The LaGrange County Community Foundation has awarded $75,975 in grants to eight nonprofit organizations as part of its 2024 Fall Community Impact Grants Cycle. These grants will support a diverse range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for LaGrange County residents, from health and human services to education, environmental stewardship, and arts & culture. 

One of the funded projects is an innovative rain garden initiative led by the Mongo Community Development Association. This community-led project will improve the natural landscape around the Mongo Post Office, and improve water management, helping to keep the sidewalk in a low-lying area dry and accessible. 

Alongside the rain garden project, The Farm Place was awarded $25,000 to help complete its Animal Companionship Center in LaGrange. The facility will offer families involved in foster care and court systems private meeting spaces where children can connect with case managers, mental health professionals, and participate in supervised visits. Additionally, animal companionship during these visits will provide emotional support, fostering a nurturing environment to help families through difficult times. 

Each of these organizations play a crucial role in meeting essential needs and enriching LaGrange County. We are proud to support these efforts and to be part of the positive change happening across LaGrange County, said Octavia Yoder, Excutive Director of the LaGrange County Community Foundation.

Phase two of the Animal Companionship Center will focus on outfitting the facility’s interior with furniture, kitchen essentials and office equipment to create a welcoming and functional space for families to heal and thrive. 

In addition to these projects, LaGrange Communities Youth Centers has been awarded $25,000 to support its expanding summer programs. Each year, its summer camps in art, conservation, drama, and music reach full capacity, offering valuable educational experiences for youth during the summer months. 

The LaGrange County Community Foundation remains committed to supporting organizations that make a meaningful impact on the lives of residents and is excited to see the difference these grants will make in the coming months. 

The 2024 Fall Community Impact Grant recipients are: 

• Brightpoint: Covering Kids and Families of Brightpoint Health Insurance Navigation Services, $5,000 

• Hope’s Harbor: Overnight Accommodations for LaGrange County Families, $5,000 

• Kate’s Kart: Book Gifting Program at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, $2,500 

• LaGrange Communities Youth Centers: 2025 Summer Camp Programs, $25,000 

• Lima Township: Howe Town Park Bathroom Facilities, $10,000 

• Mongo Community Development Association: Mongo Post Office Rain Garden, $1,475 

• Science Central: Science4U Program, $2,000 

• The Farm Place: Animal Companionship Center: Phase 2 Interior, $25,000 

Each year, the Community Foundation invites proposals for projects that support local nonprofits in their mission to serve the LaGrange County community. The Grants Advisory Committee evaluates applications and recommends funding to the Board of Directors for approval. 

The Community Impact Grants are made possible by the generosity of donors contributing to the Foundation’s Caring Community Fund, unrestricted funds, and field of interest funds. For more information about grant opportunities, visit Lccf.net/grants. 

Community Foundation hosted a reception on Tuesday, Nov. 15, to recognize recipients of the $93,384 awarded from its Fall Community Impact Grants Cycle.

More than 25 nonprofit executives and representatives gathered along with Community Foundation board members, volunteers, and staff to celebrate.

The Community Foundation awarded grants to sixteen nonprofit organizations during the fall grant cycle. Each nonprofit organization shared a brief presentation about their upcoming project and the mission of their organization.

The Community Impact Grants are made possible by the generosity of donors who give to the unrestricted and field of interest funds at the Foundation.

For over 30 years, the Community Foundation has remained committed to its mission of “inspiring and sustaining generosity, leadership and service in LaGrange County.” The Community Impact Grant Program supports grants in six interest areas: arts and culture, health and human services, recreation, environment, community development and education.

Through our grantmaking program we are able to ensure a lasting legacy for our funders who have made a long-term commitment to support positive growth of our nonprofit community in LaGrange County. We are honored to support many deserving nonprofit organizations who are improving the quality of life in our community and helping meet critical and unmet community needs.

Octavia Yoder, Executive Director

The 2022 Fall Community Impact Grant recipients include:

• Agape Child Care Ministry, Agape Professional Development and Cleaning Support, $10,000;
• Agape Missions of LaGrange County, Agape House Ministry Recovery, $10,000;
• Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, Client Advocate and Client Services Program for LaGrange County, $3,500;
• Clothes & Food Basket of LaGrange County, Hungry No More, $7,500;
• Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Inc, LaGrange County Farm Wagon Mobile Pantry Program, $2,000;
• Community Improvement League of South Milford Indiana, resurrecting/rebuilding the military memorial monument, $10,000;
• Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center, Inc., Amish Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse Education, $2,809;
• Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, “Meat” The Need, $2,000;
• Junior Achievement of LaGrange County, Elementary Programs, $3,000;
• LaGrange County Soil & Water Conservation District, SWCD Conservation Drone Program, $8,000;
• LaGrange Night to Shine, Night to Shine, LaGrange County, $5,000;
• Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House, Overnight Accommodations for LaGrange Families $2,000;
• Purdue Extension LaGrange 4-H Youth Development, Youth Programming with the Blender/Spin-Art Bike, $3,075.00;
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana, Ronald McDonald House Programs for LaGrange County Families, $2,000;
• Shore Church FBO Shipshewana Ministerial Association, Shipshewana Ministerial Association assistance fund, $2,500; and
• The ARC of LaGrange County, Arc’s Summer Discovery Program, $20,000.

Each year, the Community Foundation seeks proposals for charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations provide services in LaGrange County. The Grants Advisory Committee reviews the submitted grant applications and makes recommendations to the Board of the Directors who approve the grant awards.

For more information on Community Impact Grants or to apply visit: Community Impact Grants Information.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded $47,500 to four nonprofit organizations during its 2022 Spring Community Impact Grants cycle.

The grants will address community needs in education and health and human services. One of the grants will support the development of the Community Health Clinic in Shipshewana. The Community Health Clinic is a nonprofit healthcare facility that focuses on research and specialized care for individuals with rare genetic conditions.

We are excited to support the Community Health Clinic’s new facility. The expanded clinic will help their organization provide better services to their patients and continue to serve the community with comprehensive medical genetics care. All of the nonprofits are providing important services and programs to the LaGrange County community. We are thrilled to support their efforts as they seek to improve the quality of life and help meet critical community needs.

Octavia Yoder, Executive Director of LaGrange County Community Foundation

The 2022 Spring Community Impact Grant recipients include:

• Community Health Clinic, Community Health Clinic Building, $40,000.
• RespectTeam, RespectTeam programming for LaGrange County, $3,000.
• McMillen Health, Preventative Health Education for LaGrange County youth, $2,500.
• LaGrange County Miracle Tree, Turn Up for Teens, $2,000.

Each year, the Community Foundation seeks proposals for charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations provide services in LaGrange County. The Grants Advisory Committee reviews the submitted grant applications and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors who approve the grant awards.

The Community Impact Grants are made possible by the generosity of donors who give to the unrestricted and field of interest funds at the Foundation.