On Thursday, May 5, 2022, members of the Women’s Fund of Porter County gathered at the Porter County Community Foundation office for the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting. This group embraces the spirit of “Women Helping Women” seeking to improve the lives of women and children in our community.
The Women’s Fund of Porter County awarded high-impact grants to Hilltop Neighborhood House and Our Greater Good last week at their 2022 annual membership meeting.
(Left to right) Deb Porter (Hilltop Neighborhood House Board Member), Jennifer Wright (Hilltop Neighborhood House CEO), Bill Higbie (Porter County Community Foundation President & CEO), Natalie Wilson (Our Greater Good Team Member) and Jenny Beschinski (Our Greater Good Volunteer).
This year, over $50,000 in grants was awarded to local nonprofits. Hilltop Neighborhood House and Our Greater Good each were awarded a high-impact grant of $25,000. The other finalists, Opportunity Enterprises and PACT, each received a $2,500 grant.
Hilltop Neighborhood House will use the funds to retrofit a minibus that will become a mobile “Book Bus”. This free community bookmobile will travel with the Project 64 Mobile Food Pantry Van to various neighborhoods around the community. Books will be provided to children and families at no cost. As the program grows, they hope to expand and provide early-learning activities and crafts for parents and kids to do together. Deb Porter, local educator and Hilltop Neighborhood House Board Member, said “Exposure to books at a young age increases a child’s vocabulary, imagination, spelling and critical thinking – all significant to a child’s development.”
Our Greater Good will use the funds to expand its Girls to Women mentoring program to all middle schools throughout Porter County. Mentoring begins in the 6th grade and continues through high school. At each weekly meeting, the group discusses important topics such as values, responsibility, honesty and coping skills. Having one consistent, caring adult is shown to help at-risk students face the various challenges of today’s world.
The Women’s Fund of Porter County has now awarded over $725,000 in grants to 29 different organizations since its inception. “What’s even more impressive is that the Women’s Fund of Porter County Endowment fund is now valued at $1.3 million,” said Bill Higbie, Porter County Community Foundation President and CEO. “This is what collective giving can do now, in the moment and over time, as the endowment fund will be here to help - forever.”
Click here to view Women’s Fund impact stories, or to learn more contact the Foundation at 219-465-0294.