Fall has been a busy time for the Trust and its family of grantees, especially those who have provided help and hope to the many individuals, families and pets who unexpectedly found themselves uprooted from their Gulf Coast homes by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and relocated to Indianapolis or the Valley of the Sun. Our thanks and appreciation go out to the organizations and volunteers who extended their talents and resources to help more than 1,000 people start to rebuild their lives as well as the hundreds of men and women in our communities who traveled to the stricken areas to provide emergency assistance.

Nina Mason Pulliam believed in the power of women and their abilities to achieve their dreams. She also knew that at times they needed help and encouragement. This is especially true for those women who find themselves in need of refuge when they and their children are emotionally and/or physically abused. Since its beginnings in 1998 the Trust has been a strong supporter of organizations that provide emergency shelter and transitional housing, as well as make long-term investments to assist these survivors begin anew. This issue of Connections features several of these programs, as well as information about grants that are improving the infrastructure through which women in crisis are receiving assistance.

Other featured topics include an update about our Nina Scholars, including the 40 new students who began their studies in August and continuing students from the previous four cohorts. The Nina Scholars program is the Trust's ultimate investment to support women, as well as men, overcome previous life challenges and build better lives for their families and themselves.

We also celebrated the dedication of two wonderful outdoor projects to benefit some very special children during the past few months.

• The Artspark, designed by world renowned architect Michael Graves who also is an Indianapolis native, opened at the Indianapolis Art Center. It includes the Nina Mason Pulliam Sensory Trail created especially for students at the Indiana School for the Blind.

• The Nina Mason Pulliam Discovery Trail at Whispering Hope Ranch, a 47-acre facility near Payson, Arizona, will allow physically disabled and chronically ill children to enjoy year-round camping experiences. The camp also is home to more than 100 animals, many of them with special needs.

The Trust extends congratulations to Michael Twyman, director of grants programs in Indiana, for earning his doctorate in social work from Indiana University.

We continue to enjoy hearing from you. Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions and comments at Connections.