Grants to Boost Summer Programs

More than 150 organizations will share $2.4 million in funding for educational activities. The Summer Youth Program Fund, a collaboration of 10 funders, supports Marion County initiatives that will benefit nearly 50,000 children. April 21, 2014

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Thousands of Marion County youth will have educationally enriching and fun ways to spend the summer thanks in part to the Summer Youth Program Fund, a collaboration of Lilly Endowment Inc. and nine other funders.

The Summer Youth Program Fund, which Lilly Endowment established with The Indianapolis Foundation in 1995, fosters collaboration among grantmakers and streamlines the application process for organizations seeking funding for their summer programs. This year's collective of 10 funders awarded more than $2.4 million to Marion County programs. Of this total, the Endowment gave nearly $1.5 million to support 154 organizations conducting 185 programs. These programs, mostly focused on low-income neighborhoods, will offer supervised activities, experiences and lessons to thousands of youth. Enrichment opportunities will include backpacking, reading, art, swimming, college preparation, gardening, conflict resolution and field trips around town. As part of the Summer Youth Program Fund, the Endowment made grants to:

-42 programs focused on academic achievement activities ($499,730)

-52 programs focused on enrichment activities, e.g., arts and sports ($377,730)

-50 daily programs based in churches or community organizations ($314,150)

-28 residential camps for specific groups, e.g., autistic children ($191,700)

-13 youth-employment programs ($110,350)

“During the summer, young people need supervised opportunities to engage in safe, constructive activities with peers and caring adults,” said Barbara S. DeHart, the Endowment's program director for the Summer Youth Program Fund. “Dozens of organizations in our community administer creative, high-quality summer programs, and the Endowment is pleased to help them support and enrich the lives of Marion County youth.”

In addition, the Endowment awarded $571,127 to 31 organizations for modest capital projects that will support their summer programs. These grants will fund facility renovations and the purchase of computer equipment and vans to transport program participants, among other things.

New for the summer of 2014 is the addition of an Endowment grant to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana ($147,000) to provide weekend food for up to 3,500 children in 18 summer programs. Local agencies that offer services to children and families agree that while low-income children may be enrolled in summer programs that offer food during the week, many are not receiving adequate food over weekends. This pilot program, which is patterned after Gleaners' school year Weekend BackSacks program, will supply bags of shelf-stable, nutritious food to the agencies for distribution to their participants.

Finally, the Marion County Commission on Youth received an Endowment grant of $235,213 to support the work of the Summer Youth Program Fund and its grantees by providing adult and youth staff training, program evaluation and end-of-summer educational awards.

Parents and others seeking more information about summer programs in their area can call 317-921-1266 to request a youth activity directory or go to www.mccoyouth.org. Information also is available through the Information and Referral Network helpline at 317-926-HELP.

The following 154 organizations have received grants from the Endowment for these programs:

Adult and Child Center – $11,500

Aftercare for Indiana Through Mentoring – $6,000

Agape Therapeutic Riding Center – $3,250

American Diabetes Association, Indiana Affiliate – $11,000

Anglican Church of Resurrection – $4,000

Art With a Heart – $14,000

Asante Children's Theatre – $3,500

Athenaeum Turners School of Physical Education

and the Performing Arts – $5,000

At-Your-School (AYS) Child Services – $3,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana – $3,000

Bosma Industries for the Blind – $5,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis (5) – $45,000

Brebeuf Preparatory School – $2,500

Brightwood Community Center – $6,500

Broadway United Methodist Church – $8,350

Brooke's Place for Grieving Young People – $6,500

Burmese American Community Institute – $7,500

Butler University – $7,500

Camptown – $12,000

Care for Kids Foundation – $5,000

Catholic Charities Indianapolis (2) – $15,800

Catholic Youth Organization – $6,500

Children's Museum of Indianapolis – $7,500

Christamore House – $5,000

Christel House Academy – $5,000

Claude McNeal's Musical Theatre Training Program – $7,000

Coburn Place Safe Haven – $4,500

Community Action of Greater Indianapolis – $4,500

Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) – $22,000

Community Health Network Foundation – $6,000

Concord Center Association – $24,500

Corinthian Baptist Church – $5,500

Cosmo Knights Scholarship Fund – $7,000

Damar Services – $7,000

Dance Kaleidoscope – $2,500

Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis – $5,000

Dayspring Center – $7,500

Diabetic Youth Foundation of Indiana – $11,000

Dyslexia Institute of Indiana – $9,000

East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center – $14,500

Edna Martin Christian Center (2) – $16,000

Englishton Park Presbyterian Ministries – $6,000

Entrepreneurial Ventures in Education – $40,000

Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek – $7,000

Felege Hiywot Center – $10,000

First-Meridian Heights Presbyterian Church – $15,000

First Samuel Missionary Baptist Church – $7,000

Flanner House – $13,000

Fletcher Place Community Center – $4,000

Footlite Musicals – $5,500

Forest Manor Multi-Service Center – $20,000

Freetown Village – $17,000

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana (2) – $10,000

Girls Inc. – $10,000

Good News Mission – $4,000

Gorgeous Ladies Acting Maturely (G.L.A.M.) – $5,000

Great Commission Church of God – $11,500

Happy Hollow Children's Camp – $20,000

Harrison Center for the Arts – $9,500

Hawthorne Social Service Association – $20,000

Health and Hospital Corp. – $5,000

Health and Science Innovations – $6,000

Hear Indiana – $7,500

Hemophilia of Indiana (2) – $6,000

Iibada Dancers – $4,500

Immanuel Presbyterian Church – $2,700

Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church – $3,000

Indiana Deaf Camps Foundation – $5,500

Indiana Golf Foundation – $6,000

Indiana Latino Institute – $6,000

Indiana Performing Arts Centre – $5,000

Indiana School for the Deaf – $5,000

Indiana Sports Corp. – $7,500

Indiana State Museum Foundation – $4,200

Indianapolis Algebra Project – $33,500

Indianapolis Art Center – $10,000

Indianapolis Children’s Choir – $5,500

Indianapolis Housing Agency – $21,000

Indianapolis Interfaith Hospitality Network – $3,000

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation – $7,500

Indianapolis Museum of Art – $5,000

Indianapolis Parks Foundation (5) – $35,000

Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association – $4,000

Jackson Center for Conductive Education – $1,000

James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association – $8,000

Jameson Camp – $19,000

John H. Boner Community Center (2) – $13,500

Julian Center – $3,500

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful – $4,000

La Plaza (2) – $23,500

Lawrence United Methodist Church – $5,000

LifeBridge Community – $3,500

Life Line Community Center – $5,000

Lillian Davis Foundation – $6,430

Little Red Door Cancer Agency – $8,500

Lutheran Child & Family Services of Indiana – $8,500

Madame Walker Urban Life Center – $7,500

Marian University – $7,500

Marion County Commission on Youth – $7,500

Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center – $29,000

Metropolitan School District of Pike Township – $7,500

Metropolitan School District of Washington Township – $6,000

Miracle Place – $5,000

Mission Indy – $3,500