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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, March 6, 2012

IU Women's Philanthropy Council announces inaugural grant recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Women's Philanthropy Council has awarded grants totaling more than $100,000 to eight organizations affiliated with five of the university's campuses.

Awards ranging from $3,500 to $25,000 will support projects that foster community outreach, career development, public health, student philanthropy, education and diversity at IU Bloomington, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo and IU South Bend. Students, faculty and staff from all campuses were invited to submit applications for the council's inaugural grant cycle.

"Our intention was to fund projects that would give back to the Indiana University community at a grassroots level by identifying and addressing challenges we face in education, health care and cultural enrichment," said Jackie Simmons, WPC fund grants chair and managing partner of the Indianapolis office of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. "The variety of submissions we received exceeded our expectations. Across the board, the applicants responded to the breadth of our mission with innovative and impactful proposals.

"It was difficult to select only eight of the 58 excellent proposals we received," Simmons added. "I'm confident, though, that we've chosen outstanding projects that address a wide range of needs on many of IU's campuses."

This year's recipients are:

• Removing Obstacles for Adult Returning Students (Adult Student Resources, IU Bloomington) -- Adult Student Resources will address the unique needs of nontraditional returning students (ages 25 and older) in math and technology. Grant money will be used to fund weekly, peer-led group tutoring sessions in these areas, in which returning students tend to confront more obstacles than their younger peers. With extra support in math and technology, this population -- now numbering 1,300, or 3 percent of IUB's undergraduates -- will be better equipped to complete a college degree.
• "Give 25" Campaign (IU Student Foundation, IU Bloomington) -- In celebration of the 25th running of the Women's Little 500 this April, the "Give 25" Campaign will support improvements to the race by reaching out to former Little 500 riders for donations through a direct mailing funded by this grant. Donations this year will allow the race to take place "under the lights," encouraging greater student and alumni participation in the event, which raises funds for scholarships for working students.
• Indiana University School of Optometry & VIPS Bloomington Partnership (IU Bloomington) -- Visually Impaired Preschool Services Bloomington provides crucial at-home intervention for visually impaired infants and toddlers, offering family support, advocacy and parent education. Grant money will be used to foster a partnership between VIPS Bloomington and IU Optometry students with an interest in pediatric visual impairment, enabling them to participate in VIPS home visits. Funds will also support a Play and Learn Group for VIPS families at the School of Optometry.
• Elementary School Engagement Projects (Jacobs School of Music, IU Bloomington) -- Elementary School Engagement Projects will expand and enhance its work of bringing musical education to students throughout Indiana. The program, which provides both instruction and instruments, is intended to foster students' musical, social and academic skills, as well as strengthen IU's connection to the community. Grant money will fund instructors for Templeton Elementary in Bloomington, Ind., and Attica Elementary in Attica, Ind.
• Development of an Art Therapy Graduate Internship Program between Herron School of Art and Design and Riley Hospital for Children (IUPUI) -- This grant will support the development of a first-of-its-kind art therapy graduate internship program, in which Herron students will provide art therapy to children at Riley Hospital as part of their clinical training and field practicums. The program will give students hands-on experience, provide a model for similar collaborations across the nation and offer Riley's young patients an invaluable creative and emotional outlet.
• Academy for Cultivating Talent (Center for Leadership Development, IU East) -- This grant will provide seed funding for the new Academy for Cultivating Talent, which aims to foster the talents of specific and diverse populations not yet fully engaged, socially or economically, in their community, thus advancing the larger IU East region's economic and cultural development. This year the program will focus on creating pipelines for women to leadership positions in business and civic engagement.
• Science Rocks! IU Kokomo Science Summer Camp for Underrepresented Middle-School Students (Science, Mathematics and Informatics Department, IU Kokomo) -- Since 2009, the department has run a free, two-week summer science camp for middle-school students from underrepresented populations. This grant will enable the program to continue in the absence of its previous funding source. Science Rocks! fosters enthusiasm for science, math and technology, increasing the likelihood that its participants will pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors and careers, as well as giving science-education students at IU Kokomo hands-on experience as instructors and mentors.
• Service-Learning Program Pilot (American Democracy Project, IU South Bend) -- The American Democracy Project cultivates civic engagement among IU graduates across several campuses. The grant will support service-learning initiatives in the South Bend community by funding faculty development of new courses and providing student fellowships, all focused on addressing challenges to civic health in the region.

About the Indiana University Women's Philanthropy Council:

Convened by the Indiana University Foundation Board of Directors in 2010, the WPC's mission is to lead fundraising and engagement efforts that inspire women to give of their time, talent and resources to Indiana University, and to develop female leaders in philanthropy.

About the WPC grant program:

Grants will be awarded on an annual cycle from the WPC Fund, which is administered by the IU Foundation. WPC members support the fund with annual contributions. Applications for 2013 grants will be available in fall 2012. For more information about grant criteria and applications, visit iufoundation.iu.edu/womensphilanthropy/grant or contact Holly Johnson, director of Women's Philanthropy at Indiana University, at holljohn@indiana.edu.

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