By DAVE SCHULTZ
The Wells County Foundation’s third cycle of grants for 2022 is providing $85,238.15 to organizations that will directly benefit local citizens.
In all, 15 grants are included in this cycle, the third one this year. The grants were recently approved by the foundation’s board of directors.
The largest grant in this cycle was $15,000 to an organization called Safe Families for Children, which expects to assist 20 children and 18 parents in Wells County during 2023.
Tammy Slater, the CEO of the Wells County Foundation, said Safe Families made its first application and it was granted in full.
“This is a program that will assist in the short-term and the long-term,” she said in an interview last week.
In the summary of the grant request, the money will be spent assisting families in crisis.
“Safe Families intervenes to provide improved outcomes for at-risk families/children by surrounding them with a safe community where they comprehensively address parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development and social and emotional competence of children,” the grant summary said. “Through these services, the families’ crises are stabilized.”
The program is used in neighboring counties as well.
Money for the grant came from the foundation’s Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Other grants in 2022’s third cycle include:
• Family Centered Services, Inc., $8,000. This grant will provide major funding for the 2023 Youth As Resources program. YAR, governed by a board of youth and adults, provides grants to young people to design and carry out service projects that address specific community needs. Youth As Resources is an outlet for young people to be problem solvers, learning to become good citizens and giving back to their community. In 2021, 22 students participated in the Youth as Resources Board. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Wells County Historical Society, $7,500. This grant will provide funding for publishing a book chronicling the history of Wells County public schools through the period from 1838 to 2022. The books will be available for purchase, serving as a fundraiser for the Historical Society. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Fund.
• Bluffton Fire Department, $7,000, This grant will provide partial funding for the purchase of an insulation vacuum and trailer. Once a fire is extinguished, the crew’s work is not complete. Ensuring there is no fire extension in any part of the house is a necessity. This process can include, but is not limited to, removing contents from rooms to removal of all insulation from the ceilings and walls. Currently, insulation is removed using shovels, brooms and similar equipment. The insulation vacuum will allow fire fighters to remove the insulation more efficiently, safely and with less manpower. Grant money came from the Charles and Hildreth Hissem Endowment Fund.
• Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, $7,000. This grant will provide funding for JA to send 11 classes (approximately 250 students) to JA BizTown. Prior to participating in BizTown, students work through four units — financial literacy, community and economy, work readiness and business management. BizTown is the culmination of their units where students are given the opportunity to practice their learning as they work with teams to operate their businesses. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Creative Arts Council of Wells County, $6,035.15. This grant will provide funding for the rights and royalties for the productions of two shows. “It’s a Wonderful Life” was performed Dec. 2, 3, and 4 and “Leading Ladies” will be performed Feb. 17 and 18. Through productions such as these, the Wells Community Theatre provides an outlet for community members to exercise their creativity and a supportive group for people young and old with which to identify. In addition, it provides a source of entertainment for Wells County residents to enjoy. Grant money came from the Elizabeth Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund and the Edward and Henrietta Goetz Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Stillwater Hospice, $6,000. This grant will provide funding for Wells County residents receiving grief support, hospice and palliative care. Hospice services in residential homes, senior living apartments, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are provided through Stillwater. Wells County patients represent 6.5 percent of Stillwater’s total patient census. Many of the services provided by Stillwater are not reimbursable by insurance companies. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana, $5,000. This grant will provide partial funding for the Home Fire Relief program in Wells County. The Red Cross connects with survivors of home fires immediately to assess their most pressing needs, often including shelter, food, clothing, prescriptions, eyeglasses, toiletries and other critical items lost in the fire. Financial support is also provided. All of these services are provided to Wells County residents who have experienced a home fire free-of-charge. During fiscal year 2022, the Red Cross provided assistance to 81 individuals in Wells County through the Home Fire Relief program. The grant money came from the Margaret Powers Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Wells County Council on Aging, $5,000. This grant will provide funding to expand the Homemaker Program, which helps keep senior citizens’ living environments clean and orderly by assisting with light housekeeping. The ultimate goal is to maintain a clean, safe, and healthy living environment and keep the clients in their own homes as long as possible. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Wells County Food and Clothing Bureau, $5,000, This grant will assist the Food and Clothing Bureau in maximizing their annual dollar-for-dollar matching opportunity. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Fund.
• Creative Arts Council of Wells County, up to $4,208. This grant will provide $1 for $1 matching funds to the CAC for the purchase of a new dance studio subfloor. The two rooms currently in use for dance studio space have concrete flooring which is both uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for dance students. The council wants to purchase dance studio subflooring to install in the dance studios, creating a professional, safe environment. The flooring is portable, so can be transported to other venues for community performances. The Foundation will match contributions designated for the flooring to the Creative Arts Council $1 for $1 up to $4,208. The matching grant opportunity expires Dec. 1, 2023. Grant money will come from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department, $3,745. This grant will provide funding for the purchase of a scoreboard at Jefferson Park. Currently, about 200 youth participate in three levels that use Jefferson Park — training camps, T-ball, and minor league. The foundation’s financial support of this purchase will assist in keeping the league fees reasonable for families whose children participate in the league. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Fund.
• Wells County Revitalization, $2,750. This grant will provide funding for “Manufacturing — an Introduction to Opportunity.” Through this program, students from Bluffton, Norwell and Southern Wells high schools will have a unique opportunity to learn more about career opportunities in Wells County through field trips to a variety of local manufacturers. They will tour several manufacturing facilities to learn what skills are needed and the education required for these advanced manufacturing careers. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana, $2,500. This grant will provide funding support to Wells County families who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House at the Parkview campus. The house provides families with a hospitalized child a guest room, laundry facilities, and a large kitchen where snacks, and home cooked evening meals are provided. Wells County families stayed in the house an average of 84 nights from 2018 to 2021. Families are not charged for their stays at the house. Grant made from the Ellen Gerbers Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
• Brok’n Axoles Car Club, $500. This grant will provide funding for the Brok’n Axoles Cruisin’ for Christmas event, where 20 underprivileged fifth-graders are selected to purchase gifts for their family along with needed items for themselves. Each child will be partnered with a firefighter and a member of the car club, and given $125 for their shopping. Grant money came from the Unrestricted Fund.
———
The foundation considers grant proposals three times annually for those agencies seeking funding through the competitive grant process. Funding for these grants comes from the unrestricted funds which are administered by the foundation.
Donors with broad philanthropic interests find that an unrestricted fund in the community foundation is a simple and flexible way to accomplish their charitable objectives.
The Wells County Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit public charity established in 1957 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Wells County forever. Grant proposals to be considered for the next cycle are due to the foundation office by Feb. 15, 2023.
———
This report is based on information provided by the Wells County Foundation. N-B Editor Dave Schultz wrote this story based on that information and did additional reporting.
