These funds are established to benefit the specific community to which they are directed. They are flexible funds, responsive to ever-changing needs. A knowledgeable group of local people monitor community needs and resources and have the challenging task of deciding how to best use the funds. Click here for 2007 Chart

John P. & Anne H. Daley Community Fund
Ernest and Mildred Delco Community Fund
Charles T. & Pauline J. Dye Endowment Fund
Hanna, Indiana Community Fund
Ruth W. Pollingue Community Fund
John A. & Dorothy Sieb Carstens Fund
Philip A. Sprague Community Fund
Unity Foundation Community Fund

Field of Interest Funds & Agency Funds:
These funds benefit a specific charitable organization or cause.

Animal Care and Animal Education

Independent Cat Society: promotes the welfare of all animals, especially cats in the Northwest Indiana region.
Michiana Humane Society: Supports homeless and/or abused domestic animals while educating the community with kindness for all.
Polad Animal Care Fund: Helps animals that have become homeless as a result of their owner’s death, disappearance, or inability to care for them.
Washington Park Zoo Fund: Supports the MC Zoological Society, especially animal care and habitat improvement.
Clarence Weinkauff Jr. Grant Fund: Supports and promotes the 4–H swine program and the breeding of swine in LaPorte County.

Arts and Culture

Arts United Fund of LaPorte County: Promotes interest and appreciation of fine and performing arts in LaPorte County.
Barry Dulyea Arts for Children Fund: Enriches the lives of youth through the fine arts.
Dunes Arts Foundation Endowment: Supports fine and performing arts for children and adults in LaPorte County.
Festival Players Guild Endowment Fund: Supports year-round professional and semi-professional theater productions and related activities.
Eugene & Marilyn Glick Arts Fund: Provides financial support and promotes appreciation and participation of fine and performing arts in the city of LaPorte.
Indiana Humanities Council Fund: Supports humanities programs in LaPorte County.
Dale E. Landsman Arts Foundation: Supports fine arts, including education and appreciation; commercial arts of advertising and graphic design.
Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts: Helps fund special projects. Helps to introduce local students to museum situations and to art appreciation.
Ted and Ruth Rohrabaugh Fund for the Michigan City Lakefront Amphitheater: To buy music for the MC Municipal Band.
LaPorte County Symphony Fund: Helps the symphony to bring quality orchestral programs to LaPorte County.
Sinai Sunday Evening Forum Endowment Fund: Brings the "world" closer to home through this long-standing speaker series.

Child Care and Family Support

Children’s Fund (Child Abuse Prevention): Supports Child Abuse Prevention Council to maintain “Dunebrook” child advocacy center, increases community awareness of child abuse and neglect and coordinates services for victims and families.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Fund: Supports efforts to advocate safe, permanent homes for abused and neglected children.
LaPorte Family YMCA Child Care Center Fund: Supports the expanded child care center on Monroe Street in LaPorte.
Women's Care Center of Greater LaPorte County Endowment Fund:: Supports the local Women's Care Centers and their outreach to pregnant women and their babies.
Womens Well Being Fund: Improves the well-being of women and girls.

Community Development & Philanthropy

Michigan City Lion Charities, Inc. Endowment Fund: Provides support to assist charitable organizations in the local community.
George H. and Madeline A. Smrt West Side Neighborhood Fund: Benefits the West Side Neighborhood of Michigan City.
Unity Operating Endowment Fund: Helps support day-to-day operations to serve LaPorte County.
United Way of Greater LaPorte County Endowment Fund: Helps fund projects for the United Way.
Unity Foundation Operating Fund: Helps Unity to help others.

Economic and Workforce Development

Economic Development Investment Fund: support efforts to enhance county-wide economic development.
Kankakee Valley Workforce Development Fund: Provides education and training for skill development and enhancement of residents.

Education

Barbara A. Carmen Memorial Fund: Endows teachers with grants for special enrichment programs to enhance elementary curriculum in Michigan City Schools.
Haiti Children's Education Fund:  To create a better world by providing education to orphans or other youth in the country of Haiti. 
Language Arts Fund for Queen of All Saints: Supports “Hoosier Books” program and other language arts programs.
LaPorte High School Class of 1952 Fund: Honors their deceased classmates & supports LPHS as a great place to grow and learn. 
Leadership LaPorte County Fund: Inspires, develops, cultivates, and connects emerging and existing leaders to serve their diverse communities.
League of Women Voters Education Fund: Supports educational activities.
Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation: To enhance the quality of public education through programs not normally funded through tax dollars.
Michigan City Area Schools Endowment Fund: To support programs not typically funded by taxes.
Michigan City Education Foundation: Currently funding small grants for teachers to develop and implement creative programs in the classroom in grades K–8.
J. Robert and Marjorie Miller Teacher Advancement Fund: Promotes teacher excellence within the LaPorte Community Schools.
Rotary Club of Michigan City Foundation: Provides educational programs and local scholarships.
Technology Fund for St. Joseph School: Supports acquisition of technology—computer hardware and software in the class room.
Bill and Kitty Wolf Art Teacher Advancement Fund: Promotes art teacher excellence in the LaPorte Community Schools.

