Community Foundation grants to nonprofits total more than $53,100

Contact: Maryhelen Chadwick ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
For Release:  8/24/2009 

North Manchester, Ind. -- Donors who have contributed to the Community Foundation of Wabash County’s Unrestricted Funds (otherwise know as the Foundation’s “Good Deeds” Endowments) know their charitable gifts will be used to support programs and nonprofit organizations serving our community today and forever. Earnings from Unrestricted endowments provide the majority of funding for these grants. Other funding may be provided from field of interest endowments and donor advised funds held at the Foundation.  In its second of three grant cycles in 2009, the Foundation awarded more than $53,100 to local schools, organizations and groups serving Wabash County. 

American Red Cross ($4,000) AmeriCorps Members – This grant will provide funding for two part time AmeriCorps members for one year. AmeriCorps members commit to working a set amount of hours during their term of service and receive a living allowance and education award upon successful completion of their term. AmeriCorps members must be involved in direct service delivery. While they will focus on disaster services, they also may assist with other service areas including blood services, military services, health and safety training and our other community programs. 

American Red Cross ($1,616) Phone System Upgrade – This  funding will allow The American Red Cross of Wabash County  to upgrade its current phone system beyond daily office needs to allow the public to reach a local caseworker for both military and disaster assistance 24 hours a day seven days a week.         

Banks of the Wabash, Inc. ($500 partial grant) Wabash-Erie Canal Towpath Society –The funding will be used to purchase 50 Wabash-Erie Canal Towpath signs and laminate directional arrows. These efforts will combine with those of all 24 counties along the river in Indiana to celebrate the legacy of the Wabash River and her canal days as well as to promote Indiana and the Wabash River. Funds for this grant are provided by the A. Blair & Patricia Kennedy Helman Charitable Endowment.         

CSNM, Inc. (Manchester Civic Band) ($500) New music –Manchester Civic Band will buy new music for free concerts in the Manchester area. The civic band was formed in 1972 to provide local musicians with the opportunity to continue performing while providing entertainment and cultural enrichment to the community.  Funds for this grant are provided by the North Manchester Fine Arts Club.         

Education for Conflict Resolution (ECR) ($2,500 partial grant) Peace Learning Connection for Manchester Community Schools – This grant will fund the third of five consecutive years planned for this program. This timeframe will permit observation of changes in behavior. The Peace Learning Connection includes a day of intensive education in practical skills for 4th graders to learn to respond to "fouls" such as name-calling, blaming, teasing, harassing, etc. in a way that moves from conflict to cooperation, plus three follow-up lessons in the classroom to refresh the learning and extend the practice of the skills.

Foundation for Art and Music in Elementary Education, Inc. (FAME) ($2,000) Honeywell FAME Festival 2010 – This grant will help fund the fourth annual Wabash FAME Festival in March 2010. This year's activities will center on Ft. Wayne's sister cities in Japan, Poland and Germany. The activities will include art exhibits and musical performances by elementary students, hands-on art projects in the Imaginarium, live professional performances by visiting artists from the FAME organization and demonstrations by local artists and musicians. The festival enhances the educational offerings in our schools and provides opportunities for learning outside the classroom. 

Honeywell Foundation ($10,000) Honeywell Center Educational Outreach Program – The Educational Outreach Program (EOP) is comprised of five areas of arts education: residencies, bus-in convocations, internships, family festivals, and gallery exhibits. The EOP serves students from pre-school through 12th grade and, aside from a small cost for the convocations, the program is offered at no cost. In addition, home schooled students, handicapped adults and children, and pre-schools receive information about the program through personal contact, mailings, email, and the web. This arts-in-education program assists teachers in reaching their curriculum goals for arts education as well as other subjects. This grant is partially funded by the David & Jane Grandstaff Charitable Endowment and the Strauss Family Charitable Endowment. 

LIFE Center ($300 partial grant) Cool Focus Web Management/Tracking System –These funds will be used to buy web-based Pregnancy Center management system software. Funds for this grant are provided by the Galley Family Charitable Endowment. 

