Extol April-May 2019 | Page 16

MAKE AN IMPACT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WILL MATCH GIFTS $2 FOR $1 TO IMPACT FUND Last year, the rising Ohio River caused devastating damage to homes and businesses in Clark and Floyd counties. The local chapter of the American Red Cross reported that nearly 400 families’ homes sustained major damage or were destroyed, with Utica being the area hardest hit. Many of those displaced required financial assistance, hot meals, clean up kits and more. The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) felt a sense of responsibility to help the community and neighbors rebuild. In an effort to lend a helping hand, the Foundation pledged $20,000 from its Community Impact Fund to help Southern Indiana residents in need. CFSI’s grant was made to the American Red Cross to help the nonprofit make an immediate impact on the lives of area residents. The grant was used responsibly – providing financial assistance through case management, meal delivery, supply distribution and more – and helped get residents back in their homes and businesses back to work. In addition to the $20,000 for flood relief, CFSI also granted the Red Cross an additional $15,000 to help with the purchase of an Emergency Response Vehicle. THIS IS AN ADVERTORIAL 14 EXTOL : APRIL/MAY 2019 COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND The Foundation’s Community Impact Fund is an unrestricted fund that is used to support the greatest needs of the community – no matter how those needs may change over time. Annually, CFSI grants nearly $300,000 from the Community Impact Fund, helping area nonprofits with their work and positively impacting the lives of Southern Indiana residents. In 2018, these grants helped 84,000 people in Southern Indiana! Because of the devastating floods that impacted our region last year, CFSI used the Community Impact Fund to get our neighbors back on their feet. This important, unrestricted community-focused fund is here because of the generous donations of countless people throughout our region. If you would like to help make a difference in the lives of current and future Southern Indiana residents, consider making a gift – a contribution that could do triple the good. If you make a gift to support the Community Impact Fund between now and Dec. 31, 2020, your gift will be matched $2 for $1 given (until all matching funds are allocated), thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc. That means you can help the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana empower, educate and support our community. Please consider making a gift today.