Special Project Grants Dashboard

Grantee: Cultivate Culinary School and Catering, Inc.
Project: Community Cold Storage Facility
Amount: $250,000.00
Date Approved: 4/18/2023
Final Report Submitted: 6/24/2024

Cultivate Food Rescue received $250,000 to support its Community Cold Storage expansion, creating a 21,000-square-foot facility that can handle 78 truckloads and rescue 19 million pounds of food annually. This new space replaces limited freezer capacity and meets growing demand from over 150 partners, including pantries, schools, and housing facilities, for nutritious, perishable food. Construction stayed on schedule, and the facility opened in May 2024, doubling food rescue efforts from the previous year with improved efficiency and expanded donor support.

Though the project faced challenges with building design and budget management, Cultivate worked with DJ Construction to resolve issues without disrupting operations. Strategic partnerships and in-kind donations helped control costs, and the organization raised over $10 million in under two years, demonstrating strong community backing for its mission to fight food insecurity and waste. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year Cultivate rescued 4.5 million pounds of food and produced 620,000 frozen meals, with their chef, staff, and volunteers preparing 12,000 nutritionally balanced meals each week.

Personal Story:

“While the facility was under construction, Cultivate made a connection with Lineage Logistics. They are the largest cold storage company in the world and their goal is to give away 100 million pounds of food. They have become both a food donor and a financial donor in the last few months. Last week they offered our largest single donation of 23 semi truck loads totaling 381,886 pounds of food. We took five loads at our new facility and brokered 18 loads to our partners. This is not only a daily record for Cultivate but is more pounds of food than we have ever received in an entire month!”

Grantee: Center for the Homeless
Project: Community Partners Building Upgrades and Renovations
Amount: $125,000.00
Date Approved: 11/21/2023
Final Report Submitted: 6/28/2024

The Center for the Homeless received $125,000 to fund renovation of the Community Partners Building, which houses the organization’s administration offices, two large programs (Job, Training and Education Programing and Early Childhood Intervention Center), storage, and fellowships rooms. This is the first time major renovations have been made on this building since it was built over 25 years ago. Addressing the building renovations in one large renovation project allowed the Center for the Homeless to address all the issues and updates at once, allowing minimal disruption to their services and most importantly, creating the foundation for a safe and secure building for years to come and allowing them to focus on programs and not large, unbudgeted maintenance issues.

The measure of success for these renovations is a fully renovated, safe, and functioning Community Partners Building. This building now reflects a safe and secure facility that is aimed at providing help and hope for those individuals and families living with homelessness in the South Bend community. Important repairs were made to ensure the safety of those who use the building for their educational programming, as well as serving the administration offices and guest and community fellowship areas. The renovations have created a safer and more functional work environment for on-site staff. The guest and administration areas are now lighter and brighter and most importantly, providing guests a facility that is both welcoming and functional.

As with any renovation project, the biggest challenge was maintaining the original renovation timeline. Undergoing an entire building renovation in an old building with multiple projects going on is both challenging and rewarding. As with all renovation projects, it does require patience with construction timelines and material deliveries.  Thankfully, there were no major unforeseen challenges during the Community Partners Building renovation.

Grantee: Habitat for Humanity
Project: Homeownership Training Center
Amount: $125,000.00
Date Approved: 11/19/2024
Final Report Submitted: 4/29/2025

Habitat for Humanity received a $125,000 grant to launch a new Homeownership Training Center, which will also serve as its organizational headquarters. Located in a renovated former medical building in Mishawaka, the center is designed to support the organization’s growth and enhance its ability to deliver mission-driven services. This centralized, welcoming space addresses previous logistical, safety, and accessibility challenges, enabling Habitat to better serve the increasing demand for affordable housing in St. Joseph County.

The new facility offers several key improvements. It allows Habitat to host homeownership classes onsite, eliminating the need to find external venues and making it easier for clients to attend. A safe, on-property parking lot improves accessibility, while a designated play area for children helps alleviate childcare barriers for future homeowners. The center also provides secure space for confidential documents and offers a consistent, easily accessible meeting location. Overall, the new Learning Center reflects the professionalism and excellence of Habitat’s work.

