Grants to Boost Summer Programs
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMore 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