City Grants $25,000 To Ivy Tech To Assist Social Service Agencies

City Grants $25,000 To Ivy Tech To Assist Social Service Agencies

Date of Record: May 9, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2006

For more information, contact:
Ron Walker, Director of Economic Development, City of Bloomington,349.3406
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN -- Remaining steadfast in his City Vision 2006 promise to announce six Community Collaborations in 60 days, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced the third in that series today. Kruzan said the City of Bloomington will grant $25,000 to Ivy Tech Community College's Center for Civic Engagement to assist the efforts of three local nonprofit agencies: Martha's House, Girls Inc. and Monroe County United Ministries.

"We recognize that social service organizations are important contributors to Bloomington's economic vitality," Kruzan said. "These funds will help provide valuable assistance and resources to the selected organizations, in turn leading to an increase in capacity and the ability to serve more individuals and families within our community."

The funds will help build the capacity of the Center for Civic Engagement and cover costs associated with program development for the selected agencies. Ivy Tech faculty and students will perform an assessment of each organization's needs. Based upon the determined needs, each organization will be aligned with an Ivy Tech class or program that will provide technical assistance during the 2006-2007 academic year.

"Ivy Tech - Bloomington is honored to receive this generous gift from the City of Bloomington to help meet our goals for the Center for Civic Engagement," John Whikehart, Ivy Tech - Bloomington Chancellor, said. "By using these funds to partner with agencies in the Bloomington community, our students, faculty and staff will have greater opportunities to learn, educate and contribute to the place many of them call home. This is a 'win-win' situation for everyone involved, and on behalf of our campus of nearly 4,000 students, we are very grateful."

The Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington Center for Civic Engagement models a "service-oriented" learning environment by involving students, faculty, staff and the college's facilities in community service.

Ivy Tech will develop an assessment report prior to August 30, 2006, regarding the completion of required activities as set forth in the grant agreement.

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