One of the main challenges was operating out of the old office space while the new center was being prepared. This limited Habitat’s ability to host community events such as Lunch and Learn sessions, delaying engagement efforts. Despite these setbacks, the organization remained committed to its goals and is now excited to fully utilize the new space for both client services and community partnerships.

In 2025, Habitat saw strong engagement, with 251 families attending homeownership information meetings. Ten families from the 2024 class are scheduled to close on homes this year, and eleven new families have joined the 2025 program, with closings planned for 2026. Habitat will begin offering Lunch and Learn sessions in the new center and will use surveys to assess outcomes such as homeowner satisfaction, financial habits, and quality of life. These efforts will help Habitat measure its effectiveness and continue addressing housing inequities in the community.

Grantee: Women’s Care Center
Project: New Mishawaka Women’s Care Center 
Amount: $125,000.00
Date Approved: 11/21/2023
Final Report Submitted: 1/28/2025

Women’s Care Center received $125,000 in funding for a new center in downtown Mishawaka. With a dedicated classroom, more counseling and education rooms, and a large childcare space, the new center allows for more classes and individual sessions, as well as for a new program in partnership with the health department to help women access prenatal care sooner.

Women’s Care Center used the following goals as indicators to evaluate and measure the success of this project: The new center was completed and opened at the end of 2024 and visits to the new Mishawaka center will increase by 33% in 2025 with a goal of 3,800 visits. The organization reports that these goals are being met. The new center opened on November 10, 2024.  It has three counseling rooms, an exam room, a dedicated classroom, a fun space for kids, and an expansion space available for future growth. Since opening (through January 28, 2025), the number of women served is up 27%. Total visits are up 61% and parenting class attendance is up 131%.

The organization reports that their biggest challenge was fundraising due to the loss of their primary development person in St. Joseph County. The funding received from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County was instrumental in overcoming this challenge and making this expansion project possible.

Grantee: Potawatomi Zoological Society
Project: The Concession Lodge and Bear Habitat
Amount: $100,000.00
Date Approved: 4/18/2023
Final Report Submitted: 12/19/2024

The Potawatomi Zoo received $100,000 in funding for the Concession Lodge and Bear Habitat Capital Project. This project is one of three parts of the Potawatomi Zoo’s $10.7M Phase 3 of their Master Plan, which also includes an upgraded lion habitat, as well as a state-of-the-art Amur tiger exhibit. The Potawatomi Zoo has experienced significant attendance growth over the last six years, rendering their ability to meet the needs of their guests insufficient. The addition of this new, indoor facility allows the Potawatomi Zoo to work toward staying open later in the season and expanding their winter-time offerings, further increasing the opportunities to increase attendance. They also now have an indoor space to rent out for private events, which the community had been asking for, which increases that source of revenue.

The Potawatomi Zoo evaluated the impact of this project by tracking attendance and membership growth, as well as comparing concession and catering revenues pre- and post-construction. Additionally, future periodic visitor surveys will be used to help determine visitor satisfaction. Attendance was 316,030 in 2022, 318,628 in 2023, and about 360,000 in 2024. The Potawatomi Zoo had 9,004 member households in 2022, 8,915 in 2023, and 9,985 in 2024. Concession sales in the old café were $580k in 2019. In the new concession lodge, concession sales exceeded $1M in 2024.

One significant challenge Potawatomi Zoo encountered was not in the construction of the project itself but with the daily management of the concession lodge. The organization hired a third party to manage their food services. For several reasons, the arrangement was unsuccessful, and the contract was broken after one year. The quality of service, cleanliness, food quality, and presentation were not up to the standards they had been led to believe would occur, and therefore the revenues that had been projected were not actualized. The Zoo has created a new position of Director of Hospitality to oversee all aspects of concession and catering. They hired a highly qualified candidate out of North Carolina who began mid-January 2025. Potawatomi Zoo is hopeful this beautiful facility will be brought to its highest potential with these changes, and visitors will have a top-notch experience.

