Community Foundation awards $124K in grants
New fund targets health and wellness programs
BY KRYSTIN E. KASAK
Krystin.Kasak@nwitimes.com219.548.4353
Date posted online: Saturday, March 01, 2008
PORTAGE | Almost a dozen community groups celebrated leap year by commending the Porter County Community Foundation's jump in grant distributions. The nonprofit organization surpassed the $1 million mark for the first time last year, awarding nearly $1.2 million in grants to individuals, families and organizations.
On Friday, the group also announced the 10 grant recipients of a newly created Porter Health & Wellness Fund. The foundation awarded more than $124,000 in grants for various health-related initiatives, including mental health counseling, health education, medical equipment, youth fitness and free women's health tests.
"Every dollar of this will be used to directly help Porter County families," said Laurie Franke-Polz, of Pathway Family Center. "We are very humbled at the generosity from the Porter County Community Foundation and sincerely appreciate the assistance during a pivotal time for Pathway."
Other top recipients were NorthShore Health Center of Portage, Valparaiso and Portage YMCA, and Planned Parenthood of Indiana.
Money for the newly created health fund came from a transfer of about $2.1 million in assets from Porter hospital. Before the county sold the facility, a foundation existed within the hospital to promote health and wellness in Porter County. Funds were collected from donors annually and awarded to health-based initiatives.
Once the hospital became for-profit, federal regulations forced the foundation to either change its charter or shut down. Hospital foundation members decided to transfer the funds to the Community Foundation in the form of an endowment, with the earnings being redistributed throughout the county for various health programs.
"This really is a match made in heaven," said Dr. Joseph A. Vendetti, former president of the hospital foundation board. "The Porter County Community Foundation has a proven track record for community service and we are very proud that they took our money."
The sentiment was echoed by numerous other organization representatives, who praised the dedication and hard work exhibited by the Porter County Community Foundation.
"They have played a key role in assisting our organization so we can assist others," said Dave Kasarda, executive director of the Portage Township YMCA. "The Porter County Community Foundation, through the generosity of the Porter Health & Wellness Fund, allows all of us to come closer to one of our greatest unmet needs -- affordable health and wellness programs in Porter County."
