Unity Foundation of La Porte County invites Michigan City area educators to apply for grants to make learning and teaching more fun and impactful. Unity Foundation manages three grant programs established by caring donors who believed in teachers as the critical factor for learning. Together the programs have invested in more than 1,000 educators at Michigan City public and private schools for projects of their own design since the mid-1990s. 

These grants of $400- $500 each aim to support teachers as they find innovative ways to make learning possible for students. Teachers are invited to complete a brief application at uflc.net/grants/teacher-grants for projects to be implemented during the 2022-2023 academic year. The application deadline is September 2, 2022.

The Michigan City Education Foundation (MCEF) makes grants of up to $500 for teachers at public and parochial K-8 schools in Michigan City. Teachers may use their grants for hands-on or virtual activities in any academic area or life skills. In 1994 the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, Mary Lou Linnen and Bud and June Ruby founded MCEF to empower educators.

The Barbara A. Carmen Memorial Endowment Fund is dedicated to the memory of Barbara A. Carmen, a former Michigan City kindergarten and first grade teacher in both the public and parochial schools. The Carmen fund makes grants of up to $400 for items that will enrich curriculum or enhance a teacher’s ability to meet student needs.

Both MCEF and the Carmen Fund accept proposals from the following schools in Michigan City: Barker Middle School, Coolspring Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Joy Elementary, Knapp Elementary, Krueger Middle, Lake Hills STEM Magnet Elementary, Marsh Elementary, Notre Dame Catholic School, Pine Fine Arts Magnet Elementary, Queen of All Saints Catholic School, Springfield Elementary, St. Paul Lutheran School, and St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic School.

The Teacher Innovation Fund is a small grant program for Michigan City High School and La Porte County Career and Technical Education/A.K. Smith Career Center teachers and professionals. It is designed to support educational professionals as they strive to reach their students. Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, MCAS Superintendent, and former Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie provided the idea and the seed money from their own personal funds. Grants can be used to purchase equipment, supplies, tools for special programs or for ideas to enrich curriculum and enhance each professional’s ability to meet his/her students’ needs. Each grant applicant may request up to $400.

“This grant brings extra money directly into the classroom to support new ideas. I am grateful for the poetry materials I was able to obtain for my classroom and for the opportunities this grant provided students,” said Katie Haughtington, Marsh Elementary School teacher and 2021-2022 grant recipient.

All La Porte County educators are eligible to apply for Unity’s Community “Power for Good” Grants. Applications for this program are available through July 22, 2022.

For more information on Unity’s teacher grant programs or to help build these teacher support funds, visit uflc.net or contact Lauren Varga at (219) 879-0327 or lvarga@uflc.net.

Since 1992, Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages $45 million in assets, administers more than 325 charitable funds, and has distributed more than $22 million through direct grants and scholarships. The Council on Foundations has deemed Unity Foundation in compliance with all Indiana and national ethical and operating standards for community foundations. Unity Foundation’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and being a catalyst for social and economic vitality. For more information, please visit www.uflc.net or call 219-879-0327.