Unity Foundation of La Porte County awarded nearly $107,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations at its recent Annual Luncheon event.
Seventy five applications were received, and 54 of those received grants. Human services received 49% of the grant funds this year, followed by youth development and health related programs. Some organizations were awarded multiple grants to support various projects.
The grants are made possible by 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.
It was announced at the annual meeting that Unity Foundation will join in celebrating the 100th anniversary of community foundations, through a Give Local America! event on May 6, 2014. Similar to the Friends Helping Friends Give Day this April, donors may make online gifts to benefit participating Unity nonprofit and donor funds. More than $168,000 was raised over 39 hours April 26-27 to support good work in La Porte County.
Unity also has raised more than $845,000 toward acquisition, development and endowment of two acres of Pine Lake Avenue property in La Porte, with the intent to preserve the view and turn the land over for public park usage.
Other community-building projects were highlighted, in areas of the arts and culture, housing and homelessness, and education.
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 $24.5 million in assets, administers more than 250 charitable funds, and has distributed nearly $10 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.
The list of 2013 community grant awards as announced at the luncheon include:
| Name of Organization | Program/Project Title | Community Fund |
| American Red Cross La Porte County Chapter | Service to the Armed Forces | $2,700 |
| American Red Cross La Porte County Chapter | Lifeguard Instructor Certification | $950 |
| Barker Community Center/Trinity Community Food Pantry | Supplemental Food for La Porte County | $3,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Michigan City | Youth for Unity | $2,250 |
| Catholic Charities- Diocese of Gary | Financial Assistance- Self-Sufficiency Workshop | $1,803 |
| Catholic Charities- Diocese of Gary | Children's Vision Screening | $1,500 |
| Citizens Concerned for the Homeless/Grace Learning Center | Job Preparation and Retention Program | $2,580 |
| Dunebrook, Inc | Westville Little School (aka Westville Kindergarten Readiness) | $1,862 |
| Dunebrook, Inc | Family Depot | $2,700 |
| Dunebrook, Inc | Stewards of Children | $2,700 |
| Eta Eta Chapter of Psi Iota Xi | Summer Literacy Clinic | $1,500 |
| Garner Foundation | Garner Foundation Holiday Meals | $1,000 |
| Hailmann Elementary School | Together We Achieve | $1,500 |
| Harmony House/CASA of La Porte County, Inc | Enhancing the Supervised Visitation Program | $1,095 |
| Harold (Hal) Kelley Respite Foundation d/b/a Respite House | Residential Treatment Services for La Porte County Substance Abusers | $1,675 |
| HealthLinc | Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives | $1,875 |
| Healthy Communities of La Porte County | K-2 Enhanced Literacy Skills (K2ELS) | $2,250 |
| Independent Cat Society | Spay It Forward! | $1,675 |
| Ivy Tech Foundation, Inc | IvySci STEM Outreach Program | $1,088 |
| Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts Inc | Citizen-Soldier-Citizen | $2,250 |
| Junior Achievement of La Porte County | JA Elementary Economics | $2,520 |
| La Porte County Habitat for Humanity | Habitat Homes | $1,500 |
| La Porte County Meals on Wheels | it does not "COMPUTE" | $1,500 |
| La Porte County Meals on Wheels | We Are MEALS ON WHEELS | $500 |
| LaSalle Council Boy Scouts | After School Scouting (Safe Harbor) | $1,087 |
| Leadership La Porte County, Inc | High School Leadership Program | $1,875 |
| MCAS Hours for Ours | Hours for Ours High School Program | $2,200 |
| Michiana Marine Detachment #1348 | 2013 Toys for Tots Campaign | $1,500 |
| Michigan City Area Schools | "Dress for Success" Fund | $2,250 |
| Michigan City High School | MCHS High-Risk Behavior Prevention Program | $1,500 |
| New Prairie Middle School: Mentoring Program | New Prairie Middle School Mentoring Program | $2,250 |
| Open Door Adolescent Health Center | Violence Intervention Program | $2,700 |
| Parents and Friends, Inc | Guardianship | $2,250 |
| Parents and Friends, Inc | Senior Companion/Escort Services | $2,250 |
| Reins of Life, Inc | Nuzzles & Snuggles | $1,560 |
| Safe Harbor Nurturing Minds, Inc | Vertical Hydroponic Farming Project | $1,500 |
| Salvation Army of La Porte | Christmas Food Boxes | $3,000 |
| Samaritan Counseling Centers | "Making Good Choices" | $405 |
| Samaritan Counseling Centers | Electronic Record Keeping | $1,500 |
| Stepping Stone Shelter for Women | Shelter Food Assistance | $3,000 |
| Supplemental United Pantry | Winter "WonderFull" Pantry | $1,000 |
| The Salvation Army Michigan City | Stuff the Shelves- Fill the Freezers Food Pantry Program | $3,000 |
| The Salvation Army Michigan City | Homeless Mens' Overnight Shelter & Resource Center | $2,250 |
| The Salvation Army Michigan City | Emergency Services & Basic Needs | $2,250 |
| The Salvation Army Michigan City | Gift of Warmth Utility Assistance | $2,250 |
| United Way of La Porte County | 2-1-1 | $2,250 |
| Westville- New Durham Township Public Library | Library Sprouts: Growing through books and play | $1,125 |
| Worthy Recovery Inc | Moral Reconation Therapy | $2,250 |
| YMCA of La Porte dba/Child Care and Learning Center | Teaching Enhancement Supplies | $1,500 |
| YMCA of La Porte, IN dba La Porte County YMCA | Y Andrew Avenue Education and Recreation Facility | $2,250 |
| Youth Service Bureau Big Brothers Big Sisters | Kids on the Block | $2,250 |
| Youth Service Bureau Big Brothers Big Sisters | Big Brothers Big Sisters and "School Buddies" Mentoring Programs | $2,250 |