Starke United Expands Kindergarten Countdown Offerings

Posted on June 23, 2017
Author WKVI

Starke United Fund’s Kindergarten Countdown received a grant to expand the program to all Starke County schools.

This summer, Knox, Oregon-Davis and North Judson-San Pierre will begin to prepare children that did not receive a preschool education for kindergarten. Students will learn school routines and learn to be comfortable in a school setting. With the grant money, students will also be able to take books home to build their home library.

Knox’s program will take place in June, North Judson-San Pierre in July and Oregon-Davis will host the program towards the end of the summer.

Starke United Touts Accomplishments as 2016 Campaign Begins

Posted on October 10, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The Starke United Fund is kicking off its 2016 campaign. Its goal is to raise money to help improve Starke County’s education, health, and income.

Starke United Fund Committee members say they worked especially hard over the past year to enhance the quality of life for children from low-income families. That included $9,000 to fund the Kindergarten Countdown program. It provides two to three weeks of preschool for kids who might otherwise lack any preparation for kindergarten.

$2,000 also went to Kid’s Closet, which provides school supplies and clothing to Starke County students in need. Last year, the organization gave out 261 coats and 145 pairs of boots, according to Starke United.

Other groups receiving Starke United grants in 2016 include the Starke County Youth Club, Moving Starke County Forward, the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and the Salvation Army Emergency Assistance Program. For more information or to donate, visit the Starke United Fund page at nicf.org.

5/6/2016 Starke United Fund Deadline

Starke United Fund Deadline May 6 Starke United Fund established at the Community Foundation in 2012. Total awarded in designated funds: $17,124 Total in grant dollars awarded: $42,804 Total in Indiana Association of United Way dollars for Starke County: $11,500 Starke United Fund grants are due to a partnership with Starke United and the Community Foundation. It was created to provide a more efficient way to assist Starke County’s charitable agencies. "The Starke United Fund provides a good part of the local funding dollars that support charitable organizations in our community," said Sandy Kersting-Rudd, Chair of the Starke United Fund Grant Committee. "Each year the committee reviews applications that touch many lives in Starke County." Dollars for these grants are raised by people who make an undesignated donation to the Starke United Fund through payroll deductions, direct giving, or through fundraising events sponsored by the Starke United Fund Committee. One such event is a yearly golf outing held in June at the Hamlet Golf Course.   Starke United Fund grants are made possible through a partnership with Starke United and the Starke County Community Foundation, a relationship that began in 2012. This partnership provides an efficient way for Starke United to assist charitable agencies, and allows donors who support Starke United to continue making a positive impact. The Starke United Fund Grant Committee is made up of the former Starke United board members.  Get the application for the Starke United Fund grants and all other Starke County grants.  Starke County Grant application page.

Support local projects and initiatives by applying for a grant through the Starke County Community Foundation. Contact Sarah Origer, Director of Development for Starke County, at 574.772.3665 - toll free at 877.432.6423 - by email atstarke@nicf.org - or drop by her office at 310 Lane Street in North Judson, Indiana.

Starke United Fund Launches Capital Campaign

Published: August 7, 2015 By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The Starke United Fund supports initiatives that promote financial stability and independence, programs that help children and youth succeed and projects that strengthen and support families and improve the health of our community. Each year, members with the Starke United Fund work to create long-lasting change by addressing the underlying issues in our community and empowering citizens.

Starke United works in collaboration with various other agencies and members of the community. Last year thanks to generous donations, nearly $30,000 was granted to many of Starke County’s non-profit organizations. Starke United works very hard to assist as many people as possible, but they can’t do it alone. As the 2015 Starke United Fund Campaign kicks off, you are asked to join in and lend a hand.

You can donate in a few different ways. You can either give by payroll deduction at your workplace, online, or by mail. You can donate just once or at an interval that is convenient and affordable for you. Starke United fund is offering a unique opportunity now through March 31, 2016.

