On Thursday, May 2, 50 women gathered at the Porter County Community Foundation Nonprofit Conference Center to attend the 2019 Annual Membership Meeting for the Women’s Fund of Porter County.
The Women’s Fund of Porter County awards their 2019 grants to Dunebrook Inc. and Dressed for School at their Annual Membership Meeting at the Porter County Community Foundation in Valparaiso. (Left to right) Stephanie Jones (Women’s Fund of Porter County), Lisa Hauser (Dressed for School), Julie Douglas (Dressed for School), Jeanne Ann Cannon (Dunebrook, Inc.), Sara Hoyt (Dunebrook, Inc.) and Bill Higbie (Porter County Community Foundation).
The Women’s Fund embraces the spirit of “Women Helping Women” seeking to improve the lives of women and children in our community.
This year over $50,000 in grants was awarded to local nonprofits. Dunebrook, Inc. and Dressed for School each were awarded a high-impact grant of $25,000. The other finalists, Our Greater Good and The Caring Place, each received a $2,500 grant.
Dunebrook, Inc. educates children and adults about sexual abuse, advocates for children and provides positive family support and education. Dunebrook will use the funds to present child sexual abuse prevention programs - Body Safety and Safer, Smarter Teens - to students, educators and parents in Porter County.
Dressed for School is a new nonprofit in our community that will provide new clothing at no cost to elementary students from low income and in-crisis families in Valparaiso. Qualifying children will get to select one week’s worth of clothing items from a store-like environment. The goal is to help improve self-esteem in children which has been linked to higher success rates in school.
The Women’s Fund of Porter County has now awarded over $600,000 in grants since its inception. To learn more or to view Women’s Fund impact stories, click here.
