The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Elkhart County, as well as the recipients of the Guy David Gundlach Community Scholarship. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Three students from Elkhart County will receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships (LECS) which provide for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for undergraduate students studying on a full-time basis leading Read More »

ELKHART, Indiana — Committee members overseeing the Well Foundation Greatest Need Fund awarded $181,160 in grants to improve health in Elkhart County. The Well Foundation Committee met in October to make 2022 awards from the Greatest Need Fund, which offers unrestricted grants to support community initiatives dedicated to helping Elkhart County citizens live longer, healthier lives. “The Well Foundation, formerly named Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation, is pleased to continue our mission of supporting health-related projects and organizations in the Elkhart County area,” said Jane Erickson, president of the committee that includes many volunteers from the original foundation. “We Read More »

October 26, 2022 ELKHART, Indiana – The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $2,707,390 of new and multi-year grants to dozens of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County. The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation. The organization is helping lead two community initiatives and grantmaking is supporting the efforts of Connect in Elkhart County, focused on expanding Elkhart County’s trail network, and Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative. “Elkhart County benefits from many nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life Read More »

Longtime food pantry receives money from Community Foundation, 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County for renovation at Grace Lutheran Church ELKHART, Indiana — Two grants given via the Community Foundation of Elkhart County will help Susanna’s Kitchen reopen in a new home. The soup kitchen has served folks in need in downtown Elkhart for 40 years. It has served lunches and distributed coats and other items from a number of churches, including First Congregational Church for 17 years. Nearly 20 churches support the ministry. Susanna’s Kitchen was operating out of the Knights of Columbus building on Lexington Avenue until early Read More »

Starting in April 2023, Deary will be Director of Professional and Organizational Development ELKHART — A seasoned nonprofit leader will be taking a new role at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County following his retirement from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. Kevin Deary, who is retiring as president/CEO on December 31, 2022, will oversee training and development in the nonprofit sector in Elkhart County for the Community Foundation starting this spring. Deary will oversee The Learning Center for nonprofits, an annual CEO Retreat, CEO Roundtables and be available as a coach and mentor. In addition to grants Read More »

June 30, 2022   ELKHART, Indiana – The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $731,225 of new and multi-year grants to over a dozen of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County at its June board meeting. The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation. “Elkhart County benefits from many nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life for our community in so many ways,” said Candy Yoder, Chief Program Officer. “We are proud to join other philanthropists to support these organizations. Together we can Read More »

ELKHART — As plans are being made for a groundbreaking for the new Tolson Center for Community Excellence, 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County awarded a $10,000 grant to the budding community center with historic roots. At its quarterly meeting in April, the social giving circle voted to give the grant to the project, which is still raising money for the demolition of the longtime building and construction of a new, larger center, as well as the addition of athletic fields to the campus between Benham Avenue and Prairie Street in south central Elkhart. While the City of Elkhart approved Read More »

ELKHART, Indiana – The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $982,048 of new and multi-year grants to dozens of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County. The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation. “Elkhart County benefits from many nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life for our community in so many ways,” said Candy Yoder, Chief Program Officer. “We are proud to join other philanthropists to support these organizations; together we can make a difference.” The grants awarded between January 1 and mid-April Read More »

GOSHEN — Leslie Weirich is working to offer young people tools. She wants them to be resilient, to hold on to hope during tough times. A $10,000 grant from 100 Women Who Care will help Weirich reach students in two Elkhart County schools for the coming three years. At the last meeting of the giving circle in January, 100 Women Who Care selected to support Suicide Prevention Work through Leslie's Hope and the Oaklawn Foundation to offer training to students in Elkhart County schools. For her, the work is deeply personal. Her son Austin died by suicide in September 2016. Read More »