LIFE Center ($679) Teen MOPS –The LIFE Center has partnered with Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) to encourage, educate and support the teen moms of Wabash County. The only Teen MOPS program in the area will serve moms in the age group of 13-21. Funds for this grant are provided by the Galley Family Charitable Endowment.         

LIFE Center ($1,440 partial grant) Crib Program – LIFE Center plans offer clients the opportunity to earn a portable crib, while also providing them with an educational opportunity. Two cribs will be available each month. This grant is partially funded by the Galley Family Charitable Endowment. 

Manchester College ($2,800) Wandering in the Wonders of Science – During Wandering in the Wonders of Science 2009, 3rd-5th grade students and families from Wabash County will be invited to Manchester College's Koinonia Environmental and Retreat Center to get back to nature. They will participate in demonstrations, nature games, literacy connections, nature walks and science trails guided by Manchester College teacher candidates. This grant is partially funded by the A. Blair & Patricia Kennedy Helman Charitable Endowment.         

MCS-Manchester Intermediate ($1,350 partial) Multisensory Means of Meeting the Needs of 5th Grade At-Risk Students – A Multisensory Classroom for "at-risk" students has been approved for its second year after a successful first year. This grant is partially funded by the David & Jane Grandstaff Charitable Endowment and the Paul L. Speicher Foundation Good Deeds Endowment.  

Town of Lagro-Lagro Community Library ($1,000 partial grant) New computer equipment – As a volunteer operation, the library exists with the aid of volunteers and donated materials. This grant will be used purchase computer equipment. Funds for this grant are provided by the Paul L. Speicher Foundation Good Deeds Endowment.         

Town of Lagro-Lagro Little League ($2,000) Lagro Little League Field Lights –Field renovations have been completed with the exceptions of lights. This grant will allow help with the installation of field lights. 

Wabash Area Community Theater ($2,500) Anything Goes – The Wabash Area Community Theater (WACT) offers an opportunity for Wabash County Residents to participate in all areas of production of quality theater. This year’s production will be Cole Porter's “Anything Goes.” WACT will involve more than 140 people to work on set design, costumes, producer, marketing, stage manager, props, acting and all other activities involved in a large theater production. WACT will also serve more than 1,000 people as audience members.  

Wabash County Council on Aging ($6,000) Transit Operations – This grant proposal will provide locally derived income, which will be used to match and draw federal transportation funds for operation of Wabash County Public Transit.  

Wabash Friends Counseling Center ($3,400) 2009 Day of Healing: A Personal and Professional Growth Conference – The 17th annual Day of Healing is a one-day, psycho-educational conference sponsored by the Wabash Friends Counseling Center for the Wabash Community. The Day of Healing teaches people life skills that will help them deal with hurts of the past and prevent difficulties in the future and helps attendees become healthier people and more emotionally intelligent leaders, who have better marriages and stronger families.  

Wabash Valley Music Association ($10,000) Wabash County Elementary School Children's Concert – The Elementary Children's Concert introduces classical symphonic music to elementary age children with the goal of encouraging them to appreciate and understand fine music. This year's concerts are scheduled for November 3, 2009 and will be presented to approximately 1,600 students from Manchester, Metropolitan and Wabash elementary schools, as well as, children from other area schools. The two performances take place in the Ford Theater of the Honeywell Center where the students have the opportunity to hear classical music and to have the conductor give an explanation of each piece being performed. Members of the Wabash-Miami Area Program and senior citizens from the Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center operated by Wabash County Council on Aging, Inc. are also invited to attend free of charge. This grant is partially funded by the Beauchamp & McSpadden Charitable Endowment.         

YMCA ($1,106) America on the Move – This national, month-long event will encourage Wabash County residents to "get moving" during the month of September (STEPember). "Move a little more, eat a little less" is the mission of America on the Move. This event will show how important it is to keep moving to reach goals and to continue these lessons learned for a healthy lifestyle.       

The next grant application deadline is November 15, 2009. A free Write it Right workshop will be scheduled in October. For information about applying for a grant or attending the workshop, call 260-982-4824, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , visit our web site at www.cfwabash.org, or stop by our office at 218 East Main Street, North Manchester.