Local Boys and Girls Club receive massive boost
Near the end of 2022, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America was awarded a $30 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. that is focused at benefitting youth across Indiana. The Lilly Endowment Grant to the Boys & Girls Club organization is the largest single foundation gift received in the organization’s 160-year history. This grant will support all 31 Boys & Girls Club organizations in the State of Indiana including both branches of the Adams County Boys and Girls Club.
The local Adams County Boys & Girls Club organization is very fortunate to be a part of an amazing program this year and next that is associated with the Lilly Endowment organization.
As a result of the partnership with the Lilly Foundation, they have allocated a bucket of “matching funds” that will support the Hoosier Boys & Girls Clubs. The local investments received as a part of the “matching funds” will be matched “1 for 1” by Lilly, so these donations will essentially double the impact of all donations the club receives.
The Lilly Foundation has provided the Adams County Boys and Girls Club a matching grant on “new” donations up to $75,000.
The local Adams County Club Leadership recently submitted a two-year strategic plan outlining how these funds will be used for numerous Club needs. Many of these needs have been on their wish list for some time. Just a few of the projects these funds will be used for include renovating the Decatur Cafeteria, purchasing an additional 15-passenger van for field trips, refinishing
the gym floor in Decatur, and installing safety features to our doors and windows at both club locations.
“We will also be able to utilize these funds to add additional staff members to support membership increases that have already occurred and will continue as a part of this program,” explained local Club CEO Heath Moser as he touched on the excitement that his team has about this financial opportunity.
To receive all of the funds, the Adams County Boys and Girls Club needs local individuals and businesses to invest funds into their programming for local youth. Additional questions regarding this program can be given to Moser or Adams County Boys and Girls Club CFO Amy Bertsch at 260-724-9128.