United Fund in partnership with GECOM

Awards $10,000 in Community Gift Grants

Decatur County United Fund Executive Director, Joane Cunningham (L), along with GECOM Corporation Human Resource Manager (center), Amy Bray, presents checks to Advocates for Children representative, Rick Scalf, Carousel Play and Learn Center Executive Director Stacy Allgeier, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Executive Director, Bev Karazsia, and Girl Scout Membership Development Manager Sarah Crain.

The Decatur County United Fund and GECOM Corporation are pleased to announce the recipients of the $10,000 awarded recently. At the February Board Meeting, the United Fund Board of Directors approved the Community Gift Grant Advisory Committee recommendations to distribute these funds. This process started in late October of 2012, when GECOM Corporation celebrated their 25^th Anniversary of operations in Greensburg. As part of that celebration, GECOM Corporation selected Decatur County United Fund to be good stewards of the funds. Decatur County United Fund currently supports 21 non-profit 501(c) 3 organizations. The Community Gift Grant application was made available to these 21 non-profits. Per the United Fund’s Board request, a representative from GECOM Corporation was instrumental in the grant review process and participated on the advisory committee along with three board members.

With these valuable funds, the agencies are able to address many community needs. The following agencies received funding from the community gift grant:

Advocates for Children were awarded $3,000. Advocates for Children will utilize the $3,000 for recruitment of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers. These funds will enable them to implement radio ads seeking CASA volunteers and to display a billboard in Decatur County. The goal of this funding is that an additional 15 CASA volunteers will be activated in the county to serve the additional children remaining on the waiting list.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters was awarded $2,000. The $2,000 will provide: child abuse prevention and awareness materials for all youth, mentors, and parents; new educational training materials covering nutrition, fitness, and homework help; youth special needs such as coats, book bags, and school supplies; Summer pool passes for over 300 youth; and scholarships for youth to athletic, church, and respect for law camps.

Carousel Play and Learn Center was awarded $3,950. The $3,950 will provide: curriculum, lesson plans, materials and software updates for the Discovery Kids Puterbugs program; 4 laptop computers; and staff member salary to oversee the program. The United Fund Board and Advisory Grant Committee also noted that over $5,000 in funding was already secured by Carousel from other sources for this initiative.

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana was awarded $1,050. The $1,050 will provide the following: Girl Scouts, in partnership with 4H/Purdue Extension, Boy Scouts, and the YMCA, will be hosting an alternative spring break. The focus of this week long camp will be on learning an integrated approach to healthy living. Each day will focus on nutrition, fitness, stress management, and emotional health. The United Fund Board and Advisory Grant Committee also noted that $700 in funding was already committed by Girl Scouts for this initiative. For additional information about the spring break day camp, contact Sarah Crain at 855.GSCIN4U (855.472.4648).  

Doing Good: United Fund Gives Back

L-R United Fund Board Members Joe Moorman (Sec./Treas), Linda Weigel (1st Vice), Doug Bohman (Pres.), Executive Director-Joane Cunningham, Hospital CEO-Linda Simmons, Jae Riedeman (Lifeline Representative), and David Fry, Hospital Foundation Director.

The mission at the Decatur County United Fund is “mobilizing the power of our community to develop and maintain resources that meet human needs”. That mission allows the United Fund to impact the community in many ways. Dollars are invested in a wide range of programs and services that benefit the elderly, children, families and needy individuals.

Throughout the year, the United Fund collaborates with organizations that impact the community in similar aspects. Those collaborations sometimes bring opportunity to the United Fund. The United Fund is pleased to announce that $10,173 will be given to the Hospital Foundation’s “Reach” Capital Campaign for a Speech Therapy Room. This donation is made possible due to events in 2011 when Decatur County Lifeline Systems, an agency funded by United Fund, dissolved its operations held within the Hospital emergency room. Jae Riedeman, Program Manager/President of Decatur County Lifeline Systems, shared, “We appreciate the support from the community and United Fund that helped us maintain the program for nearly 25 years.”

Cunningham shared, “The area of speech therapy was selected because it incorporates health and education. We are very excited about the opportunity to impact people’s lives. It just fits our mission 100%. Many children and even some adults struggle with one of the most basic abilities humans have - speech. Communication is important in everyone's lives and being disadvantaged in this area can be both frustrating and emotionally painful. By focusing on a few areas and engaging in daily activities you can see improvement in yourself or your child.” 

Decatur County United Fund supports programs of 21 local agencies that help OUR neighbors, friends and co-workers. When you give to United Fund, you're helping meet the needs of people in our community. From early childhood education to youth development and senior services, United Fund is the best investment you can make in the strength and health of our community.

In addition to the 21 agencies supported, the 2013 initiative work includes:

• Summer Feeding Program for Youth 18 years and younger.Outcomes include the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits as well as the observation of healthy lifestyle changes we see in the children. In addition to a decrease in obesity.
• STEM Project for Preschoolers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Expanding the educational trend across the state including an afterschool session for 12 weeks, and a one day a week summer camp. A combination of hands-on lessons, rich exposure to technology, and an interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum will help prepare students for further education and discover a broad range of careers.
• Preschool Pilot Program for Low Income FamiliesTo increase academic achievement, decrease negative or deviant behavior, increase knowledge of physical, social and creative activities. In addition to enhancing character development values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. To improve physical skills, abilities and general health. Children will learn how to count, learn ABC's, colors, shapes, reading readiness, arts and crafts, physical education, swimming, and more.

• Community Health
• Safety and Well-Being
• Education and Child Development