First Great Families 2020 Grant Recipients Named
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowUnited Way of Central Indiana has awarded $950,000 in grants in the first round of the Great Families 2020 initiative. The organization says the four recipients will use the funding to improve outcomes in kindergarten readiness, mental health, employment and financial literacy.
Funding for the initiative came in part from the federal Social Innovation Fund program. United Way of Central Indiana says the recipients will collaborate with each other to serve families in the near east side neighborhood in Indianapolis. The recipients include:
- Edna Martin Christian Center: $350,000 to serve 100 adults and 100 children through its Center for Working Families and Childcare Ministry. Edna Martin will provide both financial stability and early childhood education programming.
- John Boner Neighborhood Centers: $300,000 to utilize its Center for Working Families to provide workforce development, financial coaching, income supports, and asset building services for 150 adults
- East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center: $150,000 as one of the providers of early childhood education services for 75 children.
- Englewood Christian Church: $150,000 as one of the providers of early childhood education services for 75 children.
"These four organizations have demonstrated how they will put these dollars to the greatest use, helping the most children gain access to quality pre-k programs, and for their parents to gain the support and skills they need to achieve financial stability," said Ann Murtlow, chief executive officer of United Way of Central Indiana. "Today was an important first step for our community toward what promises to be transformational outcomes for families."
U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Todd Young (R-IN), joined Congressman Andre Carson (D-7) and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett for the grant announcement Tuesday.
"Great Families 2020 has great promise to make a lasting impact on our most vulnerable families in Indianapolis and provide generations of Hoosiers with the right supports to climb out of poverty," said Young. "Our families need their federal government, working together with their communities, to focus on how we can help them to successfully climb the ladder out of poverty – not just check them off as another individual served."
United Way of Central Indiana will begin accepting proposals for the next round of Great Families 2020 grants in April. The next round will focus on other target neighborhoods in Indianapolis, including the near west side, northwest/midtown and the far east side.