Grantee: Imani Unidad, Inc.
Project: Imani Unidad Program Expansion
Amount: $94,000.00
Date Approved: 4/16/2024
Final Report Submitted: 5/1/2025

Imani Unidad received a $94,000 grant to support program expansion. Imani Unidad is expanding its programming through a two-pronged strategy: (1) relocating its Outreach and Supportive Services Team to a newly donated and renovated facility at 2806 Lincoln Way in South Bend, Indiana, and (2) hiring an Outreach Manager. The relocation aimed to relieve space constraints at the previous site, enhance confidentiality for clients, and embed harm reduction services within a transitioning neighborhood that has suffered recent business losses but is targeted for future redevelopment. This new facility also provides a complementary community space and strengthens Imani’s connection with local stakeholders.

The new facility officially began operations in May 2024. Substantial improvements have been made, including new signage, security cameras, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, cabinetry, a Narcan access box, and St. Joseph County’s only syringe drop box. Renovations continue, with flooring and painting in progress as of May 2025. Key outreach outcomes include: 97 new individuals served through harm reduction drop-in services, 3,607 harm reduction supplies distributed, 636 doses of Narcan distributed from the Naloxbox, 412 syringes collected from the exterior drop box, and 62 total HIV, HCV, and RPR tests administered. Imani Unidad also hosted several group and community events in 2024 and 2025 including: a National HIV Get Tested Event with partners including CareSource, Anthem, and Martin University, World AIDS Day Testing Event, Vaccine Mobile Clinic with St. Joseph County Health Department, and Participation in the Indiana Black Barbershop Initiative at five locations. Other programs and services include: Clothesline Project honoring sexual assault survivors, AmeriCorps Gardening Plan using Imani’s lot to provide fresh produce, a newly formed Black Male Support Group with growing attendance, consistent Peer to Peer Group Sessions, and ongoing Peer Support Encounters, including walk-ins and phone interactions.

Imani Unidad reported that the project faced several delays, including an eight-month period to raise required matching funds and difficulty securing a contractor. These setbacks caused the project to fall behind its original timeline, although it remains on budget. Unexpected structural issues in the older building led to additional delays, but the project has sparked strong community interest and optimism. Collaboration with local businesses and Peer 2 Peer members for renovation work has strengthened Imani’s grassroots engagement.

Grantee: Clubhouse of St. Joseph County
Project: Employment and Education Program
Amount: $55,000.00
Date Approved: 11/21/2023
Final Report Submitted: 2/13/2025

The Clubhouse of St. Joseph County (Clubhouse) received $55,000 to fund the development of an Education and Employment Program to support their member’s interests and goals in education and career development. This program included a training certification program for participants to become professional peer support specialists. In 2024, Clubhouse SJC’s average daily attendance was 22 and average 90-day active attendance was 68. Transitional employment is in place at Oaklawn and the General Deli. Despite ongoing cultivation and follow-up activities, Beacon, SJC Public Library, and Notre Dame have not yet resulted in Transitional Employment positions.

Clubhouse SJC measured the success of its Employment and Education program through member and staff surveys, aiming for at least 5 members to complete the Peer Support Certification in year one. Results showed strong engagement: 50% worked with staff on job searches, 43% on resumes, and 36% with Vocational Rehab or held Transitional Employment. Satisfaction ratings were high, with 93% rating the program as “great” or “good,” and all respondents agreeing it’s the best since before Covid. They surpassed their certification goal with 8 members and 2 staff completing the program, reached 17 employed members, and earned conditional accreditation from Clubhouse International, with plans to secure full accreditation by November 2025.

Clubhouse SJC has focused on rebuilding operations and strengthening private fundraising after four years of crisis-level staffing and its separation from Oaklawn in July 2023. As of February 2025, the organization has six full-time staff, including a stable core team, and is optimistic about continued stabilization and program growth.

New funding opportunities, including expanded private donations and increased support from Oaklawn through the CCBHC model and Medicaid Reimbursement Option (MRO), are expected to significantly boost revenue starting in early 2026.

