FEC http://foundationsofeastchicago.org foundations Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:27:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 05-23-2010 | Our Audited Financials, 2009-2008 http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-23-2010-foundations-financials-2008-and-2009 http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-23-2010-foundations-financials-2008-and-2009#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 18:28:29 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=790 Download to your computer a pdf file of the Foundations of East Chicago Financial Statements and auditor’s report for 2009-2008.

]]> http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-23-2010-foundations-financials-2008-and-2009/feed 0 4-1-2010 | Grantee Orientation Meeting http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting-2 http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting-2#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 19:59:50 +0000 Almeta http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=770 Date: Thursday, April/1/2010

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Place: Healthy East Chicago, 100 W. Chicago Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312

]]> http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting-2/feed 0 05-18-2010 | Foundations Respond to Indiana Supreme Court Decision http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/foundations-respond-to-indiana-supreme-court-decision http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/foundations-respond-to-indiana-supreme-court-decision#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 19:52:43 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=788 Today the Indiana Supreme Court issued a decision in the Foundations of East Chicago’s challenge to the constitutionality of the portion of the 2007 Budget Bill which purports to give the City of East Chicago the unilateral ability to rewrite the agreement with the casino licensee in East Chicago which provides funding to the Foundations, the City and a for profit development business. The City has adopted an ordinance attempting to redirect to itself all funding under that agreement.

Instead of addressing the constitutionality of the bill, the Supreme Court ruled that the issue of whether the funding under the agreement should be redirected was something within the exclusive province of the Indiana Gaming Commission. The Supreme Court reemphasized its earlier declaration that “the City alone could not redirect gaming revenue flowing to private entities by means of the ordinance it adopted … or by other means, for that matter.”

Russ Taylor, Executive Director of the Foundations of East Chicago, stated “Although the Foundations had sought a declaration that the statute was unconstitutional, we are gratified by the Supreme Court’s confirmation that the City cannot act as it has. We have always maintained that the Gaming Commission has authority over the agreement and have worked positively with the Gaming Commission in addressing issues concerning the agreement.”

]]> http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/foundations-respond-to-indiana-supreme-court-decision/feed 0 05-07-2010 | Building Connections for Positive Change http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-07-2010-building-connections-for-positive-change http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-07-2010-building-connections-for-positive-change#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 21:06:35 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=776 The Foundations of East Chicago have invested more than $32 million in East Chicago’s local non-profit agencies, churches, public libraries, city departments, public and private schools. We recognize many talents within those organizations and ushered them into a new age of grantmaking called “Collaboration Building.”

Today, the Foundation celebrates the great success these collaborating partnerships are accomplishing for our citizens and families. These partnerships introduce a better approach to address community concerns by relying on several coordinated agencies offering continuing services, thus providing stronger solutions which help more people.

Foundations of East Chicago: Building Connections for Positive Change

People working together in new collaborative programs supported by FEC

These new collaborative programs include:

  • We’re Neighbors/Somos Vecinos – Creating and promoting social networks through beautification contests, dog walking, joint garage sales and safety prevention projects.
  • Please have a seat! – Creating small gathering places in homeowners’ front yards to enhance the neighborhood and encourage neighbor-to-neighbor support.
  • Moms Taking Charge – Assisting local, pregnant women and single mothers with young children by providing access to the support they need to build independent and healthy families.
  • Purdue University Calumet Educational Talent Search – Addresses the need to support academic preparedness and the importance of post secondary attainment
  • East Chicago Parent Community Academy – Offering a variety of courses in health and wellness, arts and culture, personal growth, resolving stress and strategies for supporting student success.
  • Project INSPIRE – Offering art enrichment, family support tools and financial direction for youth and families; and exposing children to the arts in multiple cultures.
  • Youth P.L.U.S. – Involving students in academic enrichment programs during non school hours to to improve standardized test scores, academic achievement,as well as promote character development and multi-cultural understanding.

    • Each collaborative program funded by the Foundation requires agency staff to work with the Foundation in building stronger networks between organizations possessing different expertise. The resulting programs provide much-needed services to our residents:

  • Students are improving their grade point averages
  • Families are receiving needed medical attention and social services
  • Graduates have greater opportunities for college advancement
  • Neighbors are working together to create a greater sense of pride and security
  • Families become stronger with courses focused to address their needs

    • The Foundations of East Chicago want a better East Chicago – Don’t you?

