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 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.