Clubhouse SJC shared the following personal story: “A member at Clubhouse SJC for 4 + years struggled over the years with staying engaged in managing her mental illness. As of Spring 2023, she was evicted from her home. She was also serving probation on a criminal assault charge and was challenged in maintaining a healthy and balanced condition while at Clubhouse and in establishing lasting relationships. We supported her through all of this; helping her to believe in and love herself enough to take better care in managing her illness.  She is now housed independently and has been in a relationship for nearly a year. She completed the Peer Support training and certification. She exhibited great resilience and persistence when she did not pass the certification exam the first time she took it, but she passed the 2nd time! She was the proudest of herself she has ever been.”

Grantee: LOGAN
Project: LOGAN’s Life Enrichment and Employment Pathways
Amount: $55,000.00
Date Approved: 4/16/2024
Final Report Submitted: 5/1/2025

LOGAN received $55,000 to fund their new Life Enrichment and Employment Pathways program which aims to provide three individualized pathways to competitive integrated employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with a strong focus on community engagement. Supported by the Indiana Bureau of Disability Services (BDS) and the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), LOGAN began redesigning its traditional day programs in January 2024 to better integrate services into the community. This transformation was made possible in part by a $400,000 grant from the State of Indiana, which funded new leadership and support positions (a Director and three Service Navigators) to guide the program’s implementation.

Funding also enabled the purchase of four vehicles through the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG). These vans are essential in transporting clients into the community, broadening their access to volunteer, social, and employment opportunities. Activities facilitated by the new vans include volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, the Food Bank, St. Margaret’s House, and the downtown South Bend Library. Clients have also participated in community outings such as trips to the Potawatomi Zoo, local parks, miniature golf, and the South Bend Farmers Market, contributing to a richer, more inclusive daily experience.

LOGAN currently serves 222 clients, with 23 spending part of each day in the community and each client averaging about two hours per week in community-based activities. The program currently supports partnerships with 12 community organizations and has established 9 volunteer sites and 1 employment partner. Through the newly implemented Service Navigation system, 10 clients have been referred to Vocational Rehabilitation, and 2 individuals have secured Competitive Integrated Employment.

Grantee: South Bend Youth Hockey
Project: Ice Box Expansion Project
Amount: $50,000.00
Date Approved: 4/16/2024
Final Report Submitted: 8/1/2025

South Bend Youth Hockey received funding to support the addition of a third rink, which will help increase equity and access for ice time. This expansion was designed to address the growing demand for ice time, particularly for underserved communities, and to compensate for the loss of local outdoor rinks. The new rink also supports increased participation in organized skating programs and enables the facility to host more regional tournaments.

The third rink is expected to generate a lasting positive impact on St. Joe County by creating more opportunities for youth from the west and south sides of South Bend to engage in safe, enriching extracurricular activities. Economically, the project is projected to contribute an additional $3.3 to $4.2 million annually through tourism and tournament-related spending. Collaborations with schools and community organizations will help ensure that skating programs reach traditionally underserved populations, fostering community engagement and youth development.

Despite construction challenges, the Ice Box maintained uninterrupted programming and received no complaints from users, thanks to proactive communication and dedicated staff efforts. The results of the expansion exceeded expectations, with professional-grade aesthetics and functionality. The upgraded lobby, featuring expanded digital screens, opens new revenue streams through advertising. The facility continues to rely primarily on ice time fees but now has enhanced capacity for fundraising and sponsorships, helping to offset mortgage costs and support long-term sustainability.

The project encountered logistical hurdles, including operating without a lobby and limited parking during construction. Additionally, unexpected competition for skilled tradespeople due to concurrent construction in New Carlisle affected timelines and costs. The short fundraising window placed extra pressure on the Board of Directors, who had to manage both construction and financial efforts. These experiences led to a strategic shift in board composition, adding professionals in marketing and fundraising to better support future initiatives. The upgraded facilities were completed in June 2025.

