Influential Women of Northwest Indiana recently announced that The Caring Place, of Valparaiso, was chosen as one of four nonprofits to receive funding for upcoming projects.
The donation will be awarded at the Annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards Banquet on May 23 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville. The banquet honors the area’s most successful women in 11 different industries, along with presenting funds to each of the four nonprofits.
The Caring Place assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through a variety of programs and services. The organization was founded in 1978 by a group of volunteers, and has since grown to employ 20 staff. A large base of volunteers also commits thousands of hours in aid each year.
“The Caring Place provides services that are vital to Northwest Indiana,” Influential Women of Northwest Indiana organizer Andrea Pearman said. “They offer support to people in our community who often have nowhere else to turn, and their mission is one that we are excited to support.”
Shelter services are provided by The Caring Place, along with community education, support groups, legal counseling, case management, and planning for independent living. The donation from Influential Women of Northwest Indiana will be implemented in a project that provides home makeovers to families in need.
This initiative was created recently when The Caring Place partnered with Caring Designs, also of Valparaiso, which uses donated furniture and household items to decorate homes and apartments that assist victims of domestic violence with a fresh start.
The funds from Influential Women of Northwest Indiana will be used to acquire vinyl mattress covers, metal bed frames, storage lockers to store donated items, and other household items that were not donated and need to be purchased.
Mary Beth Schultz, Executive Director of The Caring Place, said this project would make a significant impact on the lives of clients as they transition from the shelter.
“Residents leaving The Caring Place will have a fresh start and the gift of a clean safe home that promotes healing for women and children,” she said.
Along with The Caring Place, three other nonprofits will receive donations at the Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards Banquet May 23 – the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Discoveries Unlimited and Sojourner Truth House.
For more information on Influential Women of Northwest Indiana, or to purchase tickets to the awards banquet, visit www.nwiwomen.com or call 219-226-0300.
About Influential Women of Northwest Indiana
Influential Women of Northwest Indiana is an organization devoted to providing women with the resources, recognition and motivation necessary to be successful in the business world. Each year, Influential Women honors the area’s most successful women in eleven different industries, ranging from construction and healthcare to education and government.