Month: November 2019

Centra Credit Union, in Columbus Indiana, uses the motto, “People helping people” to serve not only union members but those in their community. The Centra Foundation has used this motto to give to 41 nonprofits throughout central and southwest Indiana totaling more than $100,000. Centra typically awards grants by asking each Centra department to nominate 3 nonprofits they feel passionate about. The nomination will then be reviewed by a committee and those selected will be gifted $2500 to be used to fund initiatives. LIFEDesigns board member and Centra employee Sharon Taylor nominated LIFEDesigns and we’re humbled to announce that we received this generous grant 2 years in a row. When asked about Centra’s impact, Sharon explained, “Centra is all about the community. Companies providing support to nonprofits like this is so beneficial.”

The Centra Foundation typically awards to projects that support education, community action and financial education. They gave to these other nonprofits: Advocates for Children, Lincoln Family Center, Hope of South Indiana, Hoosier Veteran’s Assistance Foundation, etc.

The funds granted to LIFEDesigns will be used to support people with disabilities in Columbus, IN to find and keep employment.

Now that Halloween has past, LIFEDesigns has begun to prepare for the holiday season. Each year, we do the best we can to include all our clients in holiday cheer. Typically we support about 40-50 people who do not have anyone in their lives to spend the holidays with. Our annual Angel Tree is our way of providing them with the holiday giving experience they so desire. The Angel Trees share these wish lists by our clients with the community. On Wednesday, November 13, LIFEDesigns will host an angel tree ornament decorating party where our clients will each decorate their personal ornament as a gift meant for the person from the community who fulfills their wish list. All are invited to volunteer to help our clients with this fun craft project. Contact Kristen King (kking@lifedesignsinc.org) if you are interested in attending the party.

More news to come on the dates and locations these trees will be on display out in the community. Each year we’re so honored to see how much support from the community is given through this project. Last year, German American bank hosted each of the trees with client wish lists, and the bank donated a little extra to cover purchases of gifts that weren’t taken care of by their staff or community members. Additionally, the South Central Indiana Kiwanis Club helped to sponsor several wish lists, and Royale Hair parlor collected cash donations for LIFEDesigns as well. We’re so grateful to everyone who helped last year, and look forward to building on these relationships for this year!