Grantee: Unity Gardens Inc.
Project: Educational Expansion Program
Amount: $50,000.00
Date Approved: 11/21/2023
Final Report Submitted: 12/17/2024

Unity Gardens received $50,000 to fund the Educational Expansion Program, which utilizes new resources to broaden the organization’s impact and programming reach. The 4 Season Geodesic Learning Lab, the Edgy Veggie Mobile Classroom, and the Giving Grove Urban Orchards help Unity Gardens reach more people with more food in more spaces while creating additional program revenue. Each of these educational tools targets underserved populations who have less access to safe green space, fresh healthy food, and meaningful hands-on learning opportunities.

Success of the program was measured based on whether Unity Gardens accomplished the following goals: 1. grow more food, 2. increase access to nature and shade, and 3. reduce barriers to education and employment.

In 2024, Unity Gardens grew over 180,000 lbs. of food, distributing 55,000 lbs. at its main site through partners. It planted 13 urban orchards and expanded 3 existing ones, adding shade and fruit across South Bend. A new geodome boosted food production, and over 7,000 visitors attended more than 60 classes and events.With a full-time educator, Unity Gardens offered diverse programs like art, cooking, and Garden Olympics, reaching over 915 kids via the Edgy Veggie Vehicle. They connected with students from numerous schools and colleges, and engaged South Bend Reentry participants through weekly volunteer days, internships, and job opportunities. Their monthly “Haircuts, Hotcakes, and Hotdogs” events provided free haircuts and meals to families.

Unity Gardens reportedly experienced challenges relating to measurements from data collection. Calculating how much food is grown in pounds is cumbersome and labor-intensive, especially in satellite garden areas. As a result, Unity Gardens will shift to measuring the green space maintained. Measuring satisfaction with class attendees also proved to be less than ideal with the thumbs-up-thumbs-down method. Unity Gardens has shifted to a short paper survey. Unity Gardens is also currently limited by time, funding and space. Time and funding are always limited resources, but until recently, space was not.  The organization has maximized much of what they can grow at the main site and needs to shift some resources to their strongest satellite gardens.

Grantee: Kindness to Prevent Blindness
Project: Kindness to Prevent Blindness: A Dedicated Doctor
Amount: $50,000.00
Date Approved: 4/18/2023
Final Report Submitted: 8/23/2024

The Kindness to Prevent Blindness (K2PB) program is dedicated to providing essential vision care to students in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties. Established in 2018, K2PB operates a mobile eye clinic that offers screenings and creates glasses on-site. Their mission is to ensure no student’s education is hindered by undiagnosed or untreated vision issues. They address barriers to eye care by offering free screenings, exams, and glasses, particularly to those from low-income or underserved communities. This $50,000 grant was aimed at securing funds to hire a dedicated pediatric optometrist for their mobile clinic on a part-time basis. Staffing shortages in the medical field have made it increasingly difficult to rely on volunteer doctors, and this grant was crucial in maintaining K2PB’s service quality and consistency. The addition of a part-time optometrist enhanced K2PB’s capacity to provide timely and comprehensive eye care to the students they serve.

The K2PB program reports having completed a total of 23,620 vision screenings, conducted 7,227 mobile eye health exams, and donating over 9,914 pairs of glasses, with each student receiving vouchers for free replacements at Boling Vision Center. K2PB also hosted a Make-Up Day with La Casa de Amistad for absent students, which shows K2PB’s adaptability and dedication to comprehensive eye care.

K2PB reports having experienced challenges relating to staffing and communication issues. Miscommunication with school nurses and nurses outsourced from hospitals led to additional work for K2PB staff. The workload was managed with the help of temporary support from Boling Vision Center.

K2PB provided the following personal story: “Jair, a middle school student passionate about science and technology, struggled with reading assignments and following instructions. His teacher noticed he was frequently squinting at the board and had trouble focusing. Despite these issues, Jair had never worn glasses and hadn’t received any vision care before. His family, with limited access to eye care, was unaware of his vision problems. When Jair’s school joined the K2PB program, a vision screening revealed he needed corrective lenses. Referred to the K2PB mobile unit, Jair underwent a dilated eye exam and was prescribed his first pair of glasses. The impact was immediate. When he put on the glasses, he was amazed at how clearly he could see details, like quotes on the wall, transforming his classroom experience.”

