Lincoln Financial Foundation Awards $651,000 in Grants to Ft. Wayne, IN Nonprofits
Fort Wayne, Ind., July 1, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Lincoln Financial Foundation will help develop early literacy and increase academic achievement in student success in college through $651,000 in education grants made recently to 16 local nonprofit organizations. These grants are a portion of more than $2.5 million in charitable funds the foundation has allocated for the area in 2013.
The Lincoln Foundation awarded the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne $42,000 to support youth programs at its Southwick Elementary, Renaissance Pointe and Camp Potawotami sites. The YMCA Before and After School program at Southwick Elementary targets low-income elementary-aged children who live in southeast Fort Wayne and New Haven. The program emphasizes academics and supports children's learning outside of their regular school day. The Renaissance Pointe YMCA Summer Learning Program is an extension of its after-school program, providing families with seamless year-round enriching educational, social and physical activities in a safe and caring environment. The program primarily serves low-income children, ages 3-14, from central and south Fort Wayne and New Haven. The Outdoor Education Program at the Y's Camp Potawotami uses nature as a laboratory for learning and promotes a cooperative and ecological approach to education and life. Students participate in educational and teambuilding activities that enhance the science education curriculum and provide an opportunity for hands-on nature study.
Other education grants awarded include:
- $200,000 over two years to Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana to support the Elementary Economics and Lincoln Finance Park programs. These programs help students better understand the economic impact of their financial decisions as well as larger regional and national issues in the context of their personal finances and the local economy.
- $49,000 to Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities to subsidize childcare fees for families with special needs children at the Robert Kimbrough Early Learning Center.
- $46,500 to Early Childhood Alliance to support the Parent Engagement program, which offers parents support and resources to prepare their pre-school children for school through the Book Buddies and Parents as Teachers programs.
- $45,000 to Science Central to support educational programs offered in the Lincoln Financial Foundation Demonstration Theater and Lincoln’s employee attendance package.
- $40,000 to Allen County Education Partnership for Project READS (Reading, Early Assistance in Developing Skills), which helps children in kindergarten through third grade develop and improve their reading and writing skills.
- $40,000 to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne to provide financial assistance to low-income academically advanced high school students enrolled in the Collegiate Connection Program. This program allows students to earn college credit while still in high school.
- $30,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana to support the College/Career Success Mentoring program, a one-to-one mentoring program that continues the traditional mentoring program of at-risk youth after graduation from high school.
- $25,000 to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana to allow girls from low-income families to attend summer camp.
- $23,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne for Project Learn, an after-school program that includes homework help and tutoring, high-yield learning activities, technology and enhancement programs, incentives and recognition.
- $23,000 to Educational Opportunity and Talent Search Center to provide classes and services to students in the grades 2-12 that include tutoring, computer training, GED preparation, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), college awareness and preparation, financial literacy and writing.
- $21,000 to Lifeline Youth and Family Services for Building Blocks Preschool, which serves the low-income community of Brookmill Court Apartments.
- $20,000 to Northeast Indiana Public Radio to support an educational programming initiative that targets K-12 students and includes broadcasting the national programs From the Top, Back Seat Book Club and Science Friday.
- $18,500 to Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society for the Heritage Education Fund, which helps provide free tours to the History Center and the Chief Richardville House for students, teachers and school groups.
- $14,000 to Fort Wayne Public Television for the PBS Kids Go! Writers’ Contest that encourages children in kindergarten through third grade to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original work for judging.
- $14,000 to Mental Health America for Kids on the Block puppet programs. These programs teach children about bullying and a variety of disabilities and issues including cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, diabetes, developmental disabilities and spina bifida, and teach acceptance of, and appreciation for, children who are different.
About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development. The Lincoln Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million to support nonprofits in the greater Fort Wayne area in 2012. Since 2006, the Lincoln Foundation has contributed nearly $22.3 million to Fort Wayne nonprofits.
About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group has set aside almost $10 million of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $186 billion as of March 31, 2013. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.
Byron Champlin
Lincoln Financial Foundation
(603) 226-5554
