WFIU Working To Help Those In Need
WFIU-Radio is partnering with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County to help those in need.
When you pledge to WFIU today, the Community Foundation will donate an additional $10 to Amethyst and Monroe County United Ministries.*
* Contributions received between Friday, November 6th through the end of the Fund drive will be counted. One call per household, not to exceed 2,000 calls, or $20,000. The amount will be split evenly between the two organizations–listeners may not request that their funds be directed towards one organization or another. The $10 contribution by the Community Foundation is in addition to your WFIU pledge and will not take away any funds from your WFIU contribution.
Our mission is to enhance the local quality of life through permanent charitable funds, effective grants, and inclusive leadership.
The Community Foundation is a public charity started by and for the people of Bloomington and Monroe County in 1990. Since then, including grant commitments for the current year, we will have granted almost $15 million to better our area. Our grants support a range of causes in arts and culture, health, social services, education, recreation, preservation, animals and the environment.
We’re able to make these awards because caring people in our community have utilized the Community Foundation to create long-term assets for our community. All gifts from donors are pooled and invested. A portion of earnings from that investment is used annually to meet current community needs and enhance our local quality of life. Each gift will ultimately be returned back to the community many times over because it has been endowed.
Giving Scenarios
A donor may choose to write a check that provides ongoing support of a beloved local charity through its agency endowment – such as permanent funds managed by the Community Foundation to benefit MCUM, Amethyst House, and dozens of other non-profits in every charitable field.
Another donor might create a donor-advised fund, kind of a simplified version of a family foundation, to involve future generations in their giving. This provides a way to not only express their values and create a family legacy, but also take advantage of the Community Foundation’s expertise on local needs.
Yet another donor might establish a bequest or other planned gift to address a cause dear to their hearts. For example, the Mary Coffman Tilton Fund for Classical Music reflects the donor’s passion in this area. Another family will be supporting a Basic Needs Endowment through their estate plan, because they feel strongly that no one should go without food, shelter and medical care in our community.
And in just a few years, a bequest and other gifts from Stuart and Anna Holmquest for children have already generated grants for a handful of innovative programs, such as “The Zone,” a new after school program for middle schoolers. Friends of the Holmquests tell us they would be pleased by how their bequest is making a difference in the lives of our young people.
If you have the desire to give – whatever your interest – the Community Foundation can help you find a way to maximize your impact.
Visit the Community Foundation’s website to learn more.
For 70 years, Monroe County United Ministries, or MCUM, has been providing affordable, quality childcare for working families and basic needs assistance to those in crisis. The goal is to help individuals and families regain their self-sufficiency after a difficult time.
The Childcare Program serves almost 200 children annually and includes year-round, full-time care for preschoolers ages 2-6 and nine weeks of summer care for children 6-12. The program provides a structured curriculum aimed at preparing children to start school ready to learn, two meals and two snacks providing 75% of each child’s daily nutritional needs, a strong emphasis on literacy skills, and a wide variety of enrichment opportunities.
More than half of the children enrolled come from households led by single mothers.
Affordable, dependable childcare increases family stability by supporting parents in their efforts to keep jobs or continue their education. High-quality childcare benefits children by preparing them to start school on equal footing with their higher income peers and has been shown to decrease grade repetition, decrease special needs services required by public school districts and increase graduation rates.
These school achievements lead to adult successes. Participation in a quality program increases earning potential, decreases the likelihood of being involved in the criminal justice system and decreases the likelihood of adults requiring social services later in life. Clearly, an investment in quality childcare is an investment in the long-term success of each child and family, but also in the overall health of our community.
MCUM’s Emergency Services Program provides basic needs assistance for those in crisis. A crisis might come in the form of an illness, injury, divorce, or just an unexpected expense, such as a car repair. Assistance is available in the form of food, clothing, household items, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, bus tickets, referrals to other agencies, rent or utility assistance, or just a friendly listening ear.
Visit the MCUM website to learn more.
Amethyst provides structured living environments, treatment, education, and recovery service for individuals dealing and healing from addictions.
The goal of Amethyst is to aid in the establishment of positive habits that help individuals transition back into positive society.
Amethyst treats the disease of substance dependence. Addiction is a chronic but treatable disease similar to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Treatment for the disease of addiction works.
Amethyst operates three transitional houses as well as two full-service outpatient programs available to address substance abuse and gambling issues. The program also provides support and treatment for family members.
Summary
Nearly two decades of treatment research, represented by hundreds of studies, shows that substance abuse treatment, like those offered by Amethyst, results in reduced crime (including incarceration and victimization costs) and reduction in health care costs.
Visit the Amethyst website to learn more.
