United Way awards $7.5 million in grants to 25 organizations to support family opportunity programs
3,000 Central Indiana households to benefit from investments to strengthen the health and well-being of families
INDIANAPOLIS – United Way of Central Indiana selected 25 accredited community organizations to receive grants totaling $7.5 million from its Family Opportunity Fund, one of three initiatives aimed at reducing generational poverty in Central Indiana. The organizations receiving funding are serving families from all seven counties of United Way’s service area – Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties.
United Way’s Family Opportunity initiative is grounded in the practice of the Two-Generation Approach (2Gen) – combining programs and services in education, workforce development, and mental and physical health to create overall positive outcomes for children and the adults in their lives together. With this investment, United Way estimates that 3,000 families will benefit from integrated services to help them reach their full potential, especially now as the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger.
The Family Opportunity workgroup comprised of United Way board members, staff and community volunteers reviewed 34 applications and recommended 25 proposals for funding, ranging from $100,000 to $575,000 per organization. Of the 25 grantees, five organizations which previously received Family Opportunity grants and have maintained a high level of performance with their 2Gen programs will receive multi-year grants in this cycle: CAFE, Edna Martin Christian Center, Flanner House, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, and Lutheran Child & Family Services.
“The two-year grant cycle is a game changer for our clients, our social workers and our community collaborators,” said Sven Schumacher, CEO of Lutheran Child & Family Services. “Our 2 Gen model is based on longer-term trust, engagement and support strategies. The relationships that we are building have to endure beyond a one-year funding horizon. We are grateful to United Way of Central Indiana for this support.”
Family Opportunity is rooted in the opportunities for parents to achieve economic mobility for their families, ensure their children have access to high-quality education, and have a voice in their success. On example is Haley, who benefited from the 2Gen program and treatment center at Volunteers of America/Ohio & Indiana last year. Haley reunited with her child, found employment within two weeks of her discharge from VOA, and remains engaged with her family coach every week. Stories of impact, like Haley’s, can be found in United Way’s recently published Annual Report.
2021 Family Opportunity Fund Grant Recipients
Organization Name — Award
Barbara B. Jordan YMCA — $125,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana — $125,000
Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Inc. — $375,000
Community Alliance of the Far Eastside — $550,000
Concord Neighborhood Center — $100,000
Early Learning Indiana — $250,000
Easterseals Crossroads — $200,000
Edna Martin Christian Center — $575,000
Fathers and Families Center — $320,000
Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek — $125,000
Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc. — $575,000
Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana — $300,000
Hawthorne Community Center — $350,000
Indianapolis Urban League — $425,000
Lutheran Child and Family Services — $575,000
MLK Center — $300,000
Reach For Youth — $150,000
School on Wheels Corp. — $170,000
Shepherd Community Center — $125,000
Southeast Community Services — $350,000
St. Mary's Child Center — $250,000
Starfish Initiative — $135,000
The John H. Boner Community Center, Inc. — $425,000
The Villages of Indiana, Inc. — $250,000
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana — $375,000
TOTAL — $7,500,000
Family Opportunity Initiative at United Way
The promise of intergenerational economic mobility lies at the heart of the American dream. Launched in 2019, United Way’s Family Opportunity initiative encompasses research, grantmaking, capacity building, advocacy, literacy programs, thought leadership and the Centers for Working Families to build family well-being to end the cycle of poverty. Last year, the Family Opportunity initiative served more than 6,700 families and youth.
###
United Way of Central Indiana: United Way is a community of donors, advocates, volunteers, and partners who fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. United Way invites all members of our community to LIVE UNITED by giving, advocating and volunteering to improve lives in Central Indiana. Visit www.uwci.org to learn more.