Grantee: YWCA North Central Indiana, Inc.
Project: YWCA of North Central Indiana Children’s Counseling Program
Amount: $27,000.00
Date Approved: 4/16/2024
Final Report Submitted: 4/28/2025

YWCA of North Central Indiana received a $27,000 grant to support the Children’s Counselor position while sustainable funding sources were being secured. YWCA served more than 760 women and their 400 children over the last year. Many of these children were either direct victims of abuse or witnessed domestic violence, placing them at significant risk for long-term emotional, psychological, and physical harm. This counselor plays a vital role in helping children process trauma, build resilience, and regain a sense of safety and trust.

During the grant period, over 200 children received trauma-informed counseling from the YWCA’s licensed Children’s Counselor. Services included safety planning with caregivers, emotional regulation support, and education on emotional intelligence, dating violence, and consent. The program used a comprehensive evaluation model with assessments, observations, and caregiver input. Outcomes showed improved coping, emotional literacy, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and understanding of boundaries. Caregiver engagement and collaboration with external agencies also increased, supporting long-term resilience.

YWCA reported having experienced challenges related to several staffing changes within the Children’s Services department and saw the retirement of the CEO in December 2024. Despite this personnel change in key leadership staff, the Children’s Services department become more resilient and more creative when supporting the youth and their families in the shelter.

The YWCA shared the story of Emily*, an eight-year-old who arrived at their shelter with her mother after leaving a difficult home. Having witnessed parental conflict, Emily felt scared, withdrawn, and blamed herself. Her Children’s Counselor, Deb, created a safe space using play therapy and creative activities to help Emily express herself. Initially quiet and hesitant, Emily gradually opened up, learning healthy coping strategies and that her feelings were valid. She began trusting Deb and connecting with other children, realizing she wasn’t alone. *Name changed.

Grantee: Center for Civic Innovation
Project: Collaborative Public Play Area in Near Northwest Neighborhood
Amount: $25,000.00
Date Approved: 4/18/2023
Final Report Submitted: 6/1/2024

The ND Center for Civic Innovation (CCI) Summer Internship Program partnered with the Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN) and St. Paul Bethel Baptist Church to design and implement a public play area for neighborhood children at the church-owned lot at 715 Leland Ave. The project sought funding for materials to construct the play area, with intern support provided by a matching grant from the Leighton Foundation. This initiative addressed the community’s material need for a sustainable play area and the relational need to build enduring partnerships between the neighborhood, city government, the church, and educational institutions. A team of four interns collaborated with the NNN, St. Paul Bethel Baptist Church, and the City Engineer for South Bend to successfully create the play area. The project resulted in significant professional and personal growth for the interns and fostered a virtuous cycle of continued improvement through strengthened community partnerships.

This project had two major impacts: the creation of a neighborhood play area and the development of student interns through hands-on design and construction experience. Starting in June 2023, interns collaborated with local stakeholders to finalize the playground design, overcoming challenges in equipment selection and zoning. Construction began in August and continued through spring 2024, with full completion in July. EvalSolutions assessed intern growth across multiple cities, showing significant improvements in skills like problem-solving, public speaking, and community engagement. South Bend interns reported the highest ratings in teamwork, communication, and project interest among seven local initiatives.

The project faced multiple challenges. A carpenter ant infestation required tree removal, leading to added costs and delays as interns worked with the NNN to secure contractor bids. The team also managed differing resident opinions on site layout and equipment, ultimately reaching consensus. Due to the site’s historic district status, a planned wooden retaining wall was replaced with decorative concrete blocks, raising material costs and labor demands. Over 150 feet of wall, about three feet high, was built by 50 volunteers. These unexpected hurdles provided valuable real-world learning for the interns.

Grantee: Neighbor to Neighbor
Project: The Welcome Project
Amount: $25,000.00
Date Approved: 11/21/2023
Final Report Submitted: 9/13/2024

Neighbor to Neighbor’s Welcome Project addresses the challenges of isolation, promotes empathy, and emphasizes the importance of welcoming newcomers. Volunteer teams are trained to provide essential support and companionship to newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers as they navigate their new environment. The goal of the Welcome Project is to assist newcomers with everyday needs such as transportation, education, employment support, and community integration, while also fostering meaningful relationships that enhance mutual understanding and support.

