At its Annual Update Luncheon on September 12th, Unity Foundation of La Porte County supported more than 80 local nonprofit projects by awarding over $140,000 in grant funding.
The applications were evaluated by a committee of dedicated members from throughout La Porte County. The grants are made possible due to the generosity of visionary donors who left unrestricted funds to Unity Foundation. Those community funders include the following: American Association of University Women La Porte Community, Backer Family, Fred & Helen Brust, John P. and Anne H. Daley, Ernest and Mildred Delco, Pauline M. Dent, Randy & Jane Dorman, Charles T. and Pauline J. Dye, Mark E. Essling, Sanford Z. Friedman, David C. Gardner, Gleim & Young Family, Nancy L. Gorman, Kabelin Family, Ruth W. Pollingue, Purdue Federal Credit Union, Tom & Judy Ringo, Phillip A. Sprague, Petrea A. Clark Community Fund, and John & Jean Vail. The Unity Foundation Power for Good Fund is made up of additional unrestricted donations from multiple donors.
In addition, funding assistance for the grants was provided by the La Porte County Mental Health Fund; Polad Animal Care Endowment Fund; Charles Westcott Youth Fund; Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund; LA Porte County Educational Advancement Fund; Tom and Judy Ringo Fund; Kabelin Family Fund, Benz Family Fund, Tuholski & Oberlie Environment and Arts Fund; Jerry Peters Memorial Fund; Literacy Fund for La Porte County.
At the luncheon, Unity President Maggi Spartz and Board Co-Chairs Michele Magnuson and Jon Gilmore shared Unity’s year in review and reported that more than $1.1 Million in grants and scholarships were given out in 2017. They also highlighted Unity’s community betterment activities, their involvement with the La Porte County Skill Up Network, and their continued asset growth. They thanked Unity’s Gold Key Society members and celebrated the success of their 25th Anniversary Give Day in October 2017, which resulted in $360,000 raised for the community.
Guest speakers Peggy Thomas, Principal, Edgewood Elementary and Fonda Owens, Director, La Porte County Library shared their stories of Unity partnership and inspired the crowd with their messages.