Fort Wayne, Ind. – The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is investing $776,508 in local nonprofits and grassroots organizations that work with low-income and vulnerable residents.

The Board of Directors recently approved the latest round of grants, bringing the total number of grants awarded since June 1, 2023 to 31.

Since the St. Joe Foundation was established in 1998, it has awarded more than $26.5 million through more than 1,800 grants to approximately 280 organizations.

The St. Joe Foundation is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and invests in programming and operations that improve the health and well-being of vulnerable residents in four impact areas: Refugees & Immigrants, Food Insecurity & Nutrition, Prenatal & Infant Care, and Access to Health & Wellness.

“We continue to see food banks with increased numbers of people needing assistance to feed their families nutritious food.” says Meg Distler, St. Joe Foundation executive director. “Meanwhile, the number of immigrants and refugees coming to our community is increasing and so is the need for services to support them. Our staff, grants committee, and Board of Directors are grateful to be able to support our nonprofit partners as they work to address these critical issues.”

The majority of grants awarded since June 2023 are part of the fall grant cycle, which just concluded. Those grants total $705,300. Another $17,999 was awarded to nonprofits through several smaller “mini-grants” and $53,209 for the HEAL Farm Markets.

Summer and Fall 2023 grants include:

• A Hope Center for support of STI testing, treatment, education of healthy pregnancy, and the newly added STI prevention education program for youth.
• A Mother’s Hope to provide for a portion of the counseling costs for AMH residents and to provide for a portion of the House Manager’s salary.
• Amani Family Services for two years of operating expenses to expand the established Victim Care program to include Naturalization and Legal Assistance services under the Department of Justice accreditation.
• American Cancer Society for the Fort Wayne Health Initiative.
• Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County for A Baby’s Closet to provide prenatal and infant care for low income families and Journey Beside Mothers peer mentoring and support for new mothers.
• Blessings In A Backpack for the supplemental food program, which provides students struggling with food insecurity with nutritious meals for the weekend.
• Boomerang Backpacks for the 2023-2024 school year Weekend Feeding Program in Allen County.
• Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministry Center for Community Development Programs that aim to improve spiritual, physical, and emotional health in Southeast Fort Wayne neighborhoods.
• Building a Stronger Family for Programs of Change.
• Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana for the Southeast Program to provide increased accessibility for poor and vulnerable people with cancer living in Southeast Fort Wayne.
• Catholic Charities for the Hispanic Health Advocacy Program.
• Center for Nonviolence for the Access to Healthcare for Refugee, Immigrant, & BIPOC Populations Program, which provides education, case management, medical translation and other related services to survivors in systemically marginalized communities.
• Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana to offset the cost of produce for hunger relief programs that supply food directly to those struggling with food insecurity in Northeast Indiana.
• Early Childhood Alliance to support the operating costs of infant classrooms in Fort Wayne.
• Healthier Moms and Babies for operating support to prevent infant mortality and improve the outcome of pregnancy.
• HealthVisions Midwest of Fort Wayne for market staff, accounting, and supplies, including payment for market vendors/farmers who agree to grow and supply produce for the 2023 HEAL Farm Markets; matching funds for WIC and Senior Vouchers for the 2023 HEAL Farm Markets.
• Heart of the City Mission Foundation for the Food Rescue program that addresses food insecurity among at-risk populations by rescuing food from area restaurants and distributing these valuable nutritional assets throughout central Fort Wayne.
• Indiana University School of Medicine-Fort Wayne for the Indiana University School of Medicine-Fort Wayne Student Outreach Clinic.
• International House for the Medical & Social Services Liaison to assist newly arriving refugees and immigrants to bridge the gap between the end of resettlement services and self-sufficiency.
• Lutheran Social Services of Indiana to enhance the health and wellness of teen parents and their children who participate in the Education Creates Hope and Opportunity (ECHO) Program.
• Matthew 25 Health and Care for a joint venture of Matthew 25 and the Society of St. Vincent DePaul to purchase a van to provide free transportation for low-income and uninsured individuals to have improved access to healthcare and for van operating expenses.
• McMillen Health for maternal prenatal and postnatal mental health content development for the Healthy Tomorrow App.
• My Next Step for a pilot program to connect with those coming from incarceration or home detention by forming a relationship to help them make good decisions once they no longer have accountability to the legal system.
• Super Shot for Super Shot community immunization clinics and services.
• The Salvation Army to provide nutritious food and alleviate food insecurity through The Salvation Army’s food pantry.
• Thirteen Step House for the comprehensive residential recovery program for men ready to recover from alcohol and substance abuse addiction.
• Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities for translation of documents to Spanish.
• Women’s Care Center for operational support for healthier moms and babies.
• YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne for the Youth Advocacy program, in which Y staff help vulnerable youth access healthcare and other supports needed to assist them in creating a healthier life and a path to future success.

YWCA Northeast Indiana for access to quality, affordable healthcare for women in recovery, which includes clinical counseling and support for infants born while their moms are enrolled in YWCA’s addiction recovery program.