In 2024, the Welcome Project worked to bridge the gap between newcomers and local residents by connecting 14 newcomer families, which included over 80 individuals, with volunteer home teams consisting of more than 60 volunteers. These volunteer teams dedicated 2,000 hours to welcoming newcomers, helping them integrate into the community and connecting them to essential resources and opportunities for building safe and fulfilling lives in their new environment. Many clients found steady employment, learned to drive, graduated high school, got accepted into college, and improved their English skills. Two years ago, Neighbor to Neighbor’s staff consisted of just two individuals; today, they are a team of four. Internal growth has given the Welcome Project the capacity and vision to take Neighbor to Neighbor to the next level.

Program success is evaluated based on if concrete project goals were met, i.e. completing volunteer training, hosting three community events, etc. At the time of report, the Welcome Project has completed 3 of 4 volunteer training sessions and hosted 2 of 3 community events, with the final sessions scheduled for late September 2024. Success is also evaluated with feedback from both newcomers and volunteers which is gathered through storytelling/listening sessions.

The Welcome Project faced several challenges this year. Building cross-cultural connections requires patience and understanding, making relationship-building complex. Clarifying that the program’s role is to accompany—not do things for—clients is also difficult, especially given their significant needs. While the goal is self-sufficiency and community belonging, it can be tempting to take over rather than support learning. Staffing issues emerged as more newcomers sought help than the program could support. Several domestic violence cases also arose, underscoring the need for more staff, especially licensed social workers, which N2N plans to hire.

Grantee: Reins of Life
Project: Expansion of Special Programs – Interactive Vaulting
Amount: $7,000.00
Date Approved: 4/18/2023
Final Report Submitted: 6/10/2024

Reins of Life used the funding to expand its Interactive Vaulting program, covering training for two instructors to become PATH-certified and purchasing essential equipment. Interactive Vaulting is a physical activity for individuals with balance, motor, attention, or social-emotional challenges, especially middle and high school students with behavioral diagnoses. Unlike other equine-assisted services, it emphasizes group facilitation over individual instruction, offering a fun and engaging way to support wellness goals. The program fosters teamwork, communication, trust, independence, and social interaction, while promoting sensory input and problem-solving. To meet growing demand, the organization needed more certified staff, tack, and trained horses—resources made possible through this grant.

Grant support enabled Reins of Life to expand its interactive vaulting program by purchasing professional-level surcingles, allowing students to develop advanced routines similar to those in able-bodied competitions. This investment boosted their self-esteem and signaled belief in their potential. ROL formed a team with Equine Vaulting USA Region X, and after receiving the equipment, students embraced higher expectations, ultimately winning 1st and 2nd place ribbons. Shy teens became leaders and mentors, while younger students transitioned from isolation to forming friendships and celebrating milestones. Families gained a support network, and students who never imagined competing performed at a dressage show with unfamiliar teams. Their growth in confidence, emotional regulation, empathy, and teamwork led to greater independence, resilience, and improved quality of life.

One of the biggest challenges in offering the program was finding a suitable equine partner. Choosing an appropriate horse, providing additional training, and maintaining its soundness were key elements for lessons to take place. Over the past year, one of the vaulting horses encountered multiple health issues, potentially jeopardizing lessons for older students. Thankfully, with veterinary intervention, the problem was identified and treated, resulting in only short service breaks. The unprecedented demand for services limited the available arena time for specialty training.

Personal Story:

“Maya and Jillian started in our therapeutic riding program in 2018. They were shy, quiet, and often socially withdrawn. In 2019, they were some of the very first students invited to participate in the newly launched IIV program. They developed vaulting skills far beyond what any of us ever imagined would be possible. Then, as they became old enough to volunteer in other lessons, they became leaders. It is common to find them assisting younger students and other volunteers.”