Community Foundation grants to nonprofits total more than $41,000

Wabash County nonprofit organizations continue to diligently work to fulfill their missions despite challenging economic conditions. Donors are able to help them fight hunger, preserve local history and natural treasures, promote arts and culture, and support many other services through their gifts to the Community Foundation of Wabash County’s Unrestricted Funds.

“The Grants Committee of the Community Foundation of Wabash County carefully selects grant recipients during each of our grant cycles,” says Foundation Executive Director, Sally Benson.  “Earnings from Unrestricted Endowments (otherwise known as the Foundation’s “Good Deeds” Endowments) provide the majority of funding for the competitive grants awarded three times a year. Other funding may be provided from field of interest endowments and donor advised funds held at the Foundation.”

In its first cycle of 2011, the Foundation awarded $41,657.95 to 18 local educational institutions, organizations, and groups serving Wabash County. Grant recipients include:

American Legion Post # 15 ($1,000) Handicap Ramp
The Thomas Steinman American Legion Post has been in Wabash since 1919.  It is a veteran’s organization serving as a home for any veteran to visit for fellowship with other veterans.  There are many disabled veterans that have served the country and cannot visit their Legion due to the lack of handicap accessibility.  The handicap ramp will allow disabled veterans to visit their Legion home.

Community Services of North Manchester ($1,500)
Manchester Recreation Association Scoreboards
The Manchester Recreation Association (MRA) was formed with the intent to serve residents of the North Manchester Area with softball and baseball programs.  Well over 1,000 people use the fields each year for high school games, leagues, and tournaments.  MRA scoreboards will allow the community focused organization to continue to host games and tournaments and properly serve all involved.

Education for Conflict Resolution ($3,000)
Peace Learning Connection for Manchester Community Schools 2011-2012
Education for Conflict Resolution has sought for nearly 25 years to put in to the hands of as many people as possible the skills to resolve conflict peacefully and productively.  The Peace Learning Connection (PLC) trains fourth grade students to respond to affronts by taking control of the situation through the use of a dialogue.  The PLC employs interactive exercises and a high ratio of adults to students in order to train these skills intensively in one day.

Family Services Society ($2,875)
Empowering Domestic Violence Victims and Youth
Hands of Hope, a division of Family Service Society, Inc., has provided comprehensive domestic violence and sexual violence victim’s advocacy services in Wabash County since 1994 including a victim’s advocate, 24-hour hotline and safe shelter.  Hands of Hope will use funding to continue WEND.  WEND (Women Exploring New Directions in their Relationships), is a free weekly support group where victims are taught how to build their self-esteem, self-worth, and empower themselves to seek out healthy relationships.

Learn More Center ($5,000) Efficient Effective Education
The Learn More Center was created to provide adult basic education in Wabash County.  The center serves students 16 years of age and up and assists them in improving their literacy levels, attaining GEDs, learning computer literacy skills, and/or transitioning to post-secondary education and training opportunities.  When a new student is assessed at the Learn More Center, an Adult Learning Plan (ALP) is created to help them achieve their educational goals.  Efficient Effective Education will shorten the time needed for adult students to progress through necessary skills in their ALPs.

Main Street, Inc. ($1,000)
Landscaping for the Thomas Marshall Home Landmark
The Thomas Marshall Home Landmark is the home of Thomas Marshall, 28^th Vice President of the United States.  Main Street, Inc. will be honoring Marshall’s historic home by adding an “era garden” that will educate many youth in years to come.

Manchester College ($2,000) “1776” – History Comes to Life
The spring production of “1776” at Manchester College provides free, family-oriented entertainment close to home.  Based on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, “1776” offers a springboard for the College and local schools to collaborate on enrichment curriculum in junior and senior high social studies and English classes.  The show also creates an opportunity for local residents to perform on stage and it features the professional talents of Manchester Symphony Orchestra musicians. 

