Posted on February 11, 2010.
Hands Pokagon Fund money for projects Pokagon hands Fund money for projects
By HP STAFF
Published: Thursday, January 29, 2009 1:09 p.m. EST
New Buffalo - Board Pokagon Fund has granted $ 183,301 for new projects ranging from scouting for sports programming.
Obtaining grants in the funding cycle from December to January are:
- St. Mary's School in New Buffalo Lake and area schools, $ 8,965 for girls on the Enforcement Program, a national program aimed at building confidence among girls in the third through fifth year . This is a course of 12 weeks and they are training for a race of 3.1 miles in competitive May
- LaSalle Council Boy Scouts of America, $ 6,600 for an after-school screening program.
- Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, $ 4,500 to underwrite the formation of a strategic plan.
- New Buffalo Sports Inc., $ 7,750 to support its 2009 season and a grant unsolicited $ 500 to provide scholarships for young people whose families have difficulty paying the registration fee.
- New Buffalo Township, $ 3,500 for additional work on the amendment of its master plan.
The Fund is also prepared to continue New Buffalo Township $ 136,486 to pay for police protection in January, February and March. The Fund has supported the Canton Police since January 2008, and the loan will be repaid with proceeds from the local Sharing Council when these funds are released.
The fund also takes steps to ensure that organizations that receive grants may provide services. Executive Director Mary Dunbar said the fund is holding a $ 15,000 agreement with Executive Service Corp. of Chicago for this purpose.
"We really want to see our beneficiaries are able to deliver the programs and their mission." Dunbar said.
Executive Service Corps survey all organizations to obtain grants to assess the strengths and weaknesses, and workshops on areas that need help. Workshops could include such topics as board development, funding, fundraising, and marketing.
The Pokagon Fund began funding grant proposals in November 2007, and since then has provided over $ 3.4 million. Grant funding supports initiatives in the areas of health, social services, arts, education, recreation and the environment.
The Fund supports municipalities and nonprofit groups in New Buffalo, Chikaming, and three townships Oaks, and trusts in and around Pokagon Band land Dowagiac, Hartford and North Liberty, Ind. The Fund is a private foundation supported by 2 percent of e-commerce gaming revenues of Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo Township.