Emergency Housing and Services

LaPorte County Chapter—American Red Cross Endowment Fund:
Provides relief to the victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Sandcastle Shelter for Children and Families: Provides short-term shelter for families in need of temporary emergency lodging with the goal of securing permanent housing.
Stepping Stone Shelter Endowment Fund: Provides emergency shelter for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence.
The Salvation Army of Michigan City Endowment Fund: Helps the Salvation Army meet people's most basic needs.
The Salvation Army of Michigan City Major Building Repairs Fund: Provides major building repairs so that it can provide “soup, soap and salvation” to those in need.

Environment, Parks, & Recreation

Environmental Improvement Fund for LaPorte County: Supports projects and programs that improve the quality of land, air and/or waters of LaPorte County.
Fort LaPlay Porte Endowment: Provides long-term maintenance of Fort LaPlay Porte, at Kesling Park.
International Friendship Gardens Fund: Supports the gardens, programs and ground facilities.
Jan Nona Environmental Stewardship Award Fund: Rewards students or teachers in the M. C. area, to move beyond being an ordinary citizen and become involved in local environmental issues.
LaPorte City Park Foundation Fund: Supports maintenance and improvement of LaPorte City parks.
LaPorte County Conservation Trust Fund: Provides funds to purchase vital natural areas and protect bio diversity in LaPorte County.
LaPorte County Park Foundation Fund: Supports land acquisition, park improvements, and matching funds for park grants.
Long Beach Tree Fund: Preserve and enhance tree population in Long Beach.
Mill Pond Park Fund: Supports the Mill Pond Park in Union Mills.
Rotary Special Projects Fund: For the Michigan City Rotary Club Millennium project.
Save the Dunes Conservation Fund Endowment: Supports environmental programs and operations.
Shirley Heinze Land Trust Endowment for LaPorte County: Supports acquisition of natural areas for preservation in LaPorte County; restores and maintains biological integrity of the natural landscape.
Urban Forestry Fund: Helps to preserve, enhance the urban tree population in and around Michigan City.

Health Care Related

Duneland Health Council, Inc.: Dedicated to improving health and general welfare of the greater Michigan City community.
La Porte Hospital Foundation Fund: Provides funding for foundation operations.
Open Door Health Center Endowment Fund: Provides income for the emergency medicine account.
Dr. R. Thomas Rocke SMILE Foundation: Provides financial assistance for orthodontic treatment of disadvantaged children in LaPorte County.
St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers’ Fund: Supports a variety of projects that promote the Centers’ mission.
VNA of LaPorte County Endowment: Provides health and social services to individuals who do not qualify for institutional care or prefer to stay in their own environment.

Historic Preservation

Washington Park Bandstand Fund: To work with the Marquette Questers to maintain the historic bandstand.
Michigan City Lighthouse Catwalk Maintenance: Assists in restoration and maintenance.

Housing and Food

Affordable Housing Fund for the Greater Michigan City Area: Supports affordable housing for low-to moderate-income households.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary: Provides a Christian response to help meet a variety of human needs in LaPorte County.
Michigan City Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Endowment Fund: Improves living conditions for people in need.
Food Bank of Northern Indiana Fund: Helps feed hungry families in LaPorte County.
LaPorte County Meals on Wheels Endowment: Delivers nutritious meals to the homebound in the greater Michigan City area.

Literacy & Library Services

Kay Franklin Commemorative Fund: Furthers literacy and literature, particularly for the benefit of those at risk of illiteracy due to economic and/or cultural disadvantage.
LaCrosse Public Library Fund: To support the library's building project and its programs nd services.
LaPorte County Public Library Endowment Fund: Provides information, education, recreation resources, and emerging technologies to benefit the community.
Marquette Catholic High School Library Fund: Provides funds to purchase books, audio-visual and computer equipment, and other learning materials.
Michigan City Public Library Unity Fund: Supports collections and programs.
Read LaPorte County Literacy Fund: Increases reading, math and English skills in the community through tutoring.
Unity Foundation Literacy Fund: Removes barriers to education and improves literacy.

Mental Well Being

Mental Health Fund of LaPorte County: Promotes quality mental health resources in LaPorte County.
Samaritan Counseling Centers Fund: Supports the community-based, interfaith counseling and educational service.

Positive Youth Development

Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City: Provides inspiration and enables youth between 6 and 18 years of age to become responsible, productive, caring citizens.
Boy Scouts (LaSalle Council #165): Helps children in the development of character, value, and citizenship training through fun programs in the out of doors.
Charles Westcott Youth Fund: Supports education and recreational activities for youth in the greater Michigan City area.
Foundations for Youth (Youth Service Bureau, Big Brothers/Big Sisters): Supports a wide variety of programs to benefit area youth.
Junior Achievement of Michigan City: Provides Junior Achievement and economics programs in all Michigan City area schools, sending positive messages about business and government.
LaPorte County Fair Unity Fund: Supports the fair, and 4-H programs and awards. Helps maintain the fairgrounds.
LaPorte Family YMCA Fund: Assists the LaPorte Family YMCA to support children and families throughout their service area.
MCAS Education Enrichment Fund: Funded by people who want to support after-school care, mentoring, and other non-tax supported programs.
New Prairie Athletic Capital Fund: Supports capital projects for athletic programs within the New Prairie, IN, School Corp. District.
Philip A. Sprague Care & Share Fund: Helps LaPorte County third and sixth graders discover the joy of philanthropy.
Tuholski & Oberlie Environment and Arts Fund for Youth: Bring the environment and the arts closer to young people.
Youth As Resources Endowment Fund: Promotes community service skills through a hands-on program which teaches youth to be responsible grant makers and grant seekers.

