Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) announces that 36 grants totaling $3,318.798 have been awarded in cycle 1 of 2023. In grand total, from November 2017 through June 2023, HFL has invested more than $38 million in the community. HFL's mission is empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well, with the vision of being one of the ten healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030.
In 2023's cycle 1, HFL received requests from a diverse array of projects and programs that aligned with one of HFL's strategic priorities of Healthy Children, Healthy Living, or Healthy Minds, or met a community health and wellness need outside of these priorities and qualified for a Healthy La Porte grant.
In total, HFL awarded 11 Healthy Children grants totaling $885,006, 9 Healthy Living grants totaling $2,249,985, 4 Healthy Mind grants totaling $59,425, and 12 Healthy La Porte grants totaling $124,382.
2023 Grant Cycle 1 is an exciting example of the work grantees are doing to serve La Porte County residents. While all HFL grantees are worthy of recognition for their hard work and impactful projects, HFL highlights two Healthy Living and two Healthy La Porte cycle 1 grants in more detail below.
HEALTHY LIVING: Community Caring Connections - $76,800
Navigating the complexity of healthcare can be difficult. Community Connections, a new program offered by Northwest Health - La Porte, provides not only assistance to individuals and families to navigate healthcare needs but also to connect residents to available community resources. HFL is supporting this program with a $76,800 grant under Healthy Living. Community Caring Connections is a free, offsite service, located at 901 Lincolnway, La Porte.
Community Caring Connections uses licensed social workers to connect community members to housing options assistance, legal aid, financial assistance, advice on accessing free to low-cost medications, and assistance connecting with healthcare providers, among many other resources.
"Community Caring Connections provides much-needed support for individuals and families in our community," said Maria Fruth, HFL President and CEO. "We are pleased to support such a vital service that aligns with our mission."
HEALTHY LIVING: Sacred Heart Food Pantry Relocation - $13,750
Increasing accessibility inspired the recent relocation of the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Formerly located at 128 Bach Street, La Porte, the pantry has now moved to the unoccupied parish house next door at 130 Bach Street. This move allows for the construction of a completely handicapped accessible space, including shelter from the weather, along with additional shelving for food and storage.
HFL provided funding to support the installation of ADA accessible doors, new flooring, a ramp, and much-needed supplies for food storage, including a new freezer, cabinets, and shelving. The Sacred Heart Food Pantry's new, accessible space helps to ensure all residents can access healthy food in our community.
The Sacred Heart Food Pantry is open for walk-ins on Tuesdays from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.
HEALTHY LA PORTE: Soldiers Memorial Bike Trail Project - $8,700
Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting mountain bike riding in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, in collaboration with the City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Department, received a 2023 Cycle 1 Healthy La Porte grant to create a boardwalk over and through technical terrain in Soldiers Memorial Park. NIMBA members have been building new trail features and performing local trail maintenance in Soldiers Memorial Park for the past 20+ years. The project will allow mountain bikers and hikers to access a larger portion of the trails by providing a critical two-way direction between two popular sections of the mountain bike trail and enhancing existing trail features on the southwest side of La Porte's Stone Lake, increasing active living accessibility for residents throughout the community.
HEALTHY LA PORTE: Clear Lake Greenway Loop Project - $2,021,823
The Clear Lake Greenway Loop Project, awarded to the City of La Porte, expands the scope of an already complex project to elevate the Fox Park amphitheater Plaza Gathering Area, improve the curbs on Truesdell Avenue, add ADA parking, and connect additional bike and pedestrian paths. Additional elements of the project include a Chessie Trail connection and parking for trail users, a boardwalk over a small inlet, safer parking areas along Truesdell Avenue, and the future Clear Lake Boulevard to Polk Street extension. This extensive project will increase the flow, safety, accessibility, and beauty of the loop around Clear Lake, allowing La Porte residents to better enjoy the lake, outdoor music and events, and physical activity.
From 2018 through the end of 2022, the City of La Porte received an additional $3,534,589 in support from HFL for projects related to Clear Lake.
To view the full list of grants awarded during 2023 Grant Cycle 1, click here.
HFL's 2023 Grant Cycle 2 opened in May 2023 and closes July 14, 2023.
Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL), a private, independent foundation located in La Porte, Indiana, is dedicated to empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well. Since 2017, HFL has invested more than $38 million in the La Porte County community. Through strategic and thought leadership, grantmaking and capacity building, HFL aims to further the foundation's vision for La Porte to be one of the 10 healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030. HFL also offers its state-of-the-art Conference & Learning Center free of charge for nonprofit organizations, government entities, and schools.
To learn more about how HFL supports the La Porte County community through its strategic priorities of Healthy Children, Healthy Minds, and Healthy Living, visit hflaporte.org, call 219.326.2471, or email contact@hflaporte.org.
Original source can be found here