Recipient of the Norma Dell Courage to Care award is LCF

November 12, 2015

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The Lenawee Continuum of Care annually awards the Norma Dell “Courage to Care” award to recognize the efforts of an individual, couple, or agency who has made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating homelessness in Lenawee County

The Continuum is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Norma Dell “Courage to Care” award is the Lenawee Community Foundation.

The mission of the Lenawee Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Lenawee County, Michigan through permanent endowments by identifying and addressing current and anticipated community needs, and raising, managing, and distributing the funds for charitable purposes in the area of civic, cultural, health, educational, and social services.

Through the years, the Foundation has remained true to their mission, and have advocated not only for the homeless, but for all those who are in need. One of the Community Foundation programs is Hunters Helping Lenawee, which covers the cost of processing venison for local food pantries, and has provided 12,000 meals throughout the county. The Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor for Weekend Snack Sacks in partnership with several individuals and organizations. During the 2013-14 school year approximately 300 K-6 students at Madison and Adrian Schools received snack sacks each week.

The Lenawee Community Foundation awards grants to local human services programs that assist homeless individuals and families. Consistent annual funding has been provided to Housing Help of Lenawee, Associated Charities, and the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence shelter, as well as local food pantries. In addition, the Community Foundation offers its Community Resource Guide to local police and fire departments, EMS, and nonprofits, and provides hundreds of printed guides for the yearly Homeless Conference.

Free college visits are organized through the Foundation, which homeless youth have attended. TIP, the Tuition Incentive Program, provides the opportunity for youth on Medicaid to receive free college tuition. Through the Lenawee College Access Network for which the Foundation is the backbone, TIP has offered nearly $2 million to local youth for college.

The Lenawee YOUTH Council program of the Foundation funded Catholic Charities’ pilot for the Roadmap to Graduation program for homeless youth. Over $20,000 has been granted, plus their efforts resulted in an additional $5,000 state grant for the program. For over five years the Foundation was the fiscal sponsor for the Homeless Education Fund, so donors to Pajama Rama could receive tax deductions for their gifts.

Most recently, the VOLUNTEER Lenawee! program of the Lenawee Community Foundation assisted in starting a Veterans Pantry at Housing Help of Lenawee. As an extension of the 9-11 Day of Service, and through a grant from the Points of Light Foundation, the Lenawee YOUTH Council shopped for items that veterans cannot purchase with SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). They purchased and delivered shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and other necessities to stock the pantry for veterans, including those who are homeless, who seek assistance from Housing Help.

The Lenawee Continuum of Care is appreciative of all the efforts of the Lenawee Community Foundation that assist the homeless, and build a better community for everyone.

For more information or to become involved in the Campaign To End Homelessness, visit www.thecampaigntoendhomelessness.org or contact either of the Lenawee County Continuum of Care co-chairs: Nancy Bishop, Lenawee County Department of Human Services, 264-6404, or Khristine Henson-Jones, Housing Help of Lenawee, 264-0782.

The Lenawee Continuum of Care annually awards the Norma Dell “Courage to Care” award to recognize the efforts of an individual, couple, or agency who has made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating homelessness in Lenawee County.