Senior Citizen Well Being and Other-abled

Legacy Fund for the Swanson Activity Center for Older Adults: Sustains the Center as it serves senior citizens in the greater LaPorte area.
Library Services for the Disabled Fund: Helps the Michigan City Public Library better serve the disabled.
Michiana Resources, Inc. Endowment: Provides vocational, developmental, and advocacy services for people with disabilities and/or other vocational disadvantages to enhance their individual potential.
Parents & Friends, Inc. Endowment: Strengthens growth of individuals, especially persons with disabilities, in making choices, becoming self reliant and living a fully independent life within their community.
Social & Learning Institute for the Disadvantaged Endowment: Offers a unique educational experience for mentally, physically, and/or emotionally disadvantaged young adults who are no longer able to attend public school or participate in another program.
Senior Independence Fund: To assist Parents and Friends, Inc in meeting the needs of the elderly population by offering transportation, nutrition, guardianship, financial counseling and other services.

Religious

Bethel Presbyterian Church of Union Mills Fund
Evelyn and Robert Johnson Fund for the First Christian Church of LaPorte
First Congregational Church of Michigan City Fund
Presbyterian Church Foundation of LaPorte
Sinai Temple of Michigan City Endowment
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Michigan City
Trinity Church Fund, Michigan City*
Wanatah Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Awards and Scholarships

Agricultural Scholarship
Diane Kay Bamberth Memorial Award
Gustav J. and Elma A. Banzhaf Scholarship Fund
Bensz Family Scholarship Fund
Barbara Brandon Piano/Organ Achievement Award
Dr. Windham Bremer Scholarship
Lloyd G. and Betty Jane Clayton Scholarship Fund
William Vernon Compton Scholarship
Earl and Faye Cunningham Scholarship
Anne H. Daley Youth Service Bureau Scholarship
R.E. Daly III La Lumiere Scholarship
Ernest and Mildred Delco Scholarship
Carley Dickard Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dr. and Mrs. Carl N. Fischer Scholarship Fund
J. & J. Guerrucci Family Foundation
Harold and Rowena Hargrave Scholarship
Robert J. Hiler Memorial Scholarship
Ruth Howe Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Dr. King S. Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund
Arthur & Alice Kabelin Scholarship
Kabelin Family Scholarship
Harry Kelling Scholarship Fund
Sandra Calkins Kowalski Community Nursing Fund for PNC
LaPorte Amateur Musical Scholarship
LaPorte County Nursing Scholarship Fund
Robert E. LeRoy Tennis Scholarship
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
William P. and Mary Lou Linnen Fund for St. Mary’s College
Linnen Memorial Fund for La Lumiere
Marilouise Lundgren Lossing Memorial Education Fund
Jack Lubeznik Scholarship Fund
M.C. Summer Festival Scholarship Fund
Edwin and Alice Mueller Scholarship Fund
Loyal Perlich Outstanding Speaker Award
Pioneer Scholarship
Dr. C. Robert Plank Scholarship
Ida M. Reffett Debate Scholarship
Robert A. & Dorothy W. Rocke Scholarship
Frank and Dorothy Schellin Scholarship
Floyd O. & Betty L. Shunk Scholarship
Irvin E. Swanson Fund
John R and Florene A. Troyer Scholarship
Unity Foundation County-Wide Scholarship Fund
Arlo & Jayne Westphal Memorial Scholarship

Donor Advised Funds

These funds are for charitable purposes recommended by the Donor Advisor. The Foundation honors their recommendations as long as they are deemed legal and charitable in nature.

Bensz Family Advised Fund
Brennan Family Fund
Milton L. Bankoff Memorial Foundation
Muriel R. and Myron E. Berkson, M.D. Fund
Fred and Helen Brust Fund
Pauline M. Dent Memorial Fund
Dent and Sterger Families Foundation Fund
Arlene and Larry Dunn Fund
Tommie Fitzsimmons Family Fund
Micky Gallas Family Fund
Hay Family Advised Fund
Jack L. and Diane Jones Advised Fund
Kabelin Family Fund
Lake Family Fund for LaPorte County
Lake Fund
Lighthouse Place Charitable Fund
Bruce and Julia Manner Social Capital Fund
McDermott Family Fund
Leigh and Marcia Morris Fund
William E. Nickels Memorial Fund
Pontius Family Fund
Random Acts of Kindness Fund
Tom & Judy Ringo Advised Fund
Burton B. Ruby Foundation Fund
Salmon Family Fund
Paul & Terri Sammann Fund
Scott E. and Kimberly A. Siefker Fund
Ticsay Family Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Funds