Hawpatch Trail Fund
The Hawpatch Trail Fund is a community project fund held at the Foundation to support the development of the Hawpatch Trail, a multi-phase initiative to create a safe, scenic, and accessible trail system in LaGrange County on the former Wabash Railroad corridor.
The Foundation serves as the project’s fiscal sponsor, managing charitable contributions and ensuring that all funds are used to advance the trail’s development.
The first two phases of the project — Phases 1 and 2 — will develop approximately 10 miles of trail throughout the Topeka area at an estimated cost of $11 million. These early phases lay the groundwork for what will eventually become a larger regional trail network, connecting LaGrange to Elkhart and Noble Counties.
Ways to Give
The Foundation welcomes a variety of gifts to support the Hawpatch Trail Fund. Contributions may be made by cash, check, or online donation, as well as through gifts of stock, IRA distributions, or other charitable assets.
For details on how to give or to discuss specific gift types, please contact the Foundation.
Double Your Impact
Thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) Initiative, the Foundation is offering a $225,000 matching opportunity to support the early development of the Hawpatch Trail. All gifts made to the Hawpatch Trail Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar through December 31, 2025, doubling the impact of each contribution toward building this important community resource. We’re pleased to announce, thanks to generous support from individuals, families and businesses, the full match has now been achieved!
Ongoing Community Support
The Hawpatch Trail Fund will continue to play a vital role as we move forward with construction and future development. To fully fund Phases 1 and 2, which will create approximately 10 miles of trail in and around Topeka, the project still requires an additional $3 million in community support.
Every contribution — large or small — helps bring us closer to completing this transformative community asset that will connect people, neighborhoods, and nature for generations to come.
