Unity Foundation Awards 2015 “Power for Good” Grants to Benefit La Porte Community Nonprofits

Unity-Foundation-of-La-Porte-CountyWith support of the Lilly Endowment GIFT VI match, Unity Foundation of La Porte County increased its 2015 Power for Good grants, awarding more than $135,000 in funding.

A total of 56 local nonprofit projects will be honored at Unity’s October 21 Annual Update luncheon.

Through March 31, 2016, Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. is offering a $1 for $1 challenge match up to $1 million for La Porte County to build “Community Funds”. These are specific funds at Unity, opened by visionary people making “unrestricted” gifts. Power for Good grants come from these earnings.

Ninety nine grant applications were received in the areas of human services, youth development, education & literacy, arts & culture, 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 initial community funders included: John P. and Anne H. Daley, Ernest and Mildred Delco, Charles T. and Pauline Dye, Nancy L. Gorman, Ruth W. Pollingue, Phillip A. Sprague, and John & Jean Vail. The Unity Foundation Power for Good Fund is made up of additional unrestricted donations from multiple donors.

With the current opportunity to double their money through the Lilly Endowment match, the following new community funds have opened: American Association of University Women La Porte Community Fund, Backer Family Fund, Fred & Helen Brust Community Fund, Randy & Jane Dorman Foundation, Sanford Z. Friedman Community Fund, David C. Gardner Community Fund, Gleim & Young Community Fund, Kabelin Family Fund, and Purdue Federal Credit Union Fund.

Funding assistance for the grants also was provided by the John A. & Dorothy Sieb Carstens Fund; Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund; La Porte County Educational Advancement Fund; La Porte County Mental Health Fund; Polad Animal Care Endowment Fund; Unity Foundation Literacy Fund; and Charles Westcott Youth Fund.

Several new organizations are receiving grants this year, including Community Food Pantry of Galena, Hudson, Kankakee, and Wills Townships; Food Pantry of Greater La Porte; Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry; Lindsey O'Brien Kesling Wishing Tree Foundation; Michigan City House of Hope; and Urban League of Northwest Indiana.

The grantee organizations will be recognized at Unity’s Annual Update, which will be held October 21 in the lower level banquet hall at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. Cost for the luncheon is $20. To register, please go online at www.uflc.net.

Also at the gathering, attendees will learn updates about Unity Park and other projects, and hear from representatives with Keys to Hope Community Resource Center and The Pax Center

The complete list of 2015 Power for Good grant awards can be found here.