Manchester Fellowship of Churches ($5,250)
Fellowship Food Pantry Food Storage
The Fellowship Food Pantry serves nearly 600 individuals per month in the greater North Manchester area.  The pantry has an opportunity to expand in their current location and will use this grant money to help with the purchase of a commercial walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler.

North Manchester Chamber of Commerce ($800)
FunFest Lights
The North Manchester Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit that runs FunFest, North Manchester’s three-day festival in August.  Funding will be used for lights that need to be replaced on Market Street so that the Chamber may continue to serve people and hold events safely, which attract thousands over a three-day period.

North Manchester Historical Society ($1,218)
Oppenheim Collection Display Setting
The North Manchester Historical Society collects and showcases historical objects and artifacts from the North Manchester area.  The Oppenheim Collection Display Setting will allow the Historical Society to showcase the prominent Oppenheim family’s personal possessions.  The display settings can also be used to show other items as needed.

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc. ($7,000) Wabash County Tailgate Program
The Tailgate Program provides Wabash County’s low-income residents with an additional source of food as they struggle to make ends meet.  During the past 12 months, Second Harvest distributed 287,643 pounds of food valued at $460,229.  The goal of the Tailgate Program in 2011 is to provide 312,665 pounds of food to Wabash County’s food insecure residents.

TenderHearts Child Care Ministry ($514.95) What’s For Dinner?
TenderHearts is a community outreach ministry, supported by the Roann Church of the Brethren, whose purpose is to provide for the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual development of children in a Christian atmosphere.  TenderHearts serves as many as 50 families a year.  Grant money will be used to purchase new high chairs for infants and toddlers.

Wabash Area Community Theatre ($2,000) Music Man
Wabash Area Community Theatre (WACT) provides theater opportunities for both adults and children interesting in theater living in Wabash and surrounding counties.  They also provide the citizens of the Wabash area a chance to see live theater.  This year, WACT will present “Music Man” to Wabash County and this grant will help fund the production.

Wabash City Schools VPA ($2,000) Summer Theatre
The Visual-Performing Arts Cooperative (VPA) of Wabash County was formed 27 years ago to offer supplemental, enriching activities to enhance the curriculum offered in the individual school corporations, providing increased opportunities for students talented in music, art, and drama.  An estimated 80 to 100 students participate in summer theatre and productions have 800 to 1,000 audience members.

Wabash City Schools VPA ($2,000)
Summer Art Classes 2011
Approximately 75 students will attend Summer Art Classes during 2011.  Two and three-dimensional art projects will be taught, centering around the theme “Art Through the Ages Around the World”.  Students will study the works of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Alexander Calder.  An art exhibit will also be held after the sessions are completed to allow the public to view the student’s projects.

Wabash County Cancer Society ($2,500)
Gas and Mileage
The Wabash County Cancer Society helps cancer patients with assistance that is not covered by their insurance.  This includes things such as mileage reimbursement, medication expenses, and equipment.  Last year, the Wabash County Cancer Society helps 62 Wabash County cancer patients.  Funding from this grant will be used to reimburse cancer patients with their mileage and help with their medication

Wabash County Council on Aging ($1,000)
Benefit Enrollment Center
Wabash County Council on Aging exists to foster senior independence through basic services, fellowship with peers, and with opportunities to make a difference.  The Benefit Enrollment Center will be used to help seniors determine what benefits they are income-eligible for and to help them apply for these benefits.  The center will also be used for income tax preparation, heating and cooling assistance, and processing SNAP/food stamps, low income subsidy for Medicare, and senior commodity applications.

Wabash Middle School ($1,000)
6^th Grade Chicago Trip
This unique trip to Chicago will allow students to experience interactive displays such as: Egyptian mummies, weather phenomena, rocks and minerals, problem solving, ancient cultures, experiments performed by paleontologists, and other displays not available in a small town setting.  In addition, students will gain exposure to architectural structures only seen in major metropolitan cities.