Community foundation awards more than $242,000 in grants

<p>In the coming year, funding from the Johnson County Community Foundation will help do everything from helping new parents baby-proof their homes to improving public transit.</p>
<p>Grants are going to make it easier for those with special needs to open doors at the Baxter YMCA, and help local students learn about classical music through the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.</p>
<p>The Interchurch Food Pantry will be able to take food that would have gone to waste and put it toward eliminating hunger in the county.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>More than $242,000 was awarded to organizations this year by the foundation, which offers grants to non-profit organizations for charitable programs and projects that directly impact Johnson County.</p>
<p>Each of the groups that were awarded grants came in with different ideas. But they were all united by a singular focus: making Johnson County better.</p>
<p>“We look at these organizations as our partners. We’re helping fill some gaps and do some programming that otherwise wouldn’t be possible,” said Gail Richards, president and CEO of the Johnson County Community Foundation. “We’re just trying to make the community better. That’s just how we feel about it, always.”</p>
<p>The $242,211.80 granted during this year’s cycle was more than three times the amount awarded in 2018, when the foundation gave $71,699.50 to 11 organizations.</p>
<p>Applicants this year put together proposals outlining necessary programs or improvements they could not have paid for out of their existing budgets, Richards said.</p>
<p>“What we look at are things that they can’t afford, whether that’s to expand a program or just to get it started,” she said.</p>
<p>Recipients touched all aspects of the community, from education to economic development to health services to arts and culture.</p>
<p>Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana was awarded $15,000 to support school-based food pantries and reduce hunger in students. Another $15,000 grant will help Youth Connections continue its Safe Place program for youth in crisis.</p>
<p>Reach for Youth, which provides resources for struggling young people and their families, was provided $15,000 for mental health counseling and positive youth development services.</p>
<p>At the Baxter YMCA, which serves a number of Johnson County residents, safety and security were an issue. The $7,598.79 grant provided by the foundation will fund door openers for visitors with special needs, as well as increased security for the preschool area.</p>
<p>Two awards were given to government programs this year. The Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department received $15,000 for remodeling and improvements to the Independence Park playground.</p>
<p>The Amity Volunteer Fire Department was provided $8,646.29 to implement the Taking Action Against Cancer program for its volunteer firefighters. The program educates the community about the elevated risk of many different types of cancers that firefighters have.</p>
<p>“Government programs don’t always have enough money to fund all of the things they want to do, so we try to fill a gap there,” Richards said.</p>
<p>One of the changes to the grant program this year was the funding awarded to each of the county’s education foundations. All six foundations are normally given $5,000 to supplement teacher grants, allowing educators to bring innovative teaching practices and experiences into the classroom.</p>
<p>This year, an extra $1,000 was given to each education foundation. That money will help fund scholarships for students who want to take part in Leadership Johnson County’s youth academy.</p>
<p>“That academy costs money to attend. There (are) a lot of kids who want to be a part of that, but they might not be able to afford it,” Richards said. “This way, it’s training the next generation of leaders who are coming out of the high schools.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="At a glance" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Johnson County Community Foundation Grants</p>
<p>2019</p>
<p>Youth Connections: $15,000, Safe Place program</p>
<p>Reach for Youth: $15,000, mental health counseling and positive youth development services</p>
<p>Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana: $15,000, school-based food pantry program</p>
<p>Gateway Services/Access Johnson County: $15,000, public transit project for Access Johnson County</p>
<p>Johnson County Parks and Recreation: $15,000, Independence Park playground remodel</p>
<p>United Way of Johnson County: $11,186, technology upgrades</p>
<p>Pack Away Hunger: $11,000, Pack Friday</p>
<p>Girls Inc of Johnson County: $10,464, outreach services growth grant expansion</p>
<p>Interchurch Food Pantry: $10,169, food rescue program</p>
<p>Children’s Bureau: $10,000, baby safety education program</p>
<p>Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: $7,500, Imagination Library expansion to Whiteland</p>
<p>Franklin Heritage, Inc.: $10,000, deliver/pickup box truck for Madison Street Salvage</p>
<p>Heartland Film: $10,000, educational outreach program</p>
<p>Amity Volunteer Fire Department: $8,646.29, Taking Action Against Cancer in volunteer fire fighters</p>
<p>Windrose Health Network: $7,842.64, pediatric spot vision screener</p>
<p>Baxter YMCA: $7,598.79, special needs door openers, increased security for preschool</p>
<p>Salvation Army Red Shield Center: $5,000, emergency transportation assistance</p>
<p>SAWs of Johnson County: $5,000 to support the Servants at Work program</p>
<p>Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County: $4,467, pick-up online scheduling system for ReStore</p>
<p>Arts for Learning: $4,338, arts programming for school partners</p>
<p>Society of St. Andrew Indiana: $3,500, gleaning network</p>
<p>Little Red Door Cancer Agency: $3,000, Rides of Hope transportation program</p>
<p>Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: $1,500, 317 Series music education programs</p>
<p>Educational Partnership Grantees: Each group was awarded $6,000</p>
<p><ul><li>Center Grove Education Foundation</li><li>Clark Pleasant Education Foundation</li><li>Edinburgh Community School Corporation</li><li>Franklin Education Connection</li><li>Greenwood Education Foundation</li><li>NHJ Education Foundation</li></ul></p>[sc:pullout-text-end]