Foundation Announces $380,000 in Senior Living Grants

The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has announced $380,000 in Senior Living grants that will support the missions of five local nonprofits:

Habitat for Humanity: $225,000
Habitat for Humanity has aimed to provide products and services that foster safe and livable homes for older adults. They serve seniors who make 80% or less of the Area Median Income. Funds will help Habitat for Humanity support the Aging in Place (AIP) Roof Repair Program, which offers roof repair or replacement services to older adults to ensure that seniors have homes that are safe, stable, and conductive to aging independently, thereby reducing health and safety risks and preserving housing stability. Over three years (2026-2028), they plan to complete 90 roof repairs and replacements for senior homeowners.

LOGAN Community Resources: $75,000
Funds will support a comprehensive Senior Initiative that will serve 161 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). LOGAN aims to help individuals with IDD, who are less likely to have family advocates, are more susceptible to abuse and/or exploitation, and often do not meet qualifications for senior programming. This Senior Initiative addresses three interconnected areas of need: supporting nursing staff and health monitoring for senior clients, support for LOGAN’s Protective Services program which advocates on behalf of senior clients with IDD who do not have family to speak for them, and program and facility improvements for seniors by upgrading equipment and housing in LOGAN group and supported living homes.

REAL Services: $60,000
Funds will support REAL Service’s launch of the virtual Certified Memory Care Professional- Instructor (CMCP-I) course, which will allow for dedicated dementia education in St. Joseph County, and expand the reach of the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care to a national audience. The launch of the CMCP-I will increase local access to competency-based dementia education to equip direct care workforce with necessary skills to provide high-quality care to those living with dementia, which will improve health outcomes, quality of life, and reduce caregiver burden. In addition, the course will create a new revenue stream, of which the funds will be reinvested into caregiver programs and services in St. Joseph County.

Forever Learning Institute: $10,000
Funds will help support Forever Creative, an initiative designed to reduce barriers that may prevent older adults from accessing arts participation. Forever Creative provides arts programming for senior adults that includes music, dance, visual arts, and combines instruction, creative practice, and community engagement. Through Forever Creative’s Solid Soldier Dancers and Silverstone ensemble, 100 senior participants will take part in weekly classes and rehearsals. Each ensemble will present eight concerts during fall and spring semesters at community locations and via live streaming. Additionally, 75-100 participants will engage in visual arts through weekly instruction in watercolor painting, drawing, and crafts, as well as multi-day workshops at South Bend Museum of Art. Their work will be shared through traveling exhibits hosted at senior-serving venues. These concerts and exhibits are expected to reach more than 500 seniors, including many with physical limitations who may not otherwise have access to arts programming.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center: $10,000
Funds will support The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Active Aging program, which supports adults aged 55 and older in St. Joseph County by reducing social isolation and increasing access to reliable information through welcoming, low and no-cost engagement opportunities. A central component is the Lunch & Learn Series, which fosters connection, confidence, and peer relationships through nutritious shared meals combined with expert-led discussions on topics such as health, financial stability, and aging resources. The program also offers Cultural Day trips to museums, theaters, and local attractions, with transportation and admission provided to remove financial and access barriers. These activities create consistent, meaningful, educational, and cultural experiences that help seniors remain socially connected, informed, and actively engaged in their community.