Corinne Becknell Lucas, program communications director with the Northern Indiana Community Foundation explained how you can double your donation, “Right now those dollars will be matched dollar for dollar through a campaign that’s going through the Lilly Endowment to build up community funds. So that’s really exciting so if you want your dollars to double then you want to do the Starke United Fund match.”

If you would like your gift matched be sure to specify by either writing ‘SUF Match’ in the memo of your check or by notifying your workplace. With your help and generosity Starke United can continue to impact lives for the better in Starke County. Contact 877-432-6423 with any questions.

Kid’s Closet Ministry Receives Grants to Help Starke County Youngsters

Published: July 6, 2015

By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

A foundation that focuses on providing for the community has recently received quite a substantial amount of money for their dedication to the well being of the children of Starke County. Kid’s Closet Ministry was not only gifted a $2,000 grant through the Starke United Fund but recently was approved to receive $3,000 thanks to the kind submission of a community member who realized the importance of the foundation.

First Choice Insurance employee Carrie Block contacted the founder of of Kid’s Closet Ministry, Linda Lewandowski to ask her permission to apply for a grant through Safeco’s “Make More Happen” program. Lewandowski provided all the necessary information and Block applied for the grant, which was approved. The organization receives an initial $3,000 however it doesn’t end there.

Lewandowski explained that citizens have a unique opportunity to help the foundation receive more grant money just by voting for Kid’s Closet Ministry online, “It will be done through the Safeco website, where people can go in and vote for an additional three to ten thousand dollars once they get that up and running which is going to be pretty soon, I think by the end of July.”

The $3,000 from Safeco is going to be spent on purchasing shoes, socks, underwear and other various clothes items that aren’t currently in stock. The $2,000 from the Starke United Fund will be spent to purchase supplies and school bags for the Kid’s Closet Ministry annual ‘Pack-a-Backpack’ Event.

However, the grant can only provide so much. Lewandowski reported that last year about 250 children came through the doors of the fellowship hall at the North Judson Methodist Church during the event. This year they expect even more kids and families to attend. For this reason Kid’s Closet will be posted in front of the Dollar General stores in Knox and North Judson collecting additional school supplies on Saturday, July 11 from 8 am until 2 pm.

You have a chance to contribute to this event that helps children of the community go back to school prepared. Lewandowski stressed the importance of such an event, “I think it’s very important for children to go to school with all the right supplies that they need to learn and to grow in school. It give them self confidence, self esteem just to have all the right things that they need.”

You meet the criteria for this event if you qualify for free or reduced lunch or any other kind of financial aid. The Kid’s Closet Ministry Pack-a-Backpack event is scheduled to take place July 27th and 28th in the North Judson United Methodist Church fellowship hall. If you’re unsure about whether or not you can qualify or have any questions about Kid’s Closet Ministry contact Director Linda Lewandowski at 574-896-2611.

Starke United Awards $20,000 in Grants

Published: June 27, 2015

By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Several Starke County charities are benefiting from grant money from the Starke United Fund. These type of grants are made possible through a partnership with Starke United and the Starke County Community Foundation. There was $20,000 available that was split up among the various local organizations.

The organizations who received helpful funding from the grant include Kids Closet Ministry and Starke County A.B.A.T.E who each received $2,000 and Knox Community Elementary School which received $5,000 for their ‘Countdown to Kindergarten’ initiative and $1,000 additionally for the KCES saving project. The Starke County Youth Club also received $2,000 through the grant. Other organizations included WIC which received $350, Bella Vita, the Salvation Army and The Crossing Education Center were each given $500, Psi Lota Xi and Junior Achievement of Starke County each received $1,000, and the Center of Workforce Innovations was given $1,080. One of the most substantial donations of $3,070 went to the Community Services of Starke County.

Money for these grants is raised by individuals who make donations to the Starke United Fund through payroll deductions, direct giving, or through fund-raising events sponsored by the Starke United Fund Committee.