United Way Announces Millions in Grants
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe United Way of Central Indiana is committing more than $2.6 million for five local agencies. The funding will support organizations serving youth, impoverished areas and people with disabilities.
May 11, 2015
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is awarding more than $2.6 million to help five local agencies with needed building and maintenance projects. The grants are over and above United Way support for programs and operations.
Two agencies will each receive $1 million to meet growing service needs. Indianapolis Boys and Girls Clubs will establish a new Far Eastside Boys & Girls Club at 38th and Post Roads next to the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAF?), a community center that is also a United Way agency.
Expected to open in early 2016, the new club fills a long-recognized gap in the need for youth services in that area. It is expected to serve 1,500 youth a year.
United Way is also investing $1 million to enable Hawthorne Community Center to expand and renovate its existing facility that serves 2,700 people on the west side of Indianapolis.
The center provides early childhood programs including a bilingual preschool, all day child care, before and after school care, summer day camps and more youth programs along with family stability through employment programs, senior programs and more. Seventy-eight percent of the people served there live below established poverty guidelines.
A third capital grant of $617,538 will be awarded to Easter Seals Crossroads for renovation of a facility that provides day programming for people with disabilities on the south side of Indianapolis.
The building, located at 3215 E. Thompson Road, is being donated to Crossroads in exchange for making needed renovationsand continuing to provide some level of service to existing clients unable to pay because they are in financial distress..
The projects tie to United Way’s “New U” strategy that’s focused on: helping more people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
Two agencies will also receive a total of $109,884 for maintenance needs. Bosma Enterprises is being awarded $40,577 for parking lot repairs and resurfacing. And, Prime Life Enrichment is being awarded $69,307 for renovation of its indoor exercise pool where classes are offered specifically for those with arthritis.
In December 2013, 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 138 projects for 71 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 more than $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 $6.5 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