$2.4 Million in Grants to Benefit Nearly 50,000 Marion County Youth

Asante Children’s Theatre is one of 157 organizations receiving support from the Summer Youth Program Fund.

The Summer Youth Program Fund, a funding collaborative of 10 local and national partners, will provide more than $2.4 million in grants to support programs at 157 organizations in Marion County. The grants will fund 189 low- or no-cost summertime programs, activities and experiences for nearly 50,000 area children ages 4 to 19-years old, and include sports, overnight camping, career exploration, youth employment, community service, college access and academic enrichment.

Founded in 1995 by The Indianapolis Foundation and Lilly Endowment Inc., the Summer Youth Program Fund was the first funding collaborative dedicated to summer youth programs in the United States. Since 1995, the collaborative has contributed more than $36 million dollars in general operating and capital support to Marion County organizations that provide summertime programming.

For 2013-2014, the funding partners are: Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc.; Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; The Clowes Fund, Inc.; City of Indianapolis, DMD/HUD; Eli Lilly and Company; The Indianapolis Foundation; JPMorgan Chase Foundation; Kroger Central Division, Lilly Endowment, Inc.; Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

“The Summer Youth Program Fund demonstrates the power of collaboration along with a commitment to young people that’s shared by businesses, government, not-for-profits and foundations alike,” said Brian Payne, President and CEO of Central Indiana Community Foundation. “It’s a model of cooperation and support, and something our entire community should be proud of.”

For a complete list of grantees, view the full release.