United Fund Awards Four WAVE 2 COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grants
The Decatur County United Fund has awarded $62,633 of the $76,722 WAVE 2 COVID-19 Economic Relief
Initiative Grant funding.
Carousel Play and Learn Center was awarded $6,825 to provide a 2-year subscription for Daycare HiMama
software and 9 tablets for classrooms and administration. This will also allow better communication with
working parents and staff. Classroom teachers will utilize the software by communicating with parents,
tracking student data and observations, as well as sharing lesson plans, daily activities, photos, and meals.
Decatur County Family YMCA was awarded $25,000 to purchase a mini-bus to deliver meals to meal sites
throughout the county and expand after-school transportation. The mobile food sites will allow DCFY to serve
meals in neighborhoods that have a need and reduce the amount of travel for participants (and those without
transportation) and to ensure a safe place or shelter site to eat inside the vehicle. The mini-bus will provide
much needed transportation for afterschool programs to increase STEM based field trips.
New Directions received their WAVE 2 COVID-19 ERI Grant of $20,808 for salaries and shelter utilities. This
allows them to provide residential and non-residential services to victims of domestic violence here locally in
the community.
Speranza House was awarded $10,000 for budgetary needs and cover salaries to maintain 24-hour coverage
for women in the recovery house. Maintaining an experienced staff is essential to programs/services.
These grants are made possible through a partnership between Lilly Endowment, Inc. and Indiana United
Ways, the state professional association of which Decatur County United Fund is a member. These funds are
to benefit delivering basic needs assistance to individuals through nonprofit partnerships.
Grantees all addressed a goal in education, health, or income; have an output they are working towards, and
provide measurable outcomes.
Grants are reviewed by a grant team consisting of United Fund Board Member, Jayne McCleland, United Fund
Treasurer Brad Schutte, and Executive Director Joane Cunningham. Other key partners include the Decatur
County Community Foundation Executive Director Tami Wenning, Past Board President Daryl Tressler along
with Alex Sefton, Public Relations Manager. Also serving on the committee is Rick Nobbe and Mayor Josh
Marsh.
For more information, contact Joane Cunningham, Executive Director at unitedfunddc@etczone.com or
812-663-3342.