    Need help? Want to help others? Here’s how to connect:

  • We’re Neighbors/Somos Vecinos – Contact: Keith Speaks (219) 844-1876
  • Moms Taking Charge – Contact: Cynthia Rivas (219) 397-6863 ext. 301
  • Project INSPIRE- Contact: Linda Eyermann (219) 836-1839 ext. 101
  • Youth P.L.U.S. – Contact: Pat Simes (219) 397-6441
  • Please, Have a Seat! – Contact: Keith Speaks (219) 844-1876
  • East Chicago Parent Community Academy – Contact: Carlyle Edwards (219) 218-4372
  • Purdue Educational Talent Search – Contact: Melvyn Harding (219) 989-2460
    • ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/05-07-2010-building-connections-for-positive-change/feed 0     4-1-2010 | Grantee Orientation Meeting http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:21:11 +0000 Almeta http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=771 Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010

    Time: 5:00 p.m.

    Place: Healthy East Chicago, 100 W. Chicago Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312

    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/4-1-2010-grantee-orientation-meeting/feed 0     03-15-2010 | Updated Grant Policies http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/2010-updated-grant-policies http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/2010-updated-grant-policies#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:15:27 +0000 Almeta http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=765 Download a pdf of new policies which pertain to grant recipients, effective for grant applicants as of 1 March 2010.

    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/2010-updated-grant-policies/feed 0     03-12-2010 | FEC Gratified by Federal Court Findings http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/03-12-2010-fec-gratified-by-federal-court-findings http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/03-12-2010-fec-gratified-by-federal-court-findings#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:00:07 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=743 For Immediate Release

    Contact: Russell G. Taylor
    219-392-4225 telephone

    Foundations Gratified that Federal Court Found City’s Claims Against
    Foundations Were “Certainly Improper” and Without “Any Factual Basis”
    The Foundations of East Chicago are gratified that Federal Judge Moody totally rejected the State and City’s eleventh-hour attempt to drag the Foundations into the case against former Mayor Pastrick and some of his associates. While he awarded damages against the former Mayor and other defendants, Judge Moody spent 13 pages explaining why the State and City’s last-minute claims against the Foundations were entirely unfounded.

    Judge Moody said the State and City’s effort to order a forensic audit of the Foundations, and to cancel the agreements that fund the Foundations’ charitable and community grants, scholarships and other projects benefitting East Chicago citizens, “offends” due process and was “certainly improper.” He also said the State and City had not shown “any factual basis” for investigating Foundations financial records, and had not even alleged any wrongdoing by the Foundations in their complaint. Indeed, the State and City’s complaint had actually said the agreements funding the Foundations were “properly pre-approved” by the Council (Judge Moody’s emphasis), in contrast to the misuse of casino funds that went to the City itself.

    Foundations Executive Director Russ Taylor stated: “This is another gratifying victory vindicating the Foundations in the long line of battles we have been forced to fight against the City’s persistent attempt to undermine our efforts to improve East Chicagoan lives, and to seize our funds for Mayor Pabey’s administration use. Our Foundation will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General’s office, the Gaming Commission and others, as we continue our good work to address the community’s needs.”

    The Foundations long ago opened their books to the Attorney General’s office as part of their lengthy investigation which recommended no action against the Foundations. Since 1997, the Foundations have invested in a wide range of education, public safety, health, youth development, community economic development and family support services to improve East Chicago and benefit its citizens.

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    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/03-12-2010-fec-gratified-by-federal-court-findings/feed 0     3-11-2010 | Grantee Presentation http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/3-11-2010-grantee-presentation http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/3-11-2010-grantee-presentation#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:02:12 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=684 Come hear presentations by five East Chicago agencies who’ve received grants from Foundations of East Chicago, including Xel-Ha Escuela de Danza, CRP, Indiana Harbor Little League, Indiana Sailing Association, Inc., and Robertson Child Development Center, Inc.

    Date: March 11, 2010

    Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m.

    Place: Healthy East Chicago, 100 West Chicago Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312-3260

    Map to Healthy East Chicago

    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/3-11-2010-grantee-presentation/feed 0     1-25-2010 | Making a Difference: Helping Haiti http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/1-25-2010-making-a-difference-helping-haiti http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/1-25-2010-making-a-difference-helping-haiti#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:15:00 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=681 Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel and Ameristar East Chicago Casino Hotel, together with Foundations of East Chicago and Crawford Broadcasting joined forces to make a difference for the survivors of Haiti. Monday January 25, 5am to 9am, was a live broadcast at the South Shore Convention & Visitors’ Authority, where all proceeds were forwarded to Doctors Without Borders and The Miami Global Institute.

    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/1-25-2010-making-a-difference-helping-haiti/feed 0     2-15-2010 | New Scholarship Applications Available http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/new-scholarship-applications-available http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/new-scholarship-applications-available#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:14:10 +0000 webmaster http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/?p=670 New Scholarship Applications Are Available – FEC has posted new applications for scholarships for high school students and adults. For details on eligibility and how to apply, please go to ‘Apply Now’ in the web site.

    ]]>     http://foundationsofeastchicago.org/new-scholarship-applications-available/feed 0