Fort Wayne, Ind., July 1, 2014 – The Lincoln Financial Foundation will help develop early literacy and increase academic achievement in student success in college through $528,400 in education grants made recently to 17 local nonprofit organizations. These grants are a portion of more than $2.5 million in charitable funds the Foundation has allocated for the area in 2014.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Northeast Indiana received $40,000 to fund the College Success Mentoring program, a one-to-one program that continues the traditional mentoring of at-risk youth after graduation from high school. This program was designed to reverse high school drop-out trends, prepare youth for college, and decrease first-year college attrition. Mentors and staff provide students with support and encouragement to graduate from high school and prepare for college and career success.
The College Success Mentoring program continues the mentoring impact by helping youth successfully transition to adulthood as employable, educated and responsible citizens by offering college access services and activities to these youth, even as they age out of BBBS’s normal mentoring program after high school. The one-on-one interaction with a Big Brother or Big Sister has proven to be effective in helping youth develop into responsible and caring young adults. Dramatic improvements in behavior, decision making, and academic performance that develop as a result of BBBS’s traditional community-based mentoring program have been extensively documented and praised as the gold standard in youth mentoring.
Other education grants awarded include:
- $49,000 to Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities to subsidize childcare fees for families with special needs children at the Robert Kimbrough Early Learning Center.
- $45,000 to Science Central to support educational programs offered in the Lincoln Financial Foundation Demonstration Theater and Lincoln’s employee attendance package.
- $42,000 to Early Childhood Alliance to support the Families Ready program, which provides information, screening and resources to families of preschool children with the ultimate goal of preparing children to enter kindergarten ready to learn.
- $42,000 to YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne to support youth programs at its Southwick Elementary, Renaissance Pointe and Camp Potawotami sites.
- $40,000 to Allen County Education Partnership for Project READS (Reading, Early Assistance in Developing Skills), which helps children in kindergarten through third grade develop and improve their reading and writing skills.
- $40,000 to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne to provide financial assistance to low-income academically advanced high school students enrolled in the Collegiate Connection Program. This program allows students to earn college credit while still in high school.
- $33,000 to Educational Opportunity and Talent Search Center to provide classes and services to students in the grades 2-12 that include tutoring, computer training, GED preparation, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), college awareness and preparation, financial literacy and writing.
- $31,000 to Lifeline Youth and Family Services for Building Blocks Preschool, which serves the low-income community of Brookmill Court Apartments.
- $30,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne for Project Learn, an after-school program that includes homework help and tutoring, high-yield learning activities, technology and enhancement programs, incentives and recognition.
- $25,000 to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana to allow girls from low-income families the opportunity to attend summer camp.
- $23,900 to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo to support Animal Tales, a preschool literacy program that also teaches young children about science and nature.
- $20,000 to Northeast Indiana Public Radio to support a pilot program with the IPFW Communicator, the student-operated and professionally-supervised print and online newspaper at the university.
- $20,000 to Southeast Youth Council to support the Education Center and Afternoon Drop-in Center, which help youth with homework and offer other types of educational assistance.
- $18,500 to Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society for the Heritage Education Fund, which helps provide free tours to the History Center and the Chief Richardville House for students, teachers and school groups.
- $15,000 to Mental Health America for Kids on the Block puppet programs. These programs teach children about bullying and a variety of disabilities issues, including cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, diabetes, developmental disabilities and spina bifida, and teach acceptance of, and appreciation for, children who are different.
- $14,000 to Fort Wayne Public Television for the PBS Kids Go! Writers’ Contest that encourages children in kindergarten through third grade to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original work for judging.
Multi-year education payments include:
- $100,000 to Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana to support the Elementary Economics and Lincoln Finance Park programs. This is the final payment toward the Foundation’s two-year commitment awarded in 2013.
About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under the Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development. The Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million to support nonprofits in the greater Fort Wayne area in 2013. Since 2006, the Foundation has contributed nearly $25.1 million to Fort Wayne nonprofits.
About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group has set aside almost $10 million of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help empower Americans to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, more than 12 million customers trust our retirement, insurance and wealth protection expertise to help address their lifestyle, savings and income goals, as well as to guard against long-term care expenses. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. The company has $209 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2014. Learn more at www.LincolnFinancial.com.
