Unity Foundation of La Porte County will celebrate its milestone 20th anniversary on April 27, with a “Friends Helping Friends” theme.
Twenty years ago, Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. provided initial match funds to entice counties to embrace change and philanthropy by creating community foundations. Community Foundations are non-profits that are geared to permanently support a specific geographic area.
Friends from La Porte County rallied to the call, and two decades later, the legacy is impressive: nearly $10 million has been awarded in grants, special projects, and student scholarships.
“We’re inviting the community to help us celebrate in two ways,” said President Maggi Spartz. “First, people can attend our celebration on April 27th. Second, people can participate during our 39-hour Friends Helping Friends Give Day event, where they can support their favorite Unity fund as it competes for a share of $20,000 in grant prizes.”
The online giving begins at 6 a.m. on Friday, April 26th and ends at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th. Spartz said, “On the evening of April 27 we’ll hold a big party at Blue Chip, enjoy a great dinner, reminisce a bit about the past and look toward a successful future. Then we’ll announce the winners of the prize money.”
The foundation hopes to see many friends of all ages at the event, including representatives from local businesses, nonprofit partner agencies and community donors, as well as founding, past and current board members.
Cost for the dinner is $75 at Blue Chip Stardust Event Center, featuring a French country menu. To make reservations, go online to www.uflc.net to pay and register, or call Unity Foundation at 888-898-6489.
Attendees will interact in an exciting evening, with unveiling of live Leaderboard results of the 39-hour “Give Day” event. The foundation has invested in a new online platform, allowing donors to give funds easily through accessing a special web site open just during the event hours, at www.LPCountyGiveDay.org. Many of Unity’s nonprofit and donor funds are competing to bring in new monies, both through online credit card donations, and advance commitments to planned giving.
“If someone intends to leave money in their will for a Unity fund, if they do so before the April 20th deadline, this can be added to their total raised. The five funds that have the highest amounts raised by 9 p.m. will share in $15,000 in grant prizes,” Spartz said. “In addition, another $5,000 in special cash prizes will be awarded during the 39-hour fundraising period. So any fund, no matter what size, has a chance to win prize money.”
Participating funds span the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, animal care, education, scholarships, recreation and environment, civic and philanthropic causes. A current list of participating organizations is below, and groups have till April 1 to opt-in to join the competition.
At Unity’s 15th anniversary celebration, a similar event raised $125,000 to benefit 73 organizations.
Unity Board Co-Chair Ed Volk said, “We hope to raise even more this year because everyone in LaPorte County wins.” He added, “We’re grateful to our event sponsors, including Blue Chip, NIPSCO, Tonn and Blank, Horizon Bank, Harbour Trust and The La Porte Savings Bank who are long-time friends helping Unity Foundation support philanthropy in La Porte County.”
For more information about the Friends Helping Friends Give Day, or to reserve for the celebration event, go to www.uflc.net or call 888-898-6489.
GIVE DAY PARTICIPANTS
4-H of La Porte County
American Red Cross
Arts United Fund for LaPorte County
Boys and Girls Club of Michigan City
Clarence Weinkauff Memorial Scholarship
Community Endowment Fund
Dress For Success
Dunebrook Children's Fund
Dunes Learning Center Tuition Association
Environmental Improvement Fund for La Porte
Festival Players Guild
Food Bank of Northern Indiana
Foundations for Youth / Youth Service Bureau
Gail's Gift Scholarship Fund
Hanna, IN Community Fund
Harmony House/CASA
Housing Opportunities
Ivy Tech Community College Pejic Campus – Michigan City Fund
Jim Jessup Future Leaders
Junior Achievement
La Lumiere School Scholarship Fund
La Porte County Mental Health Fund
La Porte County Habitat for Humanity
La Porte County Park Foundation
La Porte County Symphony Orchestra
La Porte Family YMCA Foundation Fund
La Porte YMCA Community Child Care Endowment
Leadership La Porte County
Lindsey O’Brien Kesling Foundation
Love Our Lakes, Pine Lake Project Fund
Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Michigan City Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation
Michigan City Lions Charities, Inc. Endowment Fund
Mosette Levin Fund
Open Door Health Center, Inc.
Salvation Army Major Building Repairs Fund
Salvation Army of Michigan City Endowment Fund
Samaritan Counseling Center
Shirley Heinze Land Trust
Social and Learning Institute
Teacher Innovation Fund
The Garner Foundation
United Way of Greater La Porte County
Unity Foundation County Wide Scholarship Fund
Unity Foundation Literacy Fund
Unity Foundation Operating Endowment
Washington Park Zoological Soc.
Westville Community Fund
Womens Well Being Fund
Youth to Youth