Program areas at Community Foundation of St Joseph County
Our largest program area is Health & Human Services. Recognizing that there is not always equitable access to healthcare and necessary services, the Foundation invested heavily in organizations that are seeking to close that gap, including Imani Unidad, St. Vincent de Paul, and REAL Services. The Foundation also helped to fund a childrens counselor position at the YWCA and supported necessary renovations at the Center for the Homeless. We know that our community is only as strong as its individual components, and through these efforts, we hope to ensure that everyone is safe, healthy, and well served.
Our third largest program area is Arts & Culture. We believe that the arts have the power to bring people together, fostering appreciation and respect for the diversity and beauty of the human experience. Our grants helped support major technology upgrades at WNIT and at The Music Village. We continue to support the creative efforts of dozens of organizations including the South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Fischoff National Chamber Music Association. In total, we awarded more than $1.7 million in support of the arts, showing our commitment to the tremendous creative talent of our community.
Our second largest program area is Youth and Education. Thanks in part to our 21st Century Scholar Success Initiative, nearly 70% of eligible St. Joseph County students were able to qualify for full tuition assistance in 2024. Our sponsorship of Dolly Partons Imagination Library reaches more than 10,000 local children with a new book every month. Our Early Years Count Initiative is continuing to improve outcomes for our countys youngest students, and we have continued to fund Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, local youth camps, and more. We hold more than 65 scholarship funds that grant out close to $1 million annually. Through these initiatives, we hope to build a stronger future for our community by ensuring our youngest members grow into informed, involved citizens.
The rest of the awarded were in the area of Community Development Religious Organizations, and Parks.