United Way of Central Indiana grants $10.5 million to 34 organizations for family programs

The Family Opportunity Fund works to improve the education, financial stability and overall health and well-being of the whole family   

INDIANAPOLIS – United Way of Central Indiana announced Wednesday that it is awarding $10.5 million in grants to 34 organizations from its Family Opportunity Fund.   

The fund supports the integration of services that improve the education, financial stability and overall health and well-being of families. The work is rooted in what's called the 2Gen – short for two-generation – approach, which focuses on supporting children and their caregivers to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Of the 34 grantees, five organizations will use their funding to grow their operations, build partnerships, and improve data collection to support 2Gen programming.  

A committee of 19 people – including United Way staff, board members and community volunteers – reviewed applications and selected the recipients.   

“We remain committed to working alongside our partners, who are providing innovative and integrated 2Gen services and programs to families throughout Central Indiana,” said Shannon Jenkins, United Way’s impact senior director.  “Sustaining investment in new and innovative models that lead to positive outcomes for families is what will lead to intergenerational opportunity for thousands of Central Indiana families over the next five years.” 

Organizations that received grants serve people throughout Central Indiana. United Way estimates the funding will assist approximately 4,000 families over a period of 15 months.  

Kendee Kolp, executive director of Reach For Youth, said family opportunity funding will help provide academic and employment readiness for youth and families through a mental health focus. 

 “Because of the generous support from the United Way of Central Indiana, Reach For Youth will be able to offer affordable mental health services with educational programming that is crucial for our families. This support helps change futures,” Kolp added.  

Family Opportunity Fund Grantees 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana: $175,000 

Brightlane Learning: $225,000  

Catholic Charities: $440,000 

Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE): $600,000  

Concord Neighborhood Center: $175,000 

Early Learning Indiana: $325,000 

Easterseals Crossroads: $325,000 

Edna Martin Christian Center: $600,000 

Fathers and Families Centers: $480,000 

Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center: $225,000 

Firefly Children & Family Alliance: $175,000 

Flanner House: $600,000 

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: $450,000 

Hawthorne Community Center: $600,000 

Indianapolis Urban League: $600,000  

Indy Reads: $175,000 

Lutheran Child & Family Services: $600,000 

Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY): $200,000 

Martin Luther King Community Center: $400,000 

PACE: $175,000 

Reach for Youth: $175,000 

Shepherd Community Center: $225,000 

Southeast Community Services: $410,000 

St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center: $350,000  

TeenWorks: $175,000 

The Villages of Indiana: $320,000 

Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana: $450,000 

YMCA of Greater Indianapolis: $175,000 

YMCA of Morgan County: $175,000 

2Gen Capacity Building Grantees 

Five organizations will receive a $100,000 2Gen capacity building grant. These grantees will join the 2023 Family Opportunity Fund cohort to learn from other grantees, as well as receive 2Gen technical assistance and support from United Way’s Impact team.

The organizations are: 

 The Arc of Greater Boone County 

AYS 

Burmese American Community Institute, Inc.  

Christamore House 

Noble