Legacy Foundation : Lake County's Community Foundation

GRANTS

Special Initiatives

The overarching theme of our extensive work in education.

In the summer of 2008, Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s Community Foundation, launched a strategic planning process to examine its work and value to the community. Our aim was to produce a plan that was clear and focused. Our Board believed in remaining mindful of our traditional role as a community foundation encouraging charitable giving to benefit Lake County and at the same time they believed in the Foundation’s ability to embrace a strategic direction with a portion of our unrestricted resources. If a strategic direction were to be embraced it needed to address a pressing issue in Lake County.

OUR VISION

As the trusted philanthropic leader in our community, we will shape a better future through the daily practice of our guiding principles. Legacy Foundation is a strategic and active foundation. The Foundation can make a positive difference in the community through the establishment of a special initiative that address specifi c county-wide issues or needs.

The Foundation’s initiative will focus on a key issue area, specifically education, where it has historic strength and funding, adding high value and making a real difference. The Foundation will have a strategic focus on education—ensuring that youth are ready to learn, and young adults and adults are ready for work and advanced educational opportunities. This focus includes such issues and strategies as:
• Educational attainment
• Scholarships access to education and training
• Training and capacity building
• Access to education and training
• Out of school time educational programs
• Early childhood education
• Volunteer engagement (e.g. mentoring, volunteering in the classroom)

The Foundation recognizes that without at least a high school diploma and good basic skills, the prospects of earning a livable wage and supporting a family are greatly diminished. Further, the Foundation recognizes that literacy and lifelong learning are essential elements to a stable and healthy community.

If you support this vision and would like to partner with Legacy Foundation to address the improvement of opportunities for our youth, please contact Harry Vande Velde, President, at 219.736.1880 or hvandevelde@legacyfoundationlakeco.org. Legacy Foundation is committed to carefully stewarding our resources and your charitable gifts to maximize their impact.

1000 E. 80th Place, Suite 402 North, Merrillville, IN 46410 | Phone: 219-736-1880
Legacy Foundation is designated a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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