Wabash Valley Community Foundation Receives $6.5 Million Leadership Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
The Wabash Valley Community Foundation has received a grant of $6.5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative. This is one of 30 implementation grants being awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen the quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties, and regions they serve.
The $6.5 million grant stems from a proposal submitted by the Community Foundation to support an $11.3 million project to modernize and renovate the YMCA in Terre Haute.
“The YMCA is a vital community asset,” said Beth Tevlin, President & CEO of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. “It offers a diverse range of inclusive programs for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including affordable childcare, fitness classes and educational initiatives. The YMCA plays a key role in fostering social connections and addressing community needs, helping to strengthen bonds and reduce social isolation.”
Tevlin explained that the Community Foundation retained RJL Solutions to conduct a series of public community forums and stakeholder discussions. RJL’s data compilation process helped the Community Foundation identify the YMCA project as one that aligns with several key focus areas of the “See You In Terre Haute 2025” Community Plan, including health and wellness, quality of life, talent attraction and retention, and economic development.
“The ‘See You In Terre Haute 2025’ Community Plan establishes a collective vision and long-term plan to develop a thriving and prosperous city, county, and region,” added Tevlin. “Working in collaboration with the Community Plan Leadership Committee, RJL Solutions facilitated several community forums and stakeholder roundtables to learn the broader community’s priorities to develop a strategic way forward through the next five years and beyond. These discussions presented a range of challenges and opportunities regarding childcare accessibility and affordability, the community’s overall health and wellness, talent attraction, retention and aging population, and the need for additional and/or upgrades to existing community amenities.”
Understanding the vast needs existing within the Vigo County community, the Community Foundation, in collaboration with local leadership, identified the expansion and renovation of the Vigo County YMCA as a priority project due to its ability to provide access to additional childcare and educational enrichment activities; promote social connections, youth development and community engagement activities through athletics, leadership development and collaborative partnerships; and enhance riverfront development activities along the Wabash River.
“The YMCA renovation project marks a new chapter for the City of Terre Haute and our relationship to the Wabash River,” said Brandon Sakbun, Mayor of the City of Terre Haute. “The City’s investment will serve as the first step towards the renovation of our riverfront, which balances development and embraces mother nature. More importantly, the renovated YMCA will provide a plethora of opportunities to our families and seniors throughout the Wabash Valley. We are thankful to Lilly Endowment and the YMCA for their charitable contributions to this project.”
With this grant funding, the YMCA will receive support for Phase I of the YMCA Riverfront Transformation project. This phase will bring much-needed renovations and facility expansions, allowing the YMCA to better serve the community with a wide range of programs and services. With these upgrades, the YMCA will be able to provide more affordable childcare, wellness programs and other essential services, while also creating a welcoming space for everyone. This project is an important step toward strengthening community connections and ensuring the YMCA remains a vital resource for people of all ages and backgrounds in Vigo County.
“The YMCA is excited to be part of this transformative project that will benefit so many individuals and families in Vigo County," said Ryan Penrod, CEO, YMCA of the Wabash Valley. "With the support of Lilly Endowment Inc., the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, the City of Terre Haute, and community partners, this project will enable us to expand our child care and sports programming, modernize our facilities to address growing health and wellness needs, enhance the vital programs we offer that address social engagement and chronic disease prevention. Together, we are building a stronger community that fosters connection and positively impacts generations now and in the future.”
In 1990, Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative to help establish and further develop community foundations throughout Indiana. Lilly Endowment hoped that Indiana’s community foundations could enhance the quality of life in their communities by convening conversations among people of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, occupations, races and cultural traditions about their communities’ most compelling needs and opportunities as well as the best ways to address them.
Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people in the Wabash Valley. The Community Foundation involves donors and local volunteers throughout Clay, Sullivan, and Vigo counties to create funds and determine grant and scholarship decisions that impact the residents within these counties. The Community Foundation enables people with philanthropic interests to easily and effectively support the organizations and issues they care about – immediately or through their estate plans. Donors may give to existing funds or establish a charitable fund at the Community Foundation by contributing various assets. To take advantage of the matching opportunity, please contact the Community Foundation at 812.232.2234.