The Wells County Foundation, INC.

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Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District - $5,000 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding for the Tiger Cubs Experiential Preschool programming.  Studies show that high quality early childhood programs increase the graduation rate, reduce the future crime rate and can save up to sixteen dollars for every one dollar invested.  Play-based learning areas will provide opportunities for students to learn science, literacy, writing, reading, dramatic play, blocks and building and social studies.  Grant made from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund

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Caylor-Nickel Foundation YMCA - $5,000 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding for the “Make Wellness Work” programming.  The number one thing children need to be healthy are healthy adults:  moms, dads, daycare staff, teachers and youth workers.  Run Hard. Rest Well. will introduce 100% of the Early Learning Center staff to restorative wellness.  In addition, Westminster Preschool The Calm Corner will provide four quarterly trainings for the early learning center staff on the following topics:  Family Engagement, Language and Literacy, Process vs. Product Art and Emotional Intelligence.  Grant made from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund

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Caylor-Nickel Foundation YMCA - $3,089 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding for training, education, support staff retention, and leadership development. 

Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund

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Community Care of Northeast Indiana - $25,000 – Critical Area:  Substance Use Disorder.  Community Care of Wells County recognized a rising need within Wells County for adequate housing along with recovery residential services for women.  This grant will provide funding for Hannah’s House Substance Abuse Housing and Recovery Project.  Hannah’s House will be the first in-house recovery program service that also provides safe housing for women in Wells County.  Individuals will participate in a three to six month program at Hannah’s House followed by life skills training through Grace & Mercy.  Grant made from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund

 

Helping Hands - $2,500 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding for childcare for parent clients.  Helping Hands has developed intentional children’s programming that works in conjunction with their parent programming.  The programming is designed using evidence-based curriculum and strategies in childhood development, aiming to make lasting impact on families and provide long-term support.  Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund

 

Ossian Elementary School - $5,000 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding to launch a home reading program for their preschool students.  Through this program, Interactive Family Literacy bags will be assembled and sent home with students.  Research shows that young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard approximately 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to.  Reading fosters language development, emotional connection and strengthens families.  Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund

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Southern Wells Community Schools - $10,000 – Critical Area:  Child Care/Early Childhood Education.  This grant will provide funding support for the Early Childhood Education Center at Southern Wells Community Schools.  This will be the first Early Childhood Education Center in the Southern Wells area.  The preschool will provide 15-20 students for both the morning and afternoon sessions.  Grant made from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund 

 

Wells County Revitalization, Inc. - $25,000 – Critical Area:  Housing.  This grant will provide funding for a housing and economic development study.  Housing is a vital component of a thriving community.  While Wells County has seen an increase in residential development in the past two years, there is still a significant gap of meeting the needs of many current and future residents of the county.  Once completed, this comprehensive report and subsequent strategies derived from this analysis will be utilized by a newly formed Wells County Housing Task Force that will focus their efforts on utilizing the data to increase and improve the access to affordable and attainable housing.  Grant made from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund

 

The Foundation embarked on conducting the comprehensive community needs assessment to help guide its grantmaking and scholarship programs.  In addition, it is the Foundation’s hope that this report is also serving as a common reference for government, nonprofits and other organizations that seek to improve the quality of life in Wells County.

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Based on extensive community discussions, four critical areas were identified that will be critical to the future of Wells County:  Affordable Housing, Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Substance Use Disorder and Workforce Development.  The full report is available at the Foundation website, www.wellscountyfound.org.  Copies are also available at the Foundation office.

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Deadline for the final cycle for grant proposals for this special initiative of grants is October 16, 2023.