foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
“Give Local America commemorates the great work accomplished over the past 100 years by community foundations who connect people with causes they care about,” Unity Foundation President Maggi Spartz said. “Unity is excited to provide this unique opportunity to support our partners to do their good works. We’re helping the community learn that giving is as easy as taking 30 seconds online and making a gift to causes that matter.”
Reflecting on Unity Foundation’s two decades of benefiting La Porte County, she highlighted several key accomplishments:
$11.7 million in grants has been given
280 donor and agency funds have been created to award grants and scholarships
Assets now total nearly $26 million, with 94% of that in permanent endowment
$13.5 million has been leveraged from outside funding sources
In addition, Unity has worked as a leader and catalyst to positively impact housing and homelessness, literacy and education, the environment, community development, arts and culture, and other areas. One specific example is the foundation’s co-convening of the Home Team coalition, which has worked for 10 years to address housing and homelessness issues.
In addition to supporting agency partners, Give Local America donors may give to Unity project funds, such as the purchase and development of two-acres of Pine Lake frontage to ultimately become a park.
“Give Local America is exciting because it lets people know that, no matter their income, they can give easily online to support their favorite causes,” Spartz said.
She added that La Porte County’s charitable giving level is behind that of other Northwest Indiana foundations participating in the event. La Porte County’s giving as a percentage of median income is 3.2% and Indiana’s is significantly higher at 4.5%. “We know that La Porte County residents really care and are generous. We believe that more would give if asked. On behalf of the community…we’re asking now!”
On May 6, residents can help spread the word about Give Local America by “liking” Unity Foundation of La Porte County on Facebook and connecting to Give Local America and the foundation on Twitter at #givelocalamerica.
They also can give online at www.lpcountygiveday.org using a credit card between midnight and 11:59 p.m. Checks may be brought to the Unity office by 4 p.m. on May 6, at 115 East 4th Street, Michigan City.