Local Connection to Haiti:  Two families in LaPorte started the Haiti Children's Education Fund just last month.  I learned that they and their friends have been volunteering in Haiti for 20+ years.  They first started going there to save children’s lives.  The more time they spent there, the more they realized the need to educate those children if Haiti will ever have a brighter future.  Then disaster struck. 
Learn more about our local connection with the people of Haiti. 

Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is awarded annually to two LaPorte County students. It will pay tuition and fees at any Indiana college or university and it provides an $800 annual stipend for books. Students are evaluated on leadership, community service, academics and financial need.

Due Date: Monday, January 20, 2009

2009 application is now available.
Click here to download application!

Other Unity Scholarships Deadline - April 5, 2010 
Click here for Listing and Applications

Announcing Our Simple Giving Program

Busy? Shift your giving into automatic! Unity is proud to announce a new convenient, easy, and secure method of donating. Click here for more information.

 2008-2009 Report to the Community - Now Available
 Click Here to view the Report

Past Publications:
     Summer 2009 Newsletter
     Spring 2009 Newsletter  
     2007-2008 Report to the Community- Opportunity Ahead

One Stop Shopping Made Easy! Click here
Visit one place to learn about many of the worthy charitable efforts in LaPorte County, Indiana. The description of all endowed funds held in the Unity Foundation have been updated, complete with links to the organizations or causes. If you want to learn more, just give us a call. If you'd like to support one or more of them forever, simply mail in a check or make gift via phone using your VISA or Mastercard.
If we've linked to your organization, please consider linking back to us! If we've made an incorrect link, please let us know so we can get it right!

Back Home Again: LaPorte County's Plan to End Homelessness
Click here for 4 page Summary
Click here for Main Report

Executive Summary La Porte County Homeless Needs Assessment
(Click here for Summary)
This study serves as La Porte County's preliminary assessment of homeless prevention and intervention services.  It supplies stakeholders with a comprehensive analysis of the county homeless needs and emergency service system by utilizing historical trends, objective data, demographic forecasts and an assessment of current conditions. 

Unity Foundation Earns Confirmation of Compliance with National Standards and State Accountability Standards

The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County is:

• A nonprofit community corporation, created by and for the people of LaPorte County, serving donors and nonprofit organizations by building endowments to help the charitable needs of LaPorte County and its communities.

• A platform for building community, bringing diverse groups together for the good of the whole community, and a facilitator of special projects.

• A Power for Good in LaPorte County!

"Those that have the ability to give have a special power.
The power to rise above good thoughts, to good actions."

The Unity Foundation is always looking ahead.  We look for signs to navigate by and direct our strategy and actions.  We do so with our mission in mind of serving donors, non-profits and the communities of LaPorte County. 

The signs we see translate to becoming even more innovative and involved in the community than we already are.  Yes, we're good at making grants and scholarship money for worthy causes and striving students. Yes, we run a lean operation and maintain high ethical and operational standards.  Yes, we continue to educate folks about philanthropy and the 'Miracle of Endowment.'  And we have you to thank for this – those who have supported us, started funds or included Unity in their estate plans. But there's more.  Much more. Let us explain.

Transfer of wealth:  During the next 10 years, nearly $1 billion is expected to transfer from one generation to the next in LaPorte County alone.  That's a big number.  What can we do to preserve 5% of this forever? 

Economic and community development: The well being of the community depends on a vibrant economy and community.  How can we best use our community resources to that end? 

Human capital development: People make all the difference.  How do we increase the educational and competency levels in our community?

We've been asking a lot of serious questions, investing in information and learning from others who have been successful.  And we've been trying things, taking risks and getting some positive results. Some are outlined in the 2007-08 Report to the Community.    

Please join us as we move up the road.  Look for signs to make your own permanent gift to the community that has been good to you.  We've done it ourselves and it's a great feeling! 

Michael Brennan                     Edward Volk                           Maggi Spartz