United Way awards $500K in literacy grants
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United Way of Central Indiana has awarded more than $500,000 to 33 organizations in seven counties to launch or expand literacy initiatives.
The grants of $10,000 to $50,000 come from United Way’s Literary Fund to help child care providers, schools and community groups support literacy projects that help children from birth to age 8. The fund, in its first year, follows the United Way’s Literacy Matters Fund, which supported literacy efforts after the pandemic.
“The Literacy Fund will help schools, child care providers and nonprofits pilot or scale initiatives that will have a meaningful and measurable impact on over 3,000 of Central Indiana’s youngest learners,” Julie Kilger, United Way’s early care and learning director, said in a news release.
A committee of 11 United Way staff members selected the 33 grant recipients from among 56 applications, United Way said in the release. Among the recipients are 12 nonprofits accredited with United Way and 21 that are outside its partner network. Five organizations are receiving funds from United Way of Central Indiana for the first time.
Since its new strategic plan launched two years ago, United Way has sought to increase and diversify its investments in under-resourced areas, the news release said.
The following are the 33 grant recipients, which serve children in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties:
- BECA Bethel Early Childhood Academy: $20,000 (Marion)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County: $17,500 (Hancock)
- DayStar Childcare and Infant Learning Center: $17,500 (Marion)
- Early Learning Indiana: $25,000 (Marion)
- East 10th Children and Youth Center Inc: $20,000 (Marion)
- FBGNC Preschool: $20,000 (Marion)
- Grassroot Projects: $15,000 (Hendricks, Marion)
- Greenfield-Central Community School Corp., Harris Elementary: $10,000 (Hancock)
- Greenfield-Central Community School Corp., J.B. Stephens Elementary: $11,500 (Hancock)
- Greenfield-Central Community School Corp., Weston Elementary: $9,500 (Hancock)
- Indiana Math and Science Academy West: $20,000 (Marion)
- John Boner Neighborhood Centers: $20,000 (Marion)
- Little Duckling Daycare II: $15,000 (Marion)
- Martin Luther King Community Center: $10,000 (Marion)
- Metropolitan School District of Martinsville: $20,000 (Morgan)
- Mt. Zion’s Loving Daycare: $20,000 (Marion)
- New Beginnings Child Development Program: $25,000 (Marion)
- New Palestine Community Schools: $20,000 (Hancock)
- Noblesville Schools: $16,000 (Hamilton)
- North Putnam Community School Corp.: $24,000 (Putnam)
- RISE UNITED: $20,000 (Marion)
- SENSE Charter School: $13,500 (Marion)
- St. Lawrence Catholic School: $20,000 (Marion)
- The Riley Youth Community Center: $20,000 (Marion)
- Wayne Township Preschool: $15,000 (Marion)
- Wee Care Early Learning Ministry: $24,000 (Marion)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Avondale Meadows YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Baxter YMCA: $5,000 (Marion)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Benjamin Harrison YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Fishers YMCA: $6,500 (Hamilton)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Hendricks Regional Health YMCA: $4,500 (Hendricks)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Jordan YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
- YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Ransburg YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)