United Way Boosts Facility Projects
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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 announced more than $2 million to support local nonprofits' capital improvement projects. The organizations receiving funding include four local Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center. August 5, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is awarding more than $2 million to help local agencies with needed capital and facilities projects. The grants are over and above United Way support for programs and operations.
Four Indianapolis Boys and Girls Clubs are receiving $1 million to make cafeteria and kitchen renovations. The Keenan Stahl, LeGore, Lilly and Wheeler-Dowe Clubs will leverage UWCI's investment to make more than $2 million worth of renovations to their facilities. Renovations will be made by December so they can increase the total number of meals delivered in partnership with Second Helpings from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.
The grant ties to United Way's focus on Basic Needs, which includes food, as part of its overall goal to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. According to a June USDA report, 15.7 percent of Indiana residents are food insecure – unsure of how they will get their next meal.
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis is receiving $1 million from UWCI for the new CityWay YMCA at the southeast corner of Delaware and South Streets in Indianapolis. To be completed by the end of 2015, the facility will fill a gap to serve downtown Indianapolis and low-income neighborhoods on the near southeast side by providing a range of affordable health and wellness programs.
The project connects to United Way's Health goals to reduce the rate of childhood obesity and improve state health rankings for Central Indiana as a step toward helping people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
And, Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) is receiving $34,749 to help with relocation expenses to move from its North Illinois Street location to 708 E. Michigan. The new space in the Sol Center, owned and operated by Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana, will help the agency better promote and support collaborations as it offers training and technical assistance to grassroots neighborhood organizations addressing quality of life challenges.
Four agencies will also receive a total of $69,000 to begin planning for future capital projects.
They include:
-Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville – $22,500
-Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville – $23,000
-Fathers and Families Center – $2,500
-Jameson Camp – $21,000
In December, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a $10 million grant to United Way of Central Indiana to continue the capital projects program UWCI manages on behalf of the region's human care system. The Endowment’s support for United Way's Capital Projects Fund, established in 2000, now totals $137.5 million.
Since December 2000, the Capital Projects Fund has enabled United Way to invest in 132 projects for 70 agencies. For every $1 United Way invested in such projects, the funds helped generate another $2 in broader community support for a total impact of nearly $300 million in renovations, new construction and purchases, according to United Way.
The program has also equipped many agencies with the information needed to make better business decisions by helping United Way partners pay for technical assistance to assess the feasibility of projects before starting them.
United Way also put to use earnings of the Capital Projects Fund grants to finance technology improvements totaling $6.9 million and help meet rising heating and transportation costs amounting to $750,000.
United Way of Central Indiana helps people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. United Way gets things done by mobilizing people and community partners in six Central Indiana counties to identify, advance and advocate the best solutions. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to be part of the change. Visit uwci.org to learn more.
Source: